Carrier SuperSaver Gas Furnace
Model 58SS060-CC Year 1988
About once a month my furnace wont light.
The thermostat is a year old.
It has a self igniting pilot.
The ignitor electrode is arcing but no gas to the pilot.
The furnace just sits there with the ignitor clicking(arcing).
I removed and cleaned ignitor and cleaned the pintle in the pilot gas supply fitting. This was no help.
The way I have to fix it is to shut the gas control valve and the power off for 10 minutes.
After turning them back on the furnace lights immediately, and it will work fine for another month or two before I have to fix it again.
What could be causing this intermittent problem?

 

I don't know what a 'pintle' is? Are you referring to the pilot 'thimble' located inside the pilot assembly? Is the gas valve pilot section getting 24v during non-ignition times? Have you added any gas appliances? LP or nat?

 

"I don't know what a 'pintle' is? Are you referring to the pilot 'thimble' located inside the pilot assembly? Is the gas valve pilot section getting 24v during non-ignition times? Have you added any gas appliances? LP or nat?"

Yes the thimble with small orfice in it is what I was referring to.
No new gas appliances.
Natural gas.
Have not checked the 24V. That would be on the gas control valve assy right?

 

You got it. In the system schemetic or on the valve. You'll want to check for 24v between the pilot teminal and the common. If you read 24v, the valve may be sticking. To verify, disconnect the spark lead from the module and loosen the pilot valve tubing at the valve and check for gas pressure. If you don't have gas, then the valve is bad. If you got gas the problem is definitely in the ignition.
PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL YOU WILL BE DOING THIS DURING IGNITION!!!!!!!

 

Thanks for the all the info fjrachel.
Have any resources to find a schematic for my furnace?

 

Check the screen in front of the pilot, if is is partially cloged the pilot will not be hot enough to activate the thermocouple even ehough it is lit.

And take the advice from the "pro" on these forums with a grain of whatever, most are incompetant.

 

Thermocouple?????

 

Well that's interesting. The original poster says he has spark ignition for the pilot and our friend here tells him to check the thermocouple. he he

The furnace has the Carrier 3 wire pilot and 5 terminal "pick and hold" gas valve. When you took out the pilot did you notice a little switch attached to it? Did it have 3 wires?
Nxt time it dies, don't reset it. Check for voltage at the gas valve between terminal 3 and terminal 4, then terminal 3 and terminal 5 which should already be hot. If both have 24 volts AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THE PILOT BURNER IS 100% good to go, then you have a bad gas valve. If terminals 3 to 4 do not have have 24 volts, then backtrack to the combustion fan sail switch to see if you have 24 volts from 10B2-3 to termianl 3 on the gas valve. If no, and the inducer fan is 100% good to go [up to speed, the fan wheel is all there and it's not loose on the motor shaft] then the sail switch is most likely bad. Confused?
Go to www.carrier-commercial.com, click on literature, click on maintenance, input 58SS and download the manual for your furnace. It contains a troubleshooting gude with pictures!

http://arnoldservice.com is a good source for Carrier parts good prices too!

Let us know how you make out.

 

Since this is a DYI site...........try this

Remove the pilot, remove the orifice, look into the pilot from the orifice end, you will see a tube and about half way down is a primary air opening which may be plugged with lint or spider nest. If that is plugged it will affect the flame characteristic of the flame. Which could make for poor pilot ignition.
Lint, spider nests & flies are the evil step sisters of 3 wire pilots.

Also checking voltage at number 1 terminal and ground will show if there is voltage to the main valve operator