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Gas Cooker Oven Not Heating: Fix & Troubleshooting

Quick Answer

If your gas oven isn't heating up, the glow bar igniter is usually the culprit even if it is still glowing orange. First, check if the range burners work to rule out a gas supply issue, then look for a bright orange glow at the bottom of the oven.

In fifteen years of doing this, a dead oven is probably my most common service call. And it's usually just the igniter wearing out, which is a cheap fix if you catch it early. But here's the thing, ignoring a weak igniter puts extra stress on the gas safety valve, and that part costs three times as much. Don't let a $25 problem turn into a $90 problem.

GenericGascookerSeverity: highDifficulty: intermediate85% DIY Success
Time to Fix
30–90 min
Difficulty
intermediate
Parts Cost
$30 – $250
Tools Needed
Phillips #2 screwdriver, 1/4 inch nut driver

Gas Cooker Oven Not Heating: Fix & Troubleshooting

Diagnostic costs for a pro usually start around $100, but you can honestly narrow this down yourself with a basic multimeter and about 20 minutes. Most gas oven failures are electrical, not mechanical. The safety systems are actually doing their job by blocking gas flow because something's failing. Which means once you find the bad part, you're probably looking at a pretty straightforward swap.

Most Likely Causes

Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:

Weak or cracked glow bar igniter65%
Blown thermal fuse or high limit thermostat15%
Faulty gas safety valve solenoids10%
Control board relay failure7%
Broken or clogged bake burner tube3%

Symptoms You May Notice

  • The igniter glows orange for 60, 90, even 120 seconds but no flame ever appears and the oven just stays cold.
  • Nothing glows at all when you set it to bake, like the whole circuit's completely dead.
  • There's a faint gas smell right when you turn it on, then it fades, but the oven never lights and nothing heats up.
  • Takes 45 minutes to reach 350 when it used to take 15, and it never quite gets all the way there anyway.
  • Broil works perfectly fine but bake does nothing, or the other way around.

Can you reset a Generic gascooker to clear the NOT-HEATING code?

Most gas ovens don't have a dedicated reset button. But you can reset the electronic control board by unplugging the unit or flipping the circuit breaker off for 60 seconds, then powering it back on. Sometimes this clears a relay glitch and the oven fires right up. If a component like the igniter is physically broken though, a reset won't fix anything. You'd know because the igniter still won't glow after the reset, and you're right back where you started.

Tools Required for Diagnosis

Phillips #2 screwdriver1/4 inch nut driver5/16 inch nut driverDigital multimeter with continuity modeNeedle-nose pliersFlashlight or headlampWork gloves

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

ComponentComponent Under Test
Expected Range40–400 ohms
ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.

Replacement Parts

If your diagnostic testing proves the component has failed, you will need a replacement. We recommend OEM parts over aftermarket for water-handling components.

Part Name
Oven Igniter (Flat Style)74007498 · $30–$85
Gas Safety ValveWPW10293964 · $110–$250

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my igniter glow but the oven won't light?
A gas oven igniter has to reach a specific temperature to draw enough current to open the safety valve. Over time the igniter element thins out and its resistance changes. It might still glow orange, but it's no longer pulling the 3.2 to 3.6 amps required to trigger gas flow. If it glows for more than 90 seconds without ignition, it's almost certainly weak and needs replacement. Don't be fooled by the glow. A dim, slow orange glow is basically a failing igniter that just hasn't completely died yet.
Can I light my modern gas oven with a match?
No, don't try it. Modern pilotless gas ovens use a safety valve that only opens when the electronic igniter reaches a specific temperature and amperage threshold. If the igniter isn't working, the valve won't release gas, so a match won't do anything useful. You'd basically be waving a lit match around with no gas coming out. And if by some weird chance gas did release while you were in there with a flame, that's a very, very bad day.
How long should a gas oven igniter last?
In a typical household, a standard glow bar igniter lasts somewhere between 5 and 7 years. If you're running a lot of self-clean cycles or baking every single day, expect it on the shorter end of that range. Since it's basically a wear item like a light bulb, I usually tell heavy bakers to keep a spare on hand. They're usually $20-40 depending on the brand, and having one in a drawer means you're not eating takeout for a week waiting on shipping.
Why do my stove top burners work but the oven doesn't?
The stovetop burners and the oven use completely different ignition systems. Top burners use a spark module and electrodes, while the oven uses a glow bar igniter and a gas safety valve. They're on entirely separate electrical circuits. So it's actually really common for one to fail while the other keeps working perfectly. If your burners are lighting fine, that rules out the gas supply issue and points you straight toward the oven igniter circuit.
How much does it cost to fix a gas oven that won't heat?
Depends on the part. If it's just the igniter, you're probably looking at $20-50 for the part and about an hour of your time. Thermal fuse is $10-15. Gas safety valve runs $60-120. Control board is where it gets painful, $150-300 for the part alone. If you're calling a tech, add $100-150 for the service call on top of labor. Most igniter repairs done by a pro come out to $150-250 total. Doing it yourself cuts that to under $50 in most cases, which is why this is a great first DIY appliance repair.

Models Known to Experience NOT-HEATING Errors

This repair applies to most Generic gascookers with this error code. Common model numbers include:

NX58H5600SS, NX58R6631SS, JGB660SEJSS, WFG505M0BS, WFG715H0ES, LRG3081ST, FFGF3054TS, MGR8800FZ

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Written by

Mike Sullivan

Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 20 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on May 20, 2025