I have a Carrier 58DH furnace installed since 1985. It stopped working last night. As far as I can tell, its electronic spark ignition works. After the pilot lights up, the main burner won’t light up. I can hear clicking sound. What’s the first thing I should check? Thanks.

 

Presumably you have a Carrier three wire pilot ignition system. The pilot lights but the main burner doesn't light.


95% of the time the pilot burner and pilot orifice need to be cleaned.

Remove the two screws that hold the pilot burner in place and bend the pilot tubing to get access to the pilot burner. Use a 7/16" wrench to loosen the brass ferrule holding the pilot tubing to the pilot burner.

Remove the brass ferrule and pilot tubing from the pilot burner. Empty the pilot orifice from the bottom of nthe pilot burner. Clean the pilot orifice with a wire from a wire brush and clean any debris from the pilot burner.


Reassemble and you will probably be in business.

 

Thank you, SeattlePioneer. I will try it tonight.

 

SeattlePioneer, I am new to this and not sure what is the pilot orifice. Is there a diagram or picture of it? Thanks.

 

You can see the pilot tubing leading to the pilot burner.

The pilot orifice is a fitting at the open end of that tubing with a small hole that controls and limits the flow of gas to the pilot burner flame.

Loosen that brass ferrule at the bottom of the pilot burner until it comes loose and slides along the pilot tubing. That allows you access to the pilot orifice.

 

Now I understand what to do. Thank you

 

SeattlePioneer, I did clear the orifice with a needle and reassembled it back as suggested. It still doesn't work. The pilot light up right away and the ignition stays on for at least 15 or 20 seconds, then it stops. A few seconds later it tries again. The main burner never lights up.

What should I try next?

 

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Sorry, I don't understand what you are describing here.


The pilot burner should light. The pilot burner should stay lit by itself for 30-40 seconds or so while the bimetal switch is the pilot switch is heating up. When it gets hot enough the main burners should light up and stay on.