Day and Night furnace problem

[tp bird]

I have a Day and Night furnace model #394GAW000075 and the problem that the electronic ignition but does not lite intermittent pilot when stat call for heat the spark trying to lite the pilot but does not lite sometimes other times it does.When it don't lite I can put a match in there and it lites right up and works.Everything seems to be work getting gas and spark any ideas why this happens *

[heatseeker]

The spark ignition is failing and no I don't know where you can get one. You would be better off replacing that old furnace with new at this point in time.

[how]

Often it will be debris build up in the throat of the pilot assy cobra head. The pilot gas comes out but is deflected away from the spark path enough to make ignition intermitant or not at all. With the power off, see if a small screwdriver can scrape away any build up and then give it a good blow with a straw.
In the field I also find cobra heads that are loose and have slipped slightly out the original position or the electrode needing to be re positioned deeper into the pilot gas path.
Also make sure that the entire wire from the ignition control to the igniter is positioned to be as air insulated from metal as is possible.
And is none of this fixes it then you can try to use the pilot gas pressure to dislodge
any limiting orifice debris by using a heavy screwdriver to rap on the pilot assy when it's attempting to light. Strike only the metal pilot assy base as you would hold a pool cue and use only as much force as you might use to knock on a front door. The vibration combined with the pilot gas pressure will often clear the orifice of debris. If it was pilot orifice debris then the pilot flame will enlargen when cleared.

Only do any of this if you have nothing left to lose in trying, because these attempts may also stop it from working completely..

[heatseeker]

If you have a dent in your car and can't fix it with a screw driver drive it off the side of a mountain because that will make it work not at all.

[how]

Yeah, why try a few simple things that might fix it for free when for 3K+ you could just replace it.
Yup its a good life when everyone has money to burn..

[heatseeker]

When it comes to gas appliances it's never a good idea to simply "bang on stuff" to see if it works.

[how]

Yes, who could compare to your helpful two lines of "no interest in helping, just replace it mantra".

[heatseeker]

How and DIYer Let me put it this way, Day and Night furnace, OBSOLETE, But guide the DIYer to bang on the gas valve with a hammer to see if it can still blow up.

[how]

The base of pilot assy is different from the gas valve..

[heatseeker]

Do not repeat do not bang on furnace with any apparatus period, dot, !