Whirlpool Gas Range Troubles

I have a gas stove that uses the electronic spark igniters for the broiler and oven. Neither of them are working. There is no voltage going to the gas safety valve. The cook top is working fine. Any ideas?

 

Hello hoosier4tony and Welcome to the Do It Yourself Web Site and the Gas Appliances topic.

Based only upon the very limited information you have provided, it would be almost impossible to determine exactly what might be the cause of the problem. There could be several causes but without details and specific information, (brand, make and model, etc.) any assistance for service advice would only be guessing and very generic.

I would be very pleased to help you. But first you need to help me. I need much more detailed and specific information. There could be any number of potential problems.

Detailed information about the problem or problems with the appliance helps to explain the situation your dealing with in a manner that allows myself and or several other professionals to offer the best possible helpful suggestions and advice.

Any and all additional detailed information you can provide may help to expose a clue regarding the current problem and help us to determine the exact solution to the problem.

Your assistance in this matter would be beneficial.

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Whirlpool WFG374LVQ1 Neither the broiler or oven igniters will work. When setting the oven to bake by using the control panel it will show 100degrees and that is all it does. No clicking of the igniter or gas flow. I have never used the broiler or self-cleaning option on it. The cook top works fine. When checking the gas safety valve there doesn't seem to be any voltage going to it. Thank you so much for any possible suggestions you could give me.

 

Changed gas safety valve. Did not fix the problem.

 

The gas valve would not have any voltage going to it until the pilot flame is established and heats the safety element. Therefore, changing the gas valve dis not and would not resolve the problem. Most likely the spark module is defective. No sparking to first light a pilot flame before current goes to the gas valve.

Who told you that you needed to change the gas valve for the problem you explained to them?

Did you go to a local appliance parts store?

I highly doubt anyone there would sell you a gas valve based upon the problem description explained to them. Could have but highly doubtful since the gas control valve is not the first item to suspect to be the cause of the problem when there isn't any spark.

My guess would be the spark module is defective and/or the fuse is defective if there is one or a switch or the control board that controls the oven igniter, etc. Condition can be rather complex and require lots of diagnostic service to determine exactly what is the problem.

 

I had a repairman come and look at it. He contacted the Whirlpool tech support and that is what he was told was more than likely the problem. Was just wanting to get another train of thought on this matter. The repairman is more in line with the spark module that you noted. He is going to try the spark module next. I will let you know if that works. I just don't want to tie up a lot of money in repairs.
Thank you for your information.

 

MMmmmm...


It sounds like this range has a mercury safety system. In that kind of system with a spark ignitor, the spark ignitor lights the pilot and the pilot light in turn engulfs a small tube of mercury.

The mercury tube is connected to the oven gas valve by a thin stainless steel capillary tube. When the mercury in the tube vaporizes, the pressure in the capillary tube causes the oven gas valve to open. There is no voltage at the oven gas valve.

Does this sound like the oven control on this range?

 

Thanks for the info but I don't think this has the mercury tube.

 

Hello: Tony

You wanted another "TRAIN" of thought? Here is mine.

Service tech (assuming he/she is an appliance service tech) makes a house call and to fix an appliance yet cannot diagnose the problem, isolate the defective part(s) and has to "CALL" a service tech at Whirlpool???? Really? Oh My!

Then the service tech on the phone advises the repairman service tech at your home to replace the "GAS VALVE" based upon the problem description explained to him on the phone from the service tech at your home???????????? Shocking!!!

Service repair person installs gas valve which does not fix the problem and would not fix the problem, has to "COME BACK" with the correct part in hopes of fixing the problem????

My service reps rarely if ever call in for such help. Almost never hear from any of them for weeks and maybe months. Fix it right the first time and get done with it. Even I can diagnose the possible cause and I am miles from you and reading it in text only. How they stay in business and turn a profit is well beyond my comprehension!!!

WOW! AMAZING! If I once had any appliance service rep like the one you got, whom could not diagnose the problem, isolate the problem part and repair an appliance on the "FIRST" service call, I would be financially broke myself!!!

Summation: Both service reps involved with the repair with your appliance are on the WRONG TRAIN and or the wrong train going in the WRONG DIRECTION....or simply on the wrong TRACKS....HA HA. Oh Boy! Oh Well!

My Two Cents:
Replace the spark mod first. More then likely the cause.

Good Luck.

 

Hey Sharp,


What kind of ignition system do you suppose this is?

 

It has a spark module, with spark igniters in broiler and oven. Have replaced oven gas valve assembly and spark module. Still nothing. Will replace electronic control. Thinking may have had a power surge at sometime and fried the control panel and spark module.

 

Replaced the control panel and that combined with the spark module seemed to be the culprit. Thanks to all for their input on this issue.