Helping a PCM Troubleshoot a No Spark Problem on a GE ZGU385 Gas Cooktop

A Parts Changing Monkey (PCM) attempted to fix a GE gas cooktop that was not sparking on any burner by simply replacing two parts: the transformer and the spark module. No troubleshooting, just shooting from the hip, blindly replacing parts and hoping to get lucky.
Well, he didn't get lucky.
And besides, real technicians don't rely on luck to get things fixed. We rely on knowledge and the skillful application of that knowledge to troubleshoot and identify the problem.
In this video, I show you how a professional technician would approach the problem using a systematic troubleshooting approach.
Learn how to troubleshoot like a pro from the inside out at the Master Samurai Tech Academy: mastersamuraitech.com

[@89DrFunk]

I'm going to be honest I feel naked without looking at a schematic. I love looking at schematics to see or have an idea on what I'm dealing with. I've also learned a lot from your videos as well.

[@gassanali8667]

A valuable concentration of knowledge outstandingly delivered! I've learned a lot through your KZbin videos and I'm continuing my learning. It's great to see schematics being used properly for their purpose. I'm an electrician and I sometimes have to troubleshoot and repair heavy equipment electrical problems. Our boss seems to hate schematics. He believes that real troubleshooting is to go through the jungle of wires and getting lost and getting found again. I believe the complete opposite. I wish I get a chance to show some of your videos to my boss. He might change his mind after seeing your way of dealing with electrical problems. Thank you, the Samurai Repairman!

[@AppliantologyOrg]

I had a similar problem back in my engineering career, when I worked at an engineering consulting firm. The pumps that another engineer in the company had specified were all failing due to cavitation. No one had a clue what was going on. I did a quick net suction head calculation and showed them that the reason for the cavitation was the NPSH was too low. The guy who ran the firm mocked, “Oh, Mr. Scientist!” We were all engineers, this was sophomore engineering stuff and they’re all mocking it like monkeys. Those monkeys lost a bunch of money and I quit my job and started doing appliance repair to be self employed. Moral of the story is that PCMs run in every trade and even engineers have their PCMs. Keep learning and one day go out on your own and start your own business.

[@gassanali8667]

@@AppliantologyOrg The only reason that's preventing me from doing a course from Master Samurai Tech is my geographical location. I'm from the Maldives. A small island country which derives its income from fishing and tourism. We are still considered as a developing country and things are stagnant on the technical and industrial side. It would be almost impossible for me to get the schematics and other documents for appliances being sold in this region. I might be able to get a reasonable amount of jobs and earn some money. But without the schematics and real troubleshooting, there won't be no fun. And without fun, I can't be consistent at what I do. That's why I'm squeezing all the free information I can get from your channel and site. I'm learning the basics that can apply to any technical problem at any field. I'm also doing an undergraduate program from my country. Maybe I'll join your CART course when I'm done with that one. Thanks!

[@AppliantologyOrg]

In your situation, enrolling at MST may not be the best option for you. Keep watching the videos here and reading the blog posts at Appliantology and you’ll learn more than most techs already in the trade. You might consider other trades besides appliance repair. With your electrician background, maybe look into setting up home solar power systems or something along those lines. At my age, I’m more interested in teaching people who want to learn than I am about making money. I have lots of webinar recordings at Appliantology with tons of in-depth technical training. Those videos are only available to tech members at Appliantology and aren’t hosted on KZbin. You can see a list of them here: appliantology.org/announcement/33-webinar-recordings-index-page/ If you’re disciplined, you can learn almost as much from those videos as you can from the MST Core course. If you’re interested, use the contact form at Appliantology. My son, Sam, runs that site and he’ll figure out a way to make those webinar recordings available to you: appliantology.org/announcement/19-contact/

[@gassanali8667]

@@AppliantologyOrg I should not hesitate for a blink of an eye. I'm addicted to your teachings. Thank you for your kindness!

[@DeeOne88]

So what was the problem in the end? since all you talked about were the transformer and the spark module in this video and both part's have since been replaced but still not working.

[@octaviooro9182]

Good explanation, precise and accurate. Thanks.

[@jfarinacci0329]

You are a really good teacher. Thank you.

[@AppliantologyOrg]

Thank you! 😃

[@abaenaful]

very nice video as always .

[@Den-ef7uy]

Thank you, VERY HELPFUL 💪

[@samsscia]

And I thought you only provided Real World Training on Fictitious Brand Appliances...Hello Acme!

[@syedbasheer8210]

Great🍾

[@philclinton9430]

What was the problem with the burner igniter? Did I miss the resolution to the problem?

[@AppliantologyOrg]

In this example, it was possible the spark module was wired incorrectly. I explain all that beginning at 11:37.

[@slikevents]

What if only 2 ignitors are working? Put new ignitors on all 4. Switched wires?

[@abaenaful]

test igniters before replacing them. i would check for 240v at spark module too.

[@livehealthy1135]

Hey i replaced my both parts it worked and after sometime its just stopped working can you walk me through

[@AppliantologyOrg]

Great question! Myself and other techs can help you with that over at the Appliantology forums. Posting is free. Post your question with all details here: appliantology.org/forum/60-diy-appliance-repair-help/

[@Dzonemp]

I find it kind of upsetting that there are people out there trying to fix appliances that can't preform basic trouble shooting.

[@AppliantologyOrg]

Unfortunately, this is the norm these days. Over the past 20 years or so, the science of troubleshooting has been largely lost to the appliance repair trade due to old timers retiring and new techs coming in who have almost no electrical skills or understanding. Many techs today don’t even know what real troubleshooting is anymore. They confuse pattern recognition for troubleshooting. When faced with an electrical problem in an appliance, many techs resort to going on a forum and asking “has anyone seen this before.” They think this is troubleshooting. In other words, they just want “the answer”. It never occurs to them that they can learn how to think through the problem using the schematic and specifications. Or they regard such skills as academic or “too sciency”. It’s not all their fault. The schools today are simply not cranking out kids with logical thinking skills. We see this in the appalling mathematical illiteracy among many techs today. Thinking of electricity in terms of the simple Ohms Law equations is absolutely mind blowing to some. But the good news is that the Master Samurai Tech Academy is bringing back the lost troubleshooting skills and over 2,000 techs have benefitted from our online training and many more from the webinars at Appliantology. Bringing back lost skills to a trade takes time. One of the biggest obstacles is with the techs themselves, convincing them that both they and their customers would benefit from our training. But It is happening one tech at a time.

[@calvingaudette]

What is meant by PCM

[@calvingaudette]

Just hit me parts changing monkey 🤣 was thinking it was a technical term

[@roseelectronics4582]

@@calvingaudette Everyone wants to be a PCM until they learn what it stands for lol 😂

[@jamesnogames]

Parts Changing 🙊 monkey