Skip to Content
  • time delivery images 2 Day Quick Delivery!
  • box-refresh images 365 Day Return Policy!
  • lovely images 15 million satisfied customers
  • boxes images Over 2.1 Million Parts In Stock
  • headphone imagesFree Tech Support!
  • google images Google Trusted Store

Customer Questions and Answers for Top Burner Igniter by Whirlpool

Best Seller
Manufacturer Part
4.89 (64)
By: Whirlpool
Part Number: OEM18033381
Manufacturer Part Number: WP74009336

The Top Burner Igniter is an OEM part for Whirlpool gas cooktops and ranges. This thin metal coil provides the spark to light the burner flames during startup. It is a spark electrode with a male spade connection.

Causes involve cracking of fragile ceramic insulator casings allowing moisture ingress, compromised electrical connections cutting off sparking ability, or general wear reducing spark output strength.

Symptoms of failure consist of:

  • Inability to light one or more front gas burners
  • Click sounds but no flame present when turning burner knob
  • Safety issues arising from unlit gas accumulating

This is a genuine Whirlpool OEM replacement this part is also compatible with Maytag, Jenn-Air and some Kenmore models.

More
$28.95
Compare At:
$34.45
You Save:
$5.50

IN STOCK
Ships Today Guaranteed
Add to Cart

Questions & Answers

For Whirlpool Top Burner Igniter (Part Number: OEM18033381)

1 Answer

Hello Rod, this gas cooktop uses a reignition type of spark module. Check If the burner flame once lit is reaching/touching the ignitor. If so the cooktop needs a cleaning under the burners. The reignition type of spark module flame detection function is sensitive to spillovers/debris/grease getting under the burner bases on the cooktop, it usually starts on the most used burners. Usually just removing the burner bases and cleaning under them corrects it.

Read More...

1 Answer

Hello Robert, turn off the electric and gas supply to the cooktop, remove the grates and unscrew the burner mounting screws that hold the burner base to the orifice holder through the cooktop, the ignitor is part of the burner base assembly. If you need further access to the underside of the cooktop then the cooktop needs to be uninstalled from the countertop and placed on the floor or a bench for this repair, the vent assembly underneath along with electric and gas supply has to be disconnected, then unmount the cooktop from the counter, once is it unmounted start by removing all the burner mounting screws and the downdraft middle trim mount screws, then remove all of the screws all along the underside of the cooktop to the burner box , the cooktop will then lift free of the burner box, and the burner bases are then accessible,

Read More...

1 Answer

Hello Shelley. Remove the screws from the burner head and lift off the burner head. Now you should be able to access and replace the ignitor. Make sure you remove the power from the unit before doing it.

Read More...
Farmer Jim for Model Number Maytag Gemini, and a Kenmore with similar burners and screws

I have 2 gas stoves (a Kenmore and Maytag -- 9 burners total). Maaaaybe 4 of them are easy to replace. The other 5 burners have Phillips head screws, so burnt that a screwdriver doesn't work. Oops -- and one of the 4 burners i took off -- a screw broke. I think i can hold that burner in place with one screw, but i would prefer not to. I can maybe take the broken screw out with a vice grips. But what to do if it breaks again and i can't grip it? Lessee, these are about -- what? -- size 10 screws, 3/4 inch long? They're so-so quality steel screws going thru (not threaded) an aluminum burner into a steel stove top (threaded). The screw heads are recessed into an aluminum well in the burner, and when the screw heads are scorched, they crumble without too much effort. (well, wouldn't you be scorched if you spent your life about an inch below the hot (radiating heat) bottom of a cast iron frying pan doing high temp cooking) So -- what's to do? Use an impact driver? Use PB Blaster to loosen the threads? Drill thru these too small screws and try a screw extractor? something else??? ____________________________ At the top of my to-do-list: Write letters to Whirlpool/Maytag requesting they use screws or clamps or a complete re-design which -- even when scorched -- can be replaced in 15 minutes instead of 2 hours or more! A $100 to $140 repair bill for a repairman to come out and spend his time removing and replacing 10 to 12 screws in a poorly designed cook top is -- not acceptable. Especially, in a $1500 Maytag Gemini. So yeah, yeah, I know Whirlpool bought Maytag, but both companies-- individually -- produced high quality machines. As an analogy, how would it be if you took your Mercedes (comparable quality) to your mechanic to deal with a wheel problem. When you came back, you got a $1000+ bill because 2 of the 5 lug nuts broke the bolts off at the hub, and a 15 minute remove-the-wheel operation took several hours + new hubs and wheels on 3 of the 4 wheels. I've spent many hours working on older Maytags and Whirlpools -- washers, fridges, dryers, stoves -- and have never run into sloppy design like these stovetops. What would it take to redesign the top so the burners are held in place by something other than these severely under-built screws? And why do aluminum burners need replacing within the lifetime of the stove. I've worked on many brands of stoves and the older burners never needed replacing. Is this intentional (or even unintentional) planned obsolescence?

1 Answer

Farmer Jim, If the screws are burnt in where they will not come out then you would want to use an extraction tool to try to remove it. For the one that is already broken you will want to drill it out or remove it from the underside with pliers.

Read More...

1 Answer

Aaron, based on the model number the replacement knob is part number WPW10175692. Per the manufacturer the knob should fit with no issues. The manufacturer does not offer an accessory page for your model. We can, however, suggest griddle part number 4396096RB. Thanks.

Read More...

1 Answer

Beth, "Bake Burner and Ignitor Removal 1. Turn off electrical power and gas to the range. 2. Disconnect gas and power from unit. 3. Remove oven door, racks and oven bottom. 4. Remove screws securing bottom bake cover. 5. Raise the back of the bake burner cover and slide cover back to release the front edge of cover and lift out of oven cavity. 6. Remove screws securing bake burner assembly to the oven chassis. 7. Maneuver bake burner from the burner orifice and out of the slotted location. 8. Pull forward on assembly to allow the ignitor terminal plug to pass through the back of the oven cavity. 9. Disconnect terminal plug and remove assembly from the oven cavity. 10.Remove screws securing ignitor to bake burner. 11. Replace and reassemble in reverse order."

Read More...

1 Answer

Hello Ken, First off, all surface burners are designed to spark when any of the surface burners spark. That said, the spark module actually senses the resistance of the flame and if it thinks the flame has gone out, all surface burners should spark as per the design. Most of the time clearing the orifice with a stripped down bread tie and making certain a good ground is supplied to the burner area will take care of this issue. If ground is measured to be about the reading shown when the meter leads are touched directly together, the issue can be a failing ignitor WP74009336 or ignitor wire. Worst case scenario would be a defective spark module WP8286828.

Read More...

1 Answer

Cathi, You will want to check the ignition switch on the burner valve for that burner. Turn the switch to the on position and see if there is continuity across the leads. If there is continuity then the issue will be with the burner switch. If there is not then the issue would be with the spark module.

Read More...

Have questions? Ask our pros!

Contact us in a way that is convenient for you

Call us 1-877-477-7278
Need Help? Chat with a Pro
Or ask a question by filling in the form

Share your thoughts with other customers

Ask a Question
  • boxes images Over 2.1 Million Parts In Stock
  • time delivery images 2 Day Quick Delivery!
  • box-refresh images 365 Day Return Policy!
  • headphone imagesFree Tech Support!
  • google images Google Trusted Store