Home Garden

My GE XL44 Gas Stove Ignitor Glows But It Will Not Light

The GE XL44 gas range, which is no longer manufactured by General Electric, has an electronic ignition and uses natural gas to heat the oven and stove. If the ignitor glows on the stove but the burners will not light, some cleaning and troubleshooting are needed to get the stove working again.
  1. Power and Gas Supply

    • The stove burners will not light completely if the electrical power to the GE stove is not fully connected. Check the power cord and connect the plug fully into a grounded outlet. If nothing on the stove or oven is working, try performing a reset or replacement of the fuse or circuit breakers. Check the gas supply valve and ensure the valve is fully opened to the left for proper gas flow.

    Clogged Burner Ports

    • Stove top pilot lights will remain lit but the flame will not ignite if the burner hole is clogged. Turn off the stove and all surface control units and remove the burner heads and caps when the stove is cool. Use a twist tie or a sewing needle to carefully clean the burner hole on the side of the burner to remove grease, food or debris. Do not enlarge the burner hole, as this may cause damage or a malfunction.

    Burner Heads and Caps

    • When the burner heads and caps are dirty, the pilot light may get obstructed and the flame will not operate correctly. Make a note of where each burner head is positioned on the stove top before removing them for easier replacement when cleaning is complete. Clean the burner heads and caps by soaking the caps and heads in warm, soapy water for 30 minutes. Scrub carefully using an old toothbrush or soft cleaning sponge to remove dried on or burned-on food or debris. Rinse the heads and caps thoroughly and dry them well with a towel before reassembling the burners.

    Burner Assembly

    • Replace the burner heads over the electrodes on the stove top in their previous locations, positioning the burner head slot over the electrode. Place the matching cap onto the burner head. The caps are stamped with the size on the bottom of the cap for easier placement. Make sure the burner heads and caps are firmly installed before attempting to use the stove top. Contact GE for service if the stove still does not light.