Maytag Gas Cooktop ignitor

[TXwannabe]

Well, have a 36' 5 burner gas cooktop. Even though it wasn't installed until December of 07, it was purchased in October, so of course, warranty is up as of a couple weeks ago. Last night, wife was cleaning the cooktop, and now the left front ignitor won't work. The strange thing is that if you use one of the OTHER burners, the actual ignitor on the left front burner works, but if you use the knob for the left front burner, it turns on the gas, but there is no spark. Bottom line, if you turn on the gas to the LF burner, then turn on another burner right away, the LF ignites and works fine, but it won't ignite on its own. Ideas?

Thanks!

Model MGC5536BDS

[RegUS_PatOff]

Any Burner Knob will spark all Burners.

Sounds like a bad / dirty Burner Switch assembly

click on picture

[TXwannabe]

Thanks for the response. I understood that all knobs spark all burners, I just didn't describe it very well. My point was that I knew it wasn't the actual ignitor, since the other knobs will get the ignitor to spark.

2 questions: switch assembly relatively easy to check/replace? Second, any way to isolate that the burner switch assmebly is the issue?

[RegUS_PatOff]

Burner Switch Removal
1. Remove main top, see "Main Top Removal" procedure.
2. Disconnect and label wire from burner switch.
3. Slide burner switch up and off burner valve stem.
4. Replace burner switch and reverse procedure to reinstall.

You may be able to see / hear / test / clean the individual MicroSwitch actuate.

[TXwannabe]

Excellent! Thank you!

[RegUS_PatOff]

MGC5536BDS Service Manual

[TXwannabe]

This is great! thanks!

[TXwannabe]

The saga of my Maytag gas cooktop continues! So, I have ordered and replaced the switch assembly, and the burner that wouldn't spark is now fine. However, now that the new switch assembly is in, a different burner won't light. It appears to me that for this one, the ignitor sparks in the correct knob position, but the gas doesn't come on until the knob is past the position where the spark has stopped. SO, I have another case where I can light this burner by turning on the gas, and then turning on a different burner so the ignitor will spark while the gas is flowing. Is there any sort of adjustment on the ignitor switch assembly?

[JWWebster]

All of them spark at once because as you know they are all wired in parallel circuit. Their is but one ignition box to make the whole crew happy. Might be a weak ignition box.

[Repair-man]

No, there is no adjustment. If one of the switches is not triggering a spark, it is bad. Best to replace them all if going to the trouble of popping that top.

Be sure you seated the  switch in the little screw recesses on the valve or it wont light right. They should lightly snap into place and remain there.

[TXwannabe]

I will double check that it is seated correctly, as this switch harness is new today. The trouble burner WILL spark, and it will light, but I can't hear any gas escaping when the ignitor is clicking. Once I have turned the knob far enough to hear gas, the ignitor has stopped sparking.

Thanks for the quick response!

[jumptrout51]

To verify gas flow, set your burner to the lite setting and get your spark. Hold a match to the questionable burner and see if it lights.
If it lights you have gas flow.

[TXwannabe]

that makes excellent sense - Thanks!

[JWWebster]

try another knob on that burner, it may be something simple as a loose knob

[TXwannabe]

To verify gas flow, set your burner to the lite setting and get your spark. Hold a match to the questionable burner and see if it lights.
If it lights you have gas flow.

Excellent suggestion, and I tried that. Results were that burner does not light even with a match in place, until you have turned the knob PAST the point where it stops sparking. Checked other burners, and gas flow starts right when the word 'lite' lines up with the indicator mark on the cooktop. With this burner, the igniter stops sparking BEFORE you get to that point. When the word 'lite' is in line with the indicator, the gas flow starts, but the  igniter has stopped. This is a brand new switch/harness I just purchased from Repair Clinic. Possible it is defective?
Frustrating, in that this cooktop is about 14 months old -