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garyemunson's avatar
garyemunson
Explorer II
Jan 27, 2019

Atwood range not lighting

Our Atwood 3 burner range/oven started not wanting to light most of the time. It has one of the piezo turn-knob starters that only lights the 3 burners, not the oven pilot. I thought the piezo igniter was going bad so I thought a good upgrade would be to get one of the battery powered burner igniters like you see on even the cheapest gas bar-b-ques nowadays. After a challenging hour trying to determine how to disassemble the range, I finally got the top off and realized the issue was not the knob igniter but the insulation on the wires from the igniter to the electrodes in the burners had cracked and shrunk, letting the spark go to ground (the galvanized base under the burners). For now my project is on hold until I get some silicone spark plug wire to make new wires. Although the range is still torn apart, I've managed to get it all working by putting some spacers to keep the current failed wires off the metal. I bought a 4 terminal electric igniter and also a push button piezo igniter which I bought strictly for the electrode that came with it to use in the oven to light the pilot. Now, pressing the battery igniter button creates a strong spark at the three burners AND the oven pilot light. While holding the igniter button and turning on the burner/oven knobs all four flames pop on instantly like our gas range at home and the smell of gas that almost always got noticed when trying to use the old piezo or match to light the oven pilot is gone. Instead of one spark each time the old knob turned, you get a rapidly repeating spark that assures ignition. Once I get the spark plug wires, I'll finish the job and post pictures of the procedures and results.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Piezo-Spark-Ignition-Push-Button-Igniter-For-Gas-Grill-BBQ-Kit-Cable/113359826699?hash=item1a64c5af0b:g:uWMAAOSwyodb6qRE:rk:1:pf:0


https://www.ebay.com/itm/BBQ-Spark-Gas-Grill-Replace-2-3-4-6-Outlets-Battery-Push-Button-Ignitor-Igniter/401605676597?hash=item5d81904e35:m:mj6ImLvjOu9UMlBqS_ZizxA:rk:2:pf:0
  • I'll guess mine has the same issue. It stopped working two years ago. I keep a lighter nearby. It's much quieter while I make coffee as others sleep anyhow. I don't need another project at the moment. YMMV.
  • Mine takes spells. Sometimes it lights with the little sparker thingy and sometimes I have to use a lighter. It always appears to be sparking, even when I have to use the lighter????
  • I bought a 5 wire battery powered grill igniter to replace the twist knob on mine. Grill Igniter

    It is much more reliable and is quiet. I believe I saw the suggestion to do so here somewhere, but I can't find it this morning.

    It has the potential to be used as an oven igniter as well, but I haven't snaked the wire in place to do so yet.

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