Comfortmaker-No Ignition

[kdc4runner]

I have an Inner City "Comfortmaker" furnace that will not light. Has Pilot-less ignition. When thermostat is raised, fan cycles on, I can hear, and smell, gas valve cycle on momentarily, numerous times, but get no ignition. I have 120v to igniter, for approximately 8 or 9 seconds, prior to gas "solenoid?" activates, then voltage goes to 0v, gas solenoid runs a few seconds, then shuts off. Fan continues to run, and process repeats, after a minute or two. Igniter ohm test shows "open" circuit. Do I just have a faulty igniter? Model # GU1100A121N, SERIAL # LN33215429

[makinmoney]

it sounds like you are on the right path......ignitor bad. Are you a tech asking this question?

[Mr Bill]

gas solenoid runs a few seconds, then shuts off.

Must be a bad gas solenoid, whatever that is, gas is dangerous, I would call a service company, and possibly literally save yourself.

[Mr Bill]

Are you a tech asking this question?

Does he have this under his name? "Professional Member"

[kdc4runner]

Actually, I'm an automotive technician, with a good understanding of electrical systems. This furnace is in my home. I was out of town for 3 days, with my kids, came home, house is cold. The furnace fan is running, with no heat. Followed "restart procedure", this is what I have determined, to be not working.

[makinmoney]

well done Mr.Bill......I missed that! It's always nice to have a second set of eyes.

Sounds like a bad ignitor.....does it glow orange? forget voltage.....it's all about amp draw.......

[Mr Bill]

Actually, I'm an automotive technician, with a good understanding of electrical systems. This furnace is in my home. I was out of town for 3 days, with my kids, came home, house is cold. The furnace fan is running, with no heat. Followed "restart procedure", this is what I have determined, to be not working.

You know Buddy, I can appreciate that, my neighbor is an auto mechanic, owns his own shop. I can do a lot of my own auto repairs, but there is some "like electrical" that blow my mind. Last summer I had an "electrical" issue with my a/c on my truck, I spent two days trying to figure it out, in "HOT" Houston. He drove it to work and brought it home the same day, "fixed" he said he did not want a dime, but I gave him $150.00. Bottom line, is we are just not allowed to do play by plays here, per forum rules, I wished I could help.
Mr. Bill

[kdc4runner]

Dear Makinmoney,
It was a bad igniter. I was pretty sure it was. Didn't mean to step on any toes, or break any forum rules, first time I've ever posted a tech question here.
Sorry about that,
Keith

[Twilly]

well done Mr.Bill......I missed that! It's always nice to have a second set of eyes.

Sounds like a bad ignitor.....does it glow orange? forget voltage.....it's all about amp draw.......

Twilly wonders if giving the consumer the answer to the problem is DIY? Just sayin

[krc12]

call a tech

[VTP99]

He just wanted to let everyone know he was fixing it himself and if anything went wrong there would be a paper trail. :munching:

[uniservice]

So, if you're a homeowner, handy with tools, make a living doing service and repair on cars, trucks, appliances or maybe a maintenance kind of guy, it's cold on a weekend and the furnace man's answering machine says he'll "get back to you." What do you do? Break out the tools and try to determine what's wrong with the heat! You and I aren't going to let the family go all weekend without a water heater or the dishwasher pukes, we're gonna try to get it running. I don't slight the guy for trying to get the family warm. I have a policy that I've adhered to for years. If the H/O is a knowledgeable putterer, I'll walk him through a few "fixes" over the phone. How many times have you saved the day and helped out a customer, when the call goes something like. "I don't have any heat." Ok, does the furnace blower come on when you turn the manual fan switch to On? " No." When did you last change the filter? "Just this morning." There is a switch behind the blower access door, that must be actuated to allow the furnace to run. Check the door and make sure you have it back on the furnace right. "Yup, there it goes! it was just the door! Thanks! Is this encouraging DIY? Simple things like a tripped breaker, or other stuff like a switch accidently turned off, doesn't always require a technical solution.

[Mr Bill]

I have a policy that I've adhered to for years. If the H/O is a knowledgeable putterer, I'll walk him through a few "fixes" over the phone. How many times have you saved the day and helped out a customer, when the call goes something like. "I don't have any heat." Ok, does the furnace blower come on when you turn the manual fan switch to On? " No." When did you last change the filter? "Just this morning." There is a switch behind the blower access door, that must be actuated to allow the furnace to run. Check the door and make sure you have it back on the furnace right. "Yup, there it goes! it was just the door! Thanks! Is this encouraging DIY? Simple things like a tripped breaker, or other stuff like a switch accidentally turned off, doesn't always require a technical solution.

I have personally done this many times, especially during a Nascar race :grin2: but in my business, I make my own rules. This is not my forum, so I don't make the rules here, you are not comparing apples to apples. As Twilli said, the answer was given here, and makinmoney broke the rules of , "NO DIY".

[blownfuse99]

:beat:

[snupytcb]

So, if you're a homeowner, handy with tools, make a living doing service and repair on cars, trucks, appliances or maybe a maintenance kind of guy, it's cold on a weekend and the furnace man's answering machine says he'll "get back to you." What do you do? Break out the tools and try to determine what's wrong with the heat! You and I aren't going to let the family go all weekend without a water heater or the dishwasher pukes, we're gonna try to get it running. I don't slight the guy for trying to get the family warm. I have a policy that I've adhered to for years. If the H/O is a knowledgeable putterer, I'll walk him through a few "fixes" over the phone. How many times have you saved the day and helped out a customer, when the call goes something like. "I don't have any heat." Ok, does the furnace blower come on when you turn the manual fan switch to On? " No." When did you last change the filter? "Just this morning." There is a switch behind the blower access door, that must be actuated to allow the furnace to run. Check the door and make sure you have it back on the furnace right. "Yup, there it goes! it was just the door! Thanks! Is this encouraging DIY? Simple things like a tripped breaker, or other stuff like a switch accidently turned off, doesn't always require a technical solution.

i don't think anyone was putting him down for trying. i and most of us do walk ho's through a few steps. i don't want to go out because someone hit a switch or something simple. but when it gets technical i will be on my way so noone gets hurt. there are just some things unqualified people should not play with. good for him, he got it fixed.

[makinmoney]

Twilli and Mr.Bill are right......I "inadvertantly" broke the rules......

When I first read the post, my first impression was a young tech possibly brand new to service......he had all the info we would normally ask for (I was a little impressed at his detail).

but at the end of the day.....I broke the rules.....

Sorry Guys it wasn't intended.

[uniservice]

Yeah, my bad also. I know the rules. Just hate to see someone go through a weekend or even overnight without heat. Probly why I was out til 10:30 nite before last getting a furnace going for an elderly fellow. What was I thinking? The elderly fellow is 2 years younger than me! LOL

[VTP99]

I see no need for you two guys to apologize. Ya been hear since day one. :patriot: