07/44 Ignition
Viking Griddle Igniter
The igniter hidden under the griddle plate that lights the griddle's own burner.
- Written by
- Hollis Yamada
- Works on
- Service technician — refrigeration and cooking
- Experience
- 21 years in the trade
- Published
Where the igniter sits
A Viking range with a griddle has a burner of its own under the steel plate, with its own igniter and a thermostat. Viking’s service manual reaches them by lifting the plate out: the igniter is screwed into the box beneath, the thermostat bulb clipped nearby. Which kind of igniter your griddle uses is confirmed from the model number.
How it fails here
The griddle stays cold, or clicks without heat, while the top burners behave. Out of sight, the igniter collects what runs off the plate, grease and cleaning water, which dry slowly in damp foothill air. The larger kitchens of Talus are where 48-inch ranges with griddles turn up most. The visit starts with the igniter, then the gas feed and the griddle thermostat, because a failed thermostat can leave a cold plate with a sound igniter. Where the griddle is the last thing wrong on an older range, a 48-inch range with a dead griddle weighs the choice.
Signs and thresholds
| What you notice | The line it crosses | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
| Griddle stays cold while every top burner lights | Knob set to a heat and nothing after a minute or two | Turn it off; igniter, gas supply to the griddle and thermostat are checked. |
| Clicking from the griddle but no heat | Happens every time, not just after cleaning | Igniter position or condition checked under the plate. |
| Griddle lights late with a soft whoomp | Any delayed lighting | Stop using it until the igniter and burner are inspected. |
What you can do yourself
- Check the griddle knob is fully on and at a heat setting, not resting between off and low.
- If the griddle was just cleaned with water, leave it off and let it dry for a few hours before trying again.
- Do not lift the griddle plate or reach under it; the igniter and burner are service parts.
- Stop there. Anything past this is a job for Viking Repair Issaquah — call (425) 920-9484.
When to call
Call when the griddle stays cold with its knob set to a heat, clicks without lighting, or lights late with a soft bang.
Call (425) 920-9484Asked about the griddle igniter
Why does my Viking griddle not heat when the burners work?
The griddle has its own burner, igniter and thermostat, separate from the top burners, so one can fail while the rest carry on. The igniter under the plate is a common culprit, but the thermostat is tested too. Viking Repair Issaquah checks all three on the visit; call (425) 920-9484.
Can I take the griddle plate off to look at the igniter?
Please do not. Viking's service manual reaches the griddle igniter by lifting the plate and working in the burner box beneath it, and the box holds the gas burner and wiring. Keep the knob off and let Viking Repair Issaquah do that part; call (425) 920-9484.
Is a griddle that lights late dangerous?
It can be. Gas that gathers under the plate before lighting catches with a soft bang, which is hard on the parts and can push flame out at the edges. Stop using the griddle until it is inspected. Viking Repair Issaquah checks the igniter and burner; call (425) 920-9484.
