Maytag Oven Igniter Not Working — What’s Happening
When a Maytag gas oven igniter is not working, the bake igniter is not heating enough to open the gas valve, or it has failed open and is not drawing the current needed to do so. This is not a fault code shown on the display. It is a physical failure in the bake igniter circuit.
The igniter’s job is to heat up and allow the safety valve to open. If it is broken, weak, or not powered, the oven will not light or heat properly. You may see no glow at all, a weak orange or red glow, or a slow glow that never reaches bright white-hot.
Most Likely Causes
- Failed hot-surface igniter The igniter glows weakly, glows too slowly, or fails open and is the most common cause of this symptom.
- Igniter drawing too little current The igniter may glow but does not draw enough amperage to energize the gas valve safety mechanism and allow gas flow.
- Faulty gas safety valve If the igniter is drawing correctly but gas still will not flow, the valve itself may be defective.
- Wiring, harness, or connector damage Damaged wiring or poor connections can prevent proper voltage from reaching the igniter.
- Control board or relay failure A board or relay problem can prevent power from being sent to the igniter circuit.
- Tripped breaker or thermal fuse Less common but possible, a tripped breaker or blown thermal fuse can shut down oven operation entirely.
How to Diagnose and Fix
- Turn off gas and power to the oven, then verify the complaint by restoring power, commanding bake mode, and observing whether the igniter glows at all.
- Access the igniter under the oven floor or burner area and inspect it for cracks, damage, or excessive wear.
- Restore power briefly and check whether the igniter reaches a bright white-hot glow (a weak orange or red glow is not sufficient and usually means replacement).
- Measure igniter current with an ammeter clamp around one igniter lead (field guidance suggests around 3.4 to 3.6 A for valve opening, under about 2.8 A for a weak igniter).
- If the igniter is drawing properly but the burner never lights, test the gas safety valve and wiring continuity.
- If there is no voltage reaching the igniter, inspect the harness, connector, and control board or relay output.
- Replace the failed component, then run a full bake test and verify ignition timing and flame quality.
Parts You Might Need
| Part | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bake igniter / hot-surface igniter | Amazon | Primary replacement part for weak or failed glow |
| Gas safety valve | Amazon | Replace if igniter draws correctly but gas does not flow |
| Wiring harness or connector | Amazon | Needed if voltage is not reaching the igniter |
| Oven control board or relay | Amazon | Replace if board output to igniter circuit is dead |
Related Error Codes
If your appliance also shows a code on the display, these match this problem:
- Maytag Oven A6 error code
- Maytag Oven Ab error code
- Maytag Oven Cal error code
- Maytag Oven F0 error code
- Maytag Oven F1 error code
- Maytag Oven F2 error code
- Maytag Oven F3 error code
- Maytag Oven F4 error code
- Maytag Oven F5 error code
- Maytag Oven F7 error code
- Maytag Oven F8 error code
- Maytag Oven F9 error code
When to Call a Pro
Gas appliance work carries risk. If you are not comfortable shutting off gas supply, testing live voltage, or measuring amperage with a clamp meter, call a qualified appliance technician. Any repair involving the gas valve, gas line connections, or combustion components is also best handled by a professional. If you have replaced the igniter and the oven still will not light, the issue is likely the gas valve or control board and requires a trained tech with proper tools and gas safety training. For gas line, burner, or igniter work, or if you ever smell gas, stop and call a licensed technician.