hot water heater won't lite

[stevek]

My water heater pilot wasn't lit, so I replaced the thermocouple. It still wouldn't lite. I replaced the gas control valve. It was a valve that has two wires for an igniter, it wouldn't stay lit till I wired the two wires together. Then it would lite. A couple days later and it is out again and won't lite. The control valve was a robert shaw identical to the old one except for the two wires. The water heater has black burn marks on the outside near the opening at the bottom. Any thoughts?

[RegUS_PatOff]

water heater model number ?

old Gas Valve model number ?

new Gas Valve model number ? (why did you buy that one ?

 

[stevek]

I don't have the numbers here, I bought it because it was the only one they had, and also the model number was the same except for an additional letter.