GE Oven Igniter Not Working - Causes & Fix

GE Oven Igniter Not Working — What’s Happening

When a GE gas oven igniter is not working, the bake or broil burner will not light. The igniter is a glow-bar component that heats up and draws current to open the gas safety valve. If the igniter does not glow at all when you turn on bake or broil, the problem is usually in the igniter itself, the oven control, or the wiring. If the igniter glows red but the burner still does not light, the igniter is weak and cannot draw enough current to open the gas valve.

GE defines this as a condition where the igniter fails to energize or fails to open the gas valve even when glowing. The igniter must pull around 3.2 to 3.25 amps for the gas valve to open. A weak igniter will glow but stay below that threshold, so the valve never opens and the burner never lights. This symptom is not an error code. It is a functional failure in the gas ignition system.

Jump to Fix

Most Likely Causes

• Weak or failed igniter The igniter glows but does not draw enough current to open the gas valve, or it has failed completely and shows no continuity.
• Open igniter circuit The igniter has an internal break and tests open on a multimeter, so it must be replaced.
• Main gas regulator left in OFF position GE notes that on new installations the regulator can be left or jarred into OFF, leaving cooktop burners working but the oven with no gas.
• Control or wiring fault The on/off control or wiring harness does not send power to the igniter, so the igniter never glows.
• Dirty or incorrectly positioned igniter The igniter or burner tube was disturbed during service and is now out of position or covered in residue, preventing reliable ignition.

How to Diagnose and Fix

1. Verify the oven is a gas model and that the range is plugged in, the circuit breaker is on, and the oven controls are set correctly for bake or broil.
2. Check whether the main gas regulator at the wall or appliance connection is in the ON position, especially if the oven was recently installed or moved.
3. Turn on bake or broil and observe whether the igniter glows red after a few seconds.
4. If the igniter does not glow at all, turn off power at the breaker and use a multimeter to test the igniter for continuity (a healthy igniter typically reads 50 to 200 ohms, while an open circuit indicates failure).
5. If the igniter glows but the burner does not light after 60 to 90 seconds, the igniter is weak and should be replaced because it cannot draw the 3.2 to 3.25 amps required to open the gas valve.
6. Access the igniter by removing the oven racks, lifting or removing the oven floor panel, and disconnecting the igniter from the burner tube and wiring harness.
7. Install the new igniter, reconnect the wiring, reassemble the oven floor and racks, restore power and gas, and run a bake cycle to confirm the burner lights within 60 seconds.

Parts You Might Need

Related Error Codes

If your appliance also shows a code on the display, these match this problem:

• Ge Oven F0 error code
• Ge Oven F1 error code
• Ge Oven F2 error code
• Ge Oven F20 error code
• Ge Oven F3 error code
• Ge Oven F350 error code
• Ge Oven F4 error code
• Ge Oven F5 error code
• Ge Oven F6 error code
• Ge Oven F7 error code
• Ge Oven F7X error code
• Ge Oven F8 error code

When to Call a Pro

Call a professional if you are not comfortable working with gas appliances, if you cannot safely access the igniter under the oven floor, or if replacing the igniter does not restore ignition. A technician can verify gas pressure, test current draw at the valve, inspect the oven control and wiring, and handle any gas line or valve work that requires a licensed repair. Gas work should always be left to trained service personnel when you are uncertain about the diagnosis or the repair. For gas line, burner, or igniter work, or if you ever smell gas, stop and call a licensed technician.