Gas burner how-to
How to turn on a gas stove with a lighter — and which part failed
When the igniter won’t spark, a long lighter gets a surface burner going in seconds if you do it in the right order. Here is that order, and what each ignition part does.
- Lighter lit first, then the knob
- No flame in 4 seconds: off, wait 5 minutes
- Never hand-light the oven or broiler
Short answer
To turn on a gas stove with a lighter, light a long-reach lighter first, hold the flame at the edge of the burner ports, then push in and turn that one knob to its light or HI setting; the burner should catch within about 4 seconds. If it doesn’t, turn the knob off and wait at least 5 minutes for the gas to clear before you try again. This is for the surface burners only, never the oven, broiler, griddle or char-grill.
Needing a lighter means a link in the ignition chain has failed. A burner that lights and then goes out usually has a flame-side problem instead, such as a misplaced cap.
Lighting a surface burner by hand
Check your manual first: some electronic-control models say not to use the range without power. Treat hand-lighting as a stopgap until the repair.
- Use a long-reach lighterA grill-style lighter keeps your fingers clear. Roll back sleeves and move towels away.
- Flame first, gas secondHold the lit tip at the side of the burner cap, where the ports are. Gas first and flame second lets gas pool, and it lights with a whoosh.
- Turn one knob onlyA Viking 5 Series sealed burner is 15,000 BTU on natural gas (12,500 BTU on LP), so gas arrives quickly. The ring should light all the way round within about 4 seconds.
- Pull back and set the flameMove the lighter away and adjust. A steady blue flame is right; a lazy yellow one, or one lifting off the ports, is not.
- No flame? Off, wait, once moreTurn the knob off, wait 5 minutes, check the cap is seated and try again. Two misses means stop and book a repair.
No click at all? Viking’s 5 Series manual says to turn the knob off and check that the range is plugged in and the breaker or fuse hasn’t tripped.
The parts that normally light the burner for you
Knowing which link broke tells you whether it is an owner fix or a technician job.
Burner switch
Each knob closes a small switch that tells the spark module to fire. A boil-over or wet sponge can leave every burner clicking with the knobs off. A wet switch often recovers once dry; a burned one is a parts job.
Spark module
The module makes the high-voltage pulses you hear as clicking. When it fails, no burner sparks, or several die at once. On a 5 Series range it also handles re-ignition, relighting a burner if the flame goes out while gas is still flowing. It sits near line-voltage wiring, so it is technician work.
Igniter
The white ceramic post beside each burner. A wet or greasy igniter sparks weakly; a cracked one sparks inside the crack, where it never meets the gas. Drying and cleaning are owner jobs; a cracked igniter gets replaced.
Burner head, cap and ports
Viking’s 5 Series manual says to clear clogged ports with a straight pin, never a toothpick or anything that enlarges them, and on reassembly to keep the head’s tabs off the igniter, the cap level and the arrow pointing to the back. Miss one and the burner lights unevenly, or lights and goes out.
Valve and regulator
The knob’s valve meters gas, and a factory-installed regulator that must never be bypassed holds 5 Series ranges at 5.0" W.C.P. manifold pressure on natural gas or 10.0" on LP. Low pressure means small flames that blow out easily. That is work for a technician or the utility.
Lights, then goes out: symptom to cause
| What happens | Likely cause | What you can check | When to call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lights, then dies a second later | Cap off-center or clogged ports | Re-seat the cap, arrow to the back; clear ports with a pin | A clean, level burner still won’t hold |
| Goes out, clicks, relights over and over | Re-ignition fighting a draft, a damp igniter or a very low setting | Close windows, dry the igniter, turn the flame up a little | It cycles on HI with no draft |
| Every burner weak, dies on low | Low supply pressure or a regulator fault | Are other gas appliances weak too? | Right away; never adjust the regulator |
| Lights with a lighter, never clicks | No power, a burner switch or the spark module | Plug and breaker; whether other burners click | Power is fine and nothing sparks |
| One burner clicks but won’t catch | Wet, greasy or cracked igniter | Air-dry for several hours; look for cracks | Cracked, or no change once dry |
Never light these by hand
- The oven or broiler. On a 5 Series range the 30,000 BTU U-shaped bake burner and the Gourmet-Glo infrared broiler are both lit by the SureSpark ignition system, and a closed oven can collect gas before a flame reaches it.
- A griddle or char-grill section.
- Any burner while you smell gas, or within 5 minutes of a failed try.
An oven that won’t light is its own repair; see Viking oven not heating.
What each ignition repair typically costs
- Surface igniterOne burner, replaced when cracked or burned. Typical: $220–$380.
- Burner switchOne knob’s switch. Typical: $260–$450.
- Spark moduleFeeds every igniter. Typical: $450–$1,300.
- Oven bake or broil igniterFor an oven that won’t light. Typical: $300–$520.
Every visit starts with the $89 service call, waived with the repair. More: the burner clicking guide, range repair and cooktop and rangetop repair.
Questions Viking owners ask us
How do you turn on a gas stove with a lighter?
Light a long-reach lighter first, hold it at the burner ports, then turn the knob to light or HI; it should catch within about 4 seconds. If not, turn it off and wait 5 minutes before trying again.
Why does my gas stove light, then go out, then turn off?
Usually the flame isn’t burning all the way round, so it dies once the spark stops. Re-seat the cap level, clear the ports with a straight pin and dry the igniter. If every burner is weak, suspect low gas pressure and call for help.
How much does it cost to fix a burner that needs a lighter?
A surface igniter typically runs $220–$380, a burner switch $260–$450 and a spark module $450–$1,300, parts and labor. The $89 service call is waived with the repair.
Related Viking help
Last reviewed October 8, 2026 by the Viking Repair Co. service team.
Tired of lighting burners by hand?
We repair Viking igniters, burner switches and spark modules across the Bay Area. $89 service call, waived with repair.