A gas burner lights when a spark reaches a clean flow of gas at the burner port. Break any part of that chain and you get clicking without flame, or a burner that lights then dies. At altitude, low-flame control is already sensitive, so a partly clogged port or a tired igniter shows up sooner here than it would at sea level.
The Most Common Causes
- Fouled or wet igniter: spills and cleaning leave residue or moisture that stops the spark from reaching the gas.
- Burner cap off-center: a cap seated slightly wrong misaligns the spark and the port.
- Clogged burner port: debris blocks the gas from reaching the spark.
- Weak spark module: a failing module produces a spark too weak to light, or makes every burner click at once.
- Faulty burner switch: a worn switch will not complete the spark circuit.
Notes by Brand
Wolf: dual-stacked sealed burners rely on a clean spark path, so a fouled igniter or an off-seated cap is the usual cause of one burner not lighting. A weak spark module makes all burners click.
Viking: professional ranges often need the burner ports cleared and the igniter cleaned, and occasionally a new spark module.
Thermador: star-burner cooktops can misfire when the cap is off or the igniter is wet, both quick to correct.
La Cornue and other ranges: we clean and test the ignition path and replace the specific failed part with Genuine OEM Components.
Symptom-To-Cause Reference
| What You Notice | Likely Cause | Our Repair |
|---|---|---|
| One burner clicks, no flame | Fouled igniter or off cap | Clean, reseat, replace igniter |
| Lights then goes out | Clogged port or weak flame | Clear port, tune burner |
| All burners click | Weak spark module | Replace spark module |
| No spark at all | Burner switch or wiring | Test switch, repair circuit |
| Poor low simmer | Partly blocked orifice | Clean orifice, adjust |
Burner Out Before Dinner?
Book a diagnosis and we will get it lighting reliably. Diagnostic and travel fees, if applicable, are confirmed before the appointment and before repair approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does My Burner Click but Not Light?
Is It Safe to Keep Trying the Burner?
One Burner Is Out but the Others Work, Why?
Related
Range Repair
Full range ignition service.
Cooktop Repair
Standalone cooktop ignition faults.
Oven Not Heating
When the oven side will not fire.