How To: Replace an oven igniter.

**BrooklynBay** · 06-11-2008, 03:02 AM

Introduction:

Most modern ovens which are built today use a bar which glows to ignite gas for cooking. It is synonymous to a glow plug in a diesel engine. The top burners use a spark ignition which is synonymous to a spark plug in an internal combustion engine. Now, to explain the theory behind the glow bar, there are two designs: flat & round. The bar is wired in a series circuit with the gas valve. When the bar glows, it will continue to allow more current & voltage to pass into the valve until it get to its full brightness. At this point, it will allow the valve to fully open, and transfer gas into the burner assembly. The igniter will ignite the gas, and create a flame. If this bar does not come up to its full brightness, it won't allow the valve to open as a safety feature. A sign of a failing igniter is an oven which takes a few minutes to start, then cuts out with an occasional smell of gas.

Safety:

Always try to unplug the oven or turn off the circuit breaker before servicing an electrical appliance. Your work area should be clean, and dry.

This is the inside of the oven with the front door removed for easy access:

You have to remove the two corner screws to get to the igniter:

This is a picture of the weak igniter trying to start the oven:

The next step is to remove two small hex head screws holding the igniter to the burner assembly:

The original factory igniter was pushed slightly inward. It's not necessary to make this part so close. Excess heat is not good for the ceramic element.
This is the bottom of the oven with the lower pull out drawer removed:

You could see part of the electrical plug in this picture. Here's a close up view of the connector which has to be unplugged:

Here is a picture of the new igniter:

Now it's time to install this new part. The two screws are getting tightened while the igniter is kept straight:

Here's the test. The oven is turned on, and the igniter is glowing at full brightness:

It's a little hard to see the blue flame in this picture but the oven is now on!

Wait until everything cools down, and replace the inner tray, racks, door, and drawer.

*zukman* · 06-11-2008, 10:45 AM

Thank You for posting the easy fix to a cook's dilemma!

In my case however there are 2 igniters (Viking) wired in series they require you to replace both (unless you want to do the job again in about 2-3 months!

**BrooklynBay** · 06-11-2008, 06:46 PM

I've never seen a dual igniter set up. Do you have a picture of this?

redneck21 · 06-11-2008, 06:56 PM

Would this cause the cooking time to be longer. Like when the stove get to the temb you want it cuts off then cuts back on a bad element would make it take longer to start back up. It takes me about 30 mints longer to cook food in this one vs my old one.

**BrooklynBay** · 06-11-2008, 07:03 PM

Yes, a failing igniter will cause the food to take longer to cook. The flame will be smaller, and stay lit only for brief intervals.

redneck21 · 06-11-2008, 07:55 PM

Woot i been wondering what it was tanks a lot now i know what im doing this week end.

*zukman* · 06-11-2008, 09:51 PM

sorry no pic's of dual igniters. there is one for each side of the oven as it is big enough to roast Stic-o in! roflmao

**BrooklynBay** · 06-11-2008, 09:53 PM

Does it have two igniters on the top for broiling?

**BrooklynBay** · 12-03-2008, 11:10 PM

I just did another igniter yesterday on an oven which looked similar to mine in the above pictures. This one had the round igniter (mine is flat), and the 2 holding screws were on the bottom of the long tube. I had to get all of the way in the back under the inner tray to get to the 2 screws holding the rear of the tube to the oven. It's very difficult (if not impossible) without removing the long tube to get to those 2 screws holding the igniter. It was not an easy job. That model was 2 years older. They made it with different parts, and it was harder to work on.

laxmankk11 · 08-18-2009, 07:11 PM

thanks so much BB, my MOTHER did this alone by herself while i was at work the other day in less than an hour, she had to use a hacksaw to cut a stuck nut off, but our oven heats up now! it used to take 2 hours to get it to 400.
thanks again!

*BKennedy* · 01-18-2011, 08:56 PM

How about replacing a bad stove top ignitor?

**BrooklynBay** · 01-18-2011, 09:00 PM

The top igniter is similar to the one on the bottom in most ovens.

*Roadrunner777* · 03-13-2011, 05:21 PM

So the oven bottom comes out. Damn... Damn Damn Damn! LOL I have replaced 4 ignitors lying on my stomach reaching in through the broiler. The bottom just comes out. Damn! I go through so many of these, I now keep a spare handy, along with a box of porcelain nuts.

Darn, even. Thanks man!

**BrooklynBay** · 03-13-2011, 08:27 PM

Where do you you usually get your parts (local supplier or online)? How often do they burn out? Do you self clean the oven a lot?

06-11-2008, 03:02 AM	#1
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,818 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	How To: Replace an oven igniter. Introduction: Most modern ovens which are built today use a bar which glows to ignite gas for cooking. It is synonymous to a glow plug in a diesel engine. The top burners use a spark ignition which is synonymous to a spark plug in an internal combustion engine. Now, to explain the theory behind the glow bar, there are two designs: flat & round. The bar is wired in a series circuit with the gas valve. When the bar glows, it will continue to allow more current & voltage to pass into the valve until it get to its full brightness. At this point, it will allow the valve to fully open, and transfer gas into the burner assembly. The igniter will ignite the gas, and create a flame. If this bar does not come up to its full brightness, it won't allow the valve to open as a safety feature. A sign of a failing igniter is an oven which takes a few minutes to start, then cuts out with an occasional smell of gas. Safety: Always try to unplug the oven or turn off the circuit breaker before servicing an electrical appliance. Your work area should be clean, and dry. This is the inside of the oven with the front door removed for easy access: You have to remove the two corner screws to get to the igniter: This is a picture of the weak igniter trying to start the oven: The next step is to remove two small hex head screws holding the igniter to the burner assembly: The original factory igniter was pushed slightly inward. It's not necessary to make this part so close. Excess heat is not good for the ceramic element. This is the bottom of the oven with the lower pull out drawer removed: You could see part of the electrical plug in this picture. Here's a close up view of the connector which has to be unplugged: Here is a picture of the new igniter: Now it's time to install this new part. The two screws are getting tightened while the igniter is kept straight: Here's the test. The oven is turned on, and the igniter is glowing at full brightness: It's a little hard to see the blue flame in this picture but the oven is now on! Wait until everything cools down, and replace the inner tray, racks, door, and drawer. __________________ My list of useful threads. My photo gallery. My product reviews. My list of items for sale. Aerostar owners thread. Aerostar parts work in Explorers, Rangers, and Bronco II thread. History of the Aerostar thread. Aerostar Forum. New Members Forum. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Forum.

06-11-2008, 10:45 AM	#2
zukman "Home of Misfit Crawlers" arcadia calif. '91EB, '86Sami, '85Ranger Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,650 Vehicle Specs	Thank You for posting the easy fix to a cook's dilemma! In my case however there are 2 igniters (Viking) wired in series they require you to replace both (unless you want to do the job again in about 2-3 months! __________________ 1986 Suzuki Samurai JX(under reconstruction) 1991 ExplorerEddie Bauer http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=263112 1991 Explorer XLT http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...40#post2995740 1985 Ranger (waiting for elec surgery) Tow vehicles-Theirs- '99 Cruise Master, His '01 F-250 4x4,Hers'98 Expedition XLT Flags http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...ight=Wave+Flag Light Covers http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...45#post2625145

06-11-2008, 06:46 PM	#3
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,818 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	I've never seen a dual igniter set up. Do you have a picture of this? __________________ My list of useful threads. My photo gallery. My product reviews. My list of items for sale. Aerostar owners thread. Aerostar parts work in Explorers, Rangers, and Bronco II thread. History of the Aerostar thread. Aerostar Forum. New Members Forum. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Forum.

06-11-2008, 07:03 PM	#5
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,818 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Yes, a failing igniter will cause the food to take longer to cook. The flame will be smaller, and stay lit only for brief intervals. __________________ My list of useful threads. My photo gallery. My product reviews. My list of items for sale. Aerostar owners thread. Aerostar parts work in Explorers, Rangers, and Bronco II thread. History of the Aerostar thread. Aerostar Forum. New Members Forum. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Forum.

06-11-2008, 09:51 PM	#7
zukman "Home of Misfit Crawlers" arcadia calif. '91EB, '86Sami, '85Ranger Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,650 Vehicle Specs	sorry no pic's of dual igniters. there is one for each side of the oven as it is big enough to roast Stic-o in! roflmao __________________ 1986 Suzuki Samurai JX(under reconstruction) 1991 ExplorerEddie Bauer http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=263112 1991 Explorer XLT http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...40#post2995740 1985 Ranger (waiting for elec surgery) Tow vehicles-Theirs- '99 Cruise Master, His '01 F-250 4x4,Hers'98 Expedition XLT Flags http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...ight=Wave+Flag Light Covers http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...45#post2625145

06-11-2008, 06:56 PM	#4
redneck21 Wannabe Elite Explorer Georgia 1999 sport Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 489 Vehicle Specs	Would this cause the cooking time to be longer. Like when the stove get to the temb you want it cuts off then cuts back on a bad element would make it take longer to start back up. It takes me about 30 mints longer to cook food in this one vs my old one.

06-11-2008, 07:55 PM	#6
redneck21 Wannabe Elite Explorer Georgia 1999 sport Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 489 Vehicle Specs	Woot i been wondering what it was tanks a lot now i know what im doing this week end.

06-11-2008, 09:53 PM	#8
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,818 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Does it have two igniters on the top for broiling? __________________ My list of useful threads. My photo gallery. My product reviews. My list of items for sale. Aerostar owners thread. Aerostar parts work in Explorers, Rangers, and Bronco II thread. History of the Aerostar thread. Aerostar Forum. New Members Forum. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Forum.

12-03-2008, 11:10 PM	#9
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,818 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	I just did another igniter yesterday on an oven which looked similar to mine in the above pictures. This one had the round igniter (mine is flat), and the 2 holding screws were on the bottom of the long tube. I had to get all of the way in the back under the inner tray to get to the 2 screws holding the rear of the tube to the oven. It's very difficult (if not impossible) without removing the long tube to get to those 2 screws holding the igniter. It was not an easy job. That model was 2 years older. They made it with different parts, and it was harder to work on. __________________ My list of useful threads. My photo gallery. My product reviews. My list of items for sale. Aerostar owners thread. Aerostar parts work in Explorers, Rangers, and Bronco II thread. History of the Aerostar thread. Aerostar Forum. New Members Forum. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Forum.

08-18-2009, 07:11 PM	#10
laxmankk11 Wannabe Elite Explorer damascus. md 99 Eddie Bauer Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 87 Vehicle Specs	thanks so much BB, my MOTHER did this alone by herself while i was at work the other day in less than an hour, she had to use a hacksaw to cut a stuck nut off, but our oven heats up now! it used to take 2 hours to get it to 400. thanks again!

01-18-2011, 08:56 PM	#11
BKennedy Elite Loser San Diego, California 1994 XLT Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 2,952 Vehicle Specs	How about replacing a bad stove top ignitor? __________________ Brian Kennedy 1994 Explorer 4X4 XLT 4-door. Modified 2005 Winnebago Class A M/H 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT-1 Crew Cab "I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack"

01-18-2011, 09:00 PM	#12
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,818 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	The top igniter is similar to the one on the bottom in most ovens. __________________ My list of useful threads. My photo gallery. My product reviews. My list of items for sale. Aerostar owners thread. Aerostar parts work in Explorers, Rangers, and Bronco II thread. History of the Aerostar thread. Aerostar Forum. New Members Forum. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Forum.

03-13-2011, 05:21 PM	#13
Roadrunner777 Bemidji, MN 94 4x4 Sport 88k Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,279 Vehicle Specs	So the oven bottom comes out. Damn... Damn Damn Damn! LOL I have replaced 4 ignitors lying on my stomach reaching in through the broiler. The bottom just comes out. Damn! I go through so many of these, I now keep a spare handy, along with a box of porcelain nuts. Darn, even. Thanks man! __________________ 1st Gen Fuel Pressure Not ready for prime time link list KD0SCJ

03-13-2011, 08:27 PM	#14
BrooklynBay Aerostar Forum Moderator Brooklyn, NY 88 89 93 95 96 Aerostars Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 45,818 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Where do you you usually get your parts (local supplier or online)? How often do they burn out? Do you self clean the oven a lot? __________________ My list of useful threads. My photo gallery. My product reviews. My list of items for sale. Aerostar owners thread. Aerostar parts work in Explorers, Rangers, and Bronco II thread. History of the Aerostar thread. Aerostar Forum. New Members Forum. Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Forum.