XPARTCO 316489403 Gas Oven Igniter

My igniter glows but the oven won't light — do I still need to replace it?

Yes. A glowing igniter that fails to light the oven is actually the most common way these parts fail, even though it seems backwards. The igniter has two jobs: it must get hot enough to ignite the gas, and it must draw enough electrical current to open the gas safety valve. With age it can keep glowing, so it looks fine, while weakening until it no longer draws enough current to open the valve. No gas is released and the burner never lights. If the igniter glows orange but the burner hasn't lit within about 90 seconds, the igniter is weak and should be replaced. As a rule of thumb, more than 90 seconds from glow to flame means the igniter is on its way out.

Is the 316489403 the bake igniter or the broil igniter?

This is an important distinction, and there's genuine confusion in the industry about it. On many Frigidaire gas ranges, the 316489403 is used as the broil (upper) igniter with an approximately 14–16" lead, while the bake (lower) igniter is a different part — 5304506545 (which superseded 316489404) — often with a shorter lead. However, some sources and parts diagrams list them differently or even reversed, and on some models the 316489403 serves the bake position. The safest approach: look up YOUR specific model number to confirm which igniter you need, and compare your old igniter's lead length to the replacement. If your old igniter's leads reach a connector far from the igniter (14–16"), the 316489403 with its 16" lead is likely correct. Contact our support team with your model number and we'll confirm.

Why do I smell gas when I try to use the broiler?

If you smell gas when the broiler's safety valve opens but the burner doesn't light, it usually means the igniter isn't getting hot enough (or drawing enough current) to ignite the gas that's being released — so raw gas escapes before shutting off. This points to a weak igniter. To confirm which part is at fault: with the gas off, do a voltage test at the oven safety valve on the broil side — you should read between 3.0 and 3.3 VAC. If the voltage is correct but the burner won't light, the igniter is the problem. If there's no proper voltage, or the burner tube has spider webs or debris blocking it, address those first. Also inspect the gas supply tube from the safety valve to the burner for damage or loose connections.

Why do I need to handle the igniter so carefully?

The igniter's heating element is made of silicon carbide, a material that's excellent at withstanding heat but is brittle and cracks easily from impact or flexing. Even touching the element with bare fingers can leave oils that create hot spots and shorten its life, and a small bump can crack it invisibly, causing premature failure. Always handle the new igniter by its metal bracket, never by the element or the ceramic block. When installing, be careful not to bump the element against the oven walls or burner. This care is the single biggest factor in whether your new igniter lasts years or fails early.

Is this an OEM or aftermarket part?

This is an aftermarket replacement part built to OEM-equivalent quality standards. It is not a genuine Frigidaire/Electrolux OEM part, but is manufactured from silicon carbide and ceramic to match the electrical specifications (3.2–3.6A, 120V AC), flat open-cage style, dimensions (3-1/2"L x 1-3/4"W x 13/16"H, 16" lead), and ignition function of the original 316489403 gas oven igniter used in compatible Frigidaire, Electrolux, Crosley, Gibson, Kelvinator, Tappan, White-Westinghouse, Ikea, and Kenmore gas ranges and ovens.