Gas Cooktop Not Working: Separate gas supply, ignition, and burner faults

Use only checks that match the exact appliance or system and its official guide.

1. Check 1

   Turn all controls OFF and inspect from a safe position. If there is a gas smell or hissing, an uncontrolled flame, delayed bang, smoke, scorch mark, spark, hot wiring, or a control that will not shut off, leave immediately and contact emergency or gas service from outside; do not move the appliance.

   Expected result: Record whether all burners fail or only one, whether the cooktop has power or indicator lights, whether a gas smell is present, and whether the symptom is no click, click with no flame, or flame that will not remain lit.

   Next step: If no hazard is present, continue with the control-lock and supply checks. If a hazard is present, keep people away and wait for qualified help.

   Stop if: Do not operate switches, relight repeatedly, or touch the appliance after a suspected gas leak, uncontrolled flame, smoke, spark, or damaged electrical connection.

   Why this matters

   Why: A shared failure points toward supply, lock, or common ignition; one-burner failure points toward local cap, port, or igniter conditions. Any fuel or fire symptom ends ordinary checks.

2. Check 2

   Read the exact model manual and inspect the visible control panel for a Cooktop Lock, Control Lock, or locked indication; also confirm from a safe, dry position that the cooktop is connected as installed and that an accessible gas shutoff has not been intentionally closed, without moving the appliance or touching gas tubing.

   Expected result: Record whether the lock is active, whether power was recently interrupted, whether all burners fail together, and whether the visible shutoff position and installation match the manual.

   Next step: Use only the manual's documented unlock command. If the lock is clear but every burner remains inactive, stop and arrange qualified service rather than opening the supply path.

   Stop if: Do not move the cooktop, disconnect tubing, adjust a regulator, purge a gas line, or use an unverified control sequence.

   Why this matters

   Why: Whirlpool notes that a control-lock state can prevent surface burners from operating and that a shared no-flame condition can involve the gas connection or shutoff. A lock that will not clear or an uncertain supply requires model-specific or gas service.

3. Check 3

   If there is no gas smell or other hazard, use the exact manual's normal ignition position and observe from normal standing distance whether the selected burner clicks and produces a spark; keep hands, clothing, and face away from the flame area.

   Expected result: Record whether there is no click or spark, a click and spark with no flame, a flame that lights then goes out, or a stable flame that appears only after repeated attempts.

   Next step: Turn the control OFF after the single observation. Follow only the model-approved dry-out or burner-care path for a cool, dry appliance; request service for no spark, no flame, delayed ignition, or repeated flame loss.

   Stop if: Stop for a delayed pop, gas odour, uncontrolled flame, a flame outside the burner, yellow or lifting flame, smoke, or ignition that continues after OFF.

   Why this matters

   Why: No click or spark suggests the control, power, igniter, or lock path. A click or spark without flame suggests gas supply, cap, port, moisture, or ignition-position issues. Delayed or unstable flame is a safety and service condition, not a reason to keep trying.

4. Check 4

   With every control OFF and the burner completely cool, remove only the cap and head parts the exact manual identifies as user-serviceable; wipe visible spill residue, let parts dry thoroughly, and reinstall the correct cap flush with the base without force.

   Expected result: Record whether the burner was wet, dirty, cracked, tilted, on the wrong base, or visibly clear and correctly seated, and whether the fault affects one burner or all burners.

   Next step: Make one normal ignition observation after the parts are dry and restored. If the burner still fails or the flame is abnormal, leave it OFF and arrange qualified service.

   Stop if: Do not clean a hot or lit burner, enlarge or distort ports, remove jets, swap caps by appearance, or operate without the cap in its intended position.

   Why this matters

   Why: Whirlpool identifies moisture, cap position, and burner-port condition as causes of poor ignition or popping. A clear, dry, correctly seated burner that still fails shifts the diagnosis toward the igniter, switch, gas path, or control.

5. Check 5

   If a burner lights but repeatedly goes out or its igniter keeps clicking, note whether a spill, wind, downdraft, or strong ventilation draft is disturbing the flame; turn the burner OFF if it cannot remain stable and do not change gas pressure or the vent installation.

   Expected result: Record whether clicking starts after the flame is blown out, whether a downdraft moves the flame, whether the burner reignites, and whether the flame remains stable when the control is OFF.

   Next step: Follow only the exact manual's ventilation and flame guidance. If the flame remains unstable or clicking persists, keep the cooktop unused and arrange qualified service.

   Stop if: Do not shield a flame with combustible items, alter the downdraft, adjust pressure, or continue with a burner that lifts, goes out, or smells of gas.

   Why this matters

   Why: Some flame-sensing cooktops retry ignition after an external draft or spill extinguishes the flame. Persistent clicking or repeated flame loss can still indicate an igniter, sensor, burner, or gas issue.

6. Check 6

   After the lock, supply, ignition, and cool burner checks, perform no more than one model-documented retry; record the model, burner, knob position, flame state, and result instead of opening the cooktop or repeating ignition attempts.

   Expected result: Record whether the burner lights promptly and holds a stable flame, whether all burners remain inactive, whether the same burner fails, or whether clicking, popping, smoke, odour, or abnormal flame returns.

   Next step: Give qualified service the model, fuel type, failure pattern, visual observations, and any code or lock indication; leave the cooktop unused until the cause is addressed.

   Stop if: Do not keep relighting, open the control panel, disconnect gas tubing, test energized wiring, or continue after a gas, fire, or electrical symptom.

   Why this matters

   Why: A single successful retry after drying or cap alignment supports a temporary local condition. A persistent failure or recurring unsafe symptom requires diagnosis of the gas, ignition, sensor, burner, or control system.