Find the burner door on the furnace and look behind it to find the ignitor. Turn it to “OFF” and wait for five minutes. After you wait, turn it back on and return the door to the burner. It is important to make sure the switch on the door is properly engaged.
Often, the furnace does not work because there is no electricity coming from the power source. Reset The Ignitor: If the system is not working, resetting the ignitor could work. To reset, turn off the power that feeds the furnace, then turn off the power circuit.
The igniter could be dirty, or clogged. Try cleaning it with soapy water and a brass wire brush. If that doesn't help, a replacement igniter can be easily ordered and installed.
Simply place your key into the ignition and turn it on for 1-2 seconds, then turn it off for 1-2 seconds. Repeat this step three or four times. If the check engine light remains after the reset, you might still have a problem with your vehicle.
First, find the reset button on your car's ignition. This is usually located near the steering column. Once you've located the reset button, press and hold it for a few seconds. Next, insert your new key into the ignition and turn it to the “on” position.
There is a work-around to waiting. If there is no safety risk (like a gas leak), a furnace can be reset to bypass this wait. Turn off the furnace's power switch and wait 10 seconds before turning it back on.
So, if your furnace is failing to ignite, it's a good idea to check the air filter. If it looks clogged up, then this is probably the source of the problem. Change the air filter and see if your ignitor will then begin to work again. If not, then this isn't the cause of the issue.
In the event of an automatic pilot light, you'll simply use the red ignition button to spark a flame that lights your pilot light. Automatic pilot lights are most common on newer furnaces.
One of the most obvious signs of a faulty ignitor is a furnace that's not heating or suddenly stops blowing warm air. If your thermostat setting is correct but your home remains cold, the ignitor might be to blame. You may notice that the furnace blower is running, but no warm air is coming from your vents.
Checking your thermostat is the best place to start. Make sure it's set to “heat” and that you've set the temperature higher than the current room temperature. If that doesn't resolve the problem, try switching your fan to “on” to force the furnace to start working.
A multimeter can be used to help determine if a glow-bar style furnace igniter has sufficient electrical continuity – a continuous electrical path present in the part – for the igniter to function properly.
In most newer systems, the button is often directly next to the blower motor, while in older systems, it may be harder to spot as it is sometimes underneath or behind the motor. The reset button is often made of yellow or red plastic and marked with a large “R ” to make it easier to spot.
A heat exchanger that is overheated at shutdown could radiate extra heat on the ignitor to damage it or its ceramic base, especially in closed combustion systems like those Coleman or Intertherm downflow furnaces you find in modular and mobile homes.
You can reset the ignition on your furnace simply. To do this you must cut the power to the furnace first by turning off the circuit that powers it. Once the power is off you can remove the burner door to reveal the ignitor. Turn this to “off” and leave it off for at least 5 minutes.
First, confirm the switch is in the "on" position, and if it is, see if your furnace starts up. If the switch is flipped down in the "Off" position, then your furnace will not turn on. If your heating system still does not start up, it might be due to a blown furnace fuse or tripped circuit breaker.
Make sure that the igniter is making a clicking noise when you press the igniter button. If it doesn't click, then the wires may not be connected properly, the battery may be dead or installed incorrectly, or the igniter module may have failed.
Insert a spark plug tester into the plug boot (end of the wire) and ground it on a piece of clean, unpainted metal on the engine. Have someone crank the engine and watch for a spark. If you have a good spark on all wires look for timing problems or other issues.