Weak ignition spark@RF burner, JennAir FCG-20510 gas range

[slantsixdan]

Range model is FCG-20510W. Serial is 13350069QD. Production date 3/96. Ignition spark is strong and reliable at left front and left rear burner, slightly (noticeably) weaker at right rear, extremely weak/intermittent at right front.

Activating any of the four burner control valve switches creates a spark at all four of the burners. Spark quality is the same regardless of which burner control valve switch is activated, which tells me the right front burner switch is not to blame.

I swapped the right front and left rear burner/electrode units complete. Spark quality remained excellent in the left rear location, and poor/intermittent in the right front location. This tells me the right front burner/electrode unit is not to blame.

So, to my mind, the problem's got to be either in the ignition module or in the wiring to the right front burner. Is this a correct assumption, or could there be something else going on?

Whatever's the matter, it's likely not going to be fixed without lifting the top surface of the stove. There is no obvious way to do so, and Maytag tells me the service manual is no longer available for this model, so I will need reasonably clear instructions for how to open the top and get at the module and wiring.

Thanks!

[kdog]

perhaps a poor ground through the effected burner somehow,by moving the spark wire to another burner with same results eliminates the other possibilities.

[slantsixdan]

Ignition ground is through dedicated wire to each burner, not through burner body itself. Changing wire pairs at burners didn't change anything, but swapping wires at ignition module behind pot/pan drawer made a definite change. All wires were firmly seated at module both before and after swap, so I'm not counting on this as a permanent fix, but it does suggest the module itself is becoming flaky, doesn't it?

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Based on your reported test results, it does sound like a flakey module. Is the module located underneath the range, like we talked about on the phone?

[slantsixdan]

Yep, it is tucked into a metal bracket/housing secured to the chassis by two philips screws, just outboard of the right pot/pan drawer track. Not at all difficult to access. I figure at this point I'll keep a careful eye on how well or poorly all four burners spark, and if (when) a replacement module becomes necessary, I'll put one in. I'm betting I can buy it through your operation—any luck crossing my FCG-20510 to a US model?

Speaking of parts, how concerned should I be about future availability of electronic control boards? Jenn-Air (Maytag) claims no service manual is available any longer for this model, and they've already discontinued the burner gaskets.

My burner gaskets were trashed, and I didn't see a reason to follow the factory recommendation of buying four new burners with integrated seals, so I had a local gasket house make me four 1/8" x 3-1/2" OD x 2-3/4" ID gaskets out of high-temp red silicone.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

No luck crossing the model number over-- just buy the module from a local parts house near you.

[slantsixdan]

It's this one: