Stove top ignitors "snapping" indiscriminately.

We have a propane fired oven/stove in our home. It has ignitors to light the propane. You turn the burner on, ignitor snaps, propane lights, you cook. 

For the last few days however the ignitors have been snapping on their own. Just a random snap. Never done this before. Sounds like a leaky spark plug wire, if you know what I mean. Could the heat and humidity and condensation be causing this?

Did something spill on them? This can happen if they get wet. How humid is it?

Steve_Jones said:

Did something spill on them? This can happen if they get wet. How humid is it?

Two things: when my wife cleans she absolutely loves excess water. I go behind her and sponge up what I can. And it's HUMID here. I took the top apart and dried up everything. No snapping since I first posted a little over two hours ago. 

The excess water seems to make the connection between the top and ground, so they try to fire. I’ve only had this happen on a propane stove (which we currently have). 

While the burner is on, or randomly while it is off?

If they tend to keep sparking after the burner is lit, I usually find a carbon trail across the ceramic insulator. Scraping that clean with a razor blade or knife edge stops it. 

vwcorvette said:

For the last few days however the ignitors have been snapping on their own. Just a random snap. Never done this before. 

Duke said:

While the burner is on, or randomly while it is off?

If they tend to keep sparking after the burner is lit, I usually find a carbon trail across the ceramic insulator. Scraping that clean with a razor blade or knife edge stops it. 

Burners off. Been gone most of the day. Will check with wife.

Snapping returned. Removed the base and cap. Spark is jumping from electrode to base. One burner in particular. I turned off the lights to watch in the dark.

Pics to come.

This is the burner that is in question. Doesn't look too good to me, but what do I know. Spark will jump from electrode in center of ceramic pylon to cylindrical tower to the right.

This is the burner control knob. All wires in harness (red) are good with no cuts or abrasions.

Looking up parts thru Kenmore...woah

Hrmm, last part of post cut off.

Parts are pricey. 

Could problem be ignitor module? Will look up testing procedure ( if there is one online).

I’m a 15yr appliance veteran. It’s my day gig. Make/model please? Looks Frigidaire, or the Kenmore equivalent. 

Its either the ladder switch (all those burner switches are parallel.) or spark module. $29 says someone got crazy with the windex when cleaning, and sloshed it in cavity where the burners switches reside. Fyi- ALL igniters should arc when even ONE burner is activated. 

In reply to _ :

Kenmore, model number 790.36932902

I tested the switches for continuity and they are working fine. No fluids in or on.

Cleaning bases with mix of baking soda and vinegar. Scrubbed with toothbrush. Washed off and drying in the toaster oven.