GE Gas Cooktop Not Working ...

GE gas cooktop not working ...

Monique -- Tuesday, 31 December 2002, at 9:08 p.m.

Hello -
I have a gas GE cooktop (model # JGP600AEH1-WH) that just went out. (Actually, it went out after some liquid spilled out of a pot and collected in the base of the cooktop.) I am hoping someone may be able to help us out. After "the spilling incident", the ignitor started making clicking sounds (the sound it makes when you turn the knob to start the gas) even though we have not touched the knob at all. We disconnected the leads into the ignitor and after we reconnected them, the unit stopped making clicking sounds but also now doesn't work AT ALL. (No sparks are made and thus no gas is being ignited.) Thinking that the ignitor was damaged, we bought a new ignitor to replace the old one. The new ignitor is behaving the same way as the old one. (ie. the unit isn't working at all.) Any ideas?

Thanks -
Monique -

Re: GE cooktop not working ...

Dan O. -- Tuesday, 31 December 2002, at 9:40 p.m.

: I have a gas GE cooktop (model # JGP600AEH1-WH)
: that just went out. (Actually, it went out
: after some liquid spilled out of a pot and
: collected in the base of the cooktop.) I am
: hoping someone may be able to help us out.
: After "the spilling incident", the
: ignitor started making clicking sounds (the
: sound it makes when you turn the knob to
: start the gas) even though we have not
: touched the knob at all. We disconnected the
: leads into the ignitor and after we
: reconnected them, the unit stopped making
: clicking sounds but also now doesn't work AT
: ALL. Thinking that the ignitor
: was damaged, we bought a new ignitor to
: replace the old one.

You mean the spark module like pictured below?

: The new ignitor is behaving the same way as the
: old one. (ie. the unit isn't working at all.)

: Any ideas?

For the not working at all, maybe the wires where reattached incorrectly, a wire pulled off from somewhere else or the house fuse for that unit blew? Did someone check to see if the cooktop was still getting power?

For the continuous sparking, likely moisture got into one (or more) of the spark switches (see the link below) mounted on the burner valve stems and was shorting out. Sometimes they can be dried using a hair dryer, etc. but sometimes any effected switches would have to be replaced to correct such a problem.

Dan O.

GE JGP600AEH1 Spark Switch

Re: GE cooktop not working ...

Monique -- Tuesday, 31 December 2002, at 10:04 p.m.

Hello Dan O -

: You mean the spark module

Yes, the spark module exactly as pictured.

For the not working at all, maybe the wires
: where reattached incorrectly, a wire pulled
: off from somewhere else or the house fuse
: for that unit blew? Did someone check to see
: if the cooktop was still getting power?

The wires seemed to be reattached correctly. And yes, the cooktop is still getting power. My husband used a tester and confirmed electricity is getting up to the spark module. As far as a wire being pulled off from somewhere else, I'm not sure about that. Other than the two wires leading to the burner units, is there another wire I should look for?

: For the continuous sparking, likely moisture
: got into one (or more) of the spark switches
: (see the link below) mounted on the burner
: valve stems and was shorting out. Sometimes
: they can be dried using a hair dryer, etc.
: but sometimes any effected switches would
: have to be replaced to correct such a
: problem.

Ok - we will have to check out the switches for moisture. (My husband reports that one switch for sure is wet.) Is it possible for a short in one switch to affect the remaining three switches? It seems that now, all four switches are out. What do you recommend to check if a switch is shorted out?

Monique -

Re: GE cooktop not working ...

Dan O. -- Tuesday, 31 December 2002, at 11:12 p.m.

: Yes, the spark module exactly as pictured.

Good, now we know we're on the same page.

: Other than the two wires leading to the burner
: units, is there another wire I should look for?

There should be wires going to the switches on each burner valve as well.

: Ok - we will have to check out the switches for
: moisture. (My husband reports that one
: switch for sure is wet.)

You can try drying it out with a hairdryer, etc, but sometimes the liquid will leave sediment, etc. in the switches contacts and it will never be perfect again. It might need to be replaced to permanently correct its functioning. They're not usually that expensive though.

: Is it possible for a short in one switch to
: affect the remaining three switches?

One shorted switch will usually cause continuous sparking. One switch open should not normally effect operation of the others.

: It seems that now, all four switches are out.
: What do you recommend to check if a switch is
: shorted out?

The burner switches should open and close between the 2 contacts on it when activated. That is what will have to be checked to see if permanently closed (shorted) or permanently open.

Dan O.

Re: GE cooktop not working ...

Monique -- Wednesday, 1 January 2003, at 12:50 p.m.

Happy New Year!

After much head scratching, we finally figured it out ... thanks to you.

We went back and *rechecked* the placement of the wires into the spark module. In fact, they had NOT been correctly placed. Once we got the wire placement corrected we were able to locate the switch that had shorted.

Thank you very much for your help! The instructions / comments were right on.

Sincerely,

Monique -

Re: GE cooktop not working ...

Dan O. -- Wednesday, 1 January 2003, at 1:13 p.m.

: We went back and *rechecked* the placement of
: the wires into the spark module. In fact,
: they had NOT been correctly placed. Once we
: got the wire placement corrected we were
: able to locate the switch that had shorted.

: Thank you very much for your help! The
: instructions / comments were right on.

Glad to hear it.

: Happy New Year!

You too.

Dan O.
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