Quick Answer
Common causes include a dead igniter battery, a loose or corroded electrode wire, a wet or greasy electrode tip, an incorrect spark gap, a poor ground at the burner, or gas that is not reaching the left burner at all. Check first whether you hear a click: no click points to the battery and module, while a click with no flame points to gas delivery or electrode position.
Which symptom matches yours?
- Pressing the igniter produces no sound at all
- The igniter clicks but you see no spark at the electrode
- There is a visible spark but the burner does not light
- The left burner lights, but centre and right do not follow
- Ignition works when dry and fails after rain or a wash-down
Diagnostic decision tree
No click, no spark
→Battery first, then igniter module and wiring.
Click but no visible spark
→Electrode tip, spark gap and ground connection.
Spark present, no flame
→Gas is not reaching that burner — check cylinder, regulator bypass and burner ports.
Left burner lights, others do not
→Crossover channels are blocked or the burners are misaligned.
Fails only when wet
→Dry the electrode and ceramic insulator; look for a cracked insulator tracking to ground.
Fixes, easiest first
1. Replace the igniter battery
AddressesThe most common cause of a silent igniter.
- Unscrew the igniter button cap on the control panel by hand.
- Remove the AA battery and fit a fresh one — note the polarity, which is commonly positive-toward-the-button on Weber electronic igniters.
- Refit the cap finger-tight and press the button with the gas off, listening for a rapid clicking.
Expected resultA steady, rapid clicking sound within a second of pressing the button.
When to stopIf clicking returns and the grill lights, you are finished.
2. Clean and inspect the electrode
AddressesGrease, moisture, corrosion or a cracked ceramic insulator preventing a usable spark.
- Turn off the gas at the cylinder and let the grill cool. Remove the grates and Flavorizer bars.
- Find the electrode at the left burner. Wipe the metal tip and the white ceramic insulator with isopropyl alcohol on a cloth, then dry thoroughly.
- Inspect the ceramic for hairline cracks — a cracked insulator leaks the spark to ground and must be replaced.
- Check the gap between the electrode tip and the burner: manufacturer service documentation for Weber gas grills specifies a small gap in the region of 1/8 inch. Adjust gently if it has been knocked wide or closed.
- Confirm the wire is fully seated at both the electrode and the igniter module.
Expected resultA visible white-blue spark jumping from the electrode to the burner in dim light, with the gas off.
When to stopReplace the electrode assembly if the ceramic is cracked or the tip is eroded away.
Check for spark only with the gas cylinder valve closed and the cookbox aired out.
3. Check the ground path
AddressesA spark needs a clean metal ground; corrosion or paint breaks the circuit.
- Confirm the burner is properly seated and metal-to-metal with the cookbox.
- Scuff any surface corrosion where the ground wire or bracket meets the cookbox.
- Reseat the ground wire terminal if the module uses one.
Expected resultSpark jumps to the burner rather than arcing at the module or dying inside the wire.
When to stopIf ground is clean and there is still no spark with a fresh battery, the module or wire has failed.
4. Rule out a gas-side problem masquerading as ignition failure
AddressesSpark present, burner not lighting.
- Verify the cylinder is not empty and the valve is fully open.
- Run the regulator reset procedure: a bypassed regulator can deliver too little gas to catch at the electrode.
- Inspect the left burner's ports near the electrode for blockage, and clear the crossover channels between burners.
Expected resultThe burner catches within a couple of seconds of the knob reaching high.
When to stopIf a match at the burner lights it but the igniter never will, the fault is electrical, not gas.
If the burner does not light within about five seconds, turn the knob off, leave the lid open, and wait at least five minutes before trying again so unburned gas can clear.
5. Light the grill manually while you wait for parts
AddressesKeeping the grill usable safely.
- Open the lid.
- Locate the match-lighting hole described in the Spirit owner's manual.
- Insert a lit long match or extended lighter, then turn the left burner knob to high.
- Once the left burner is lit, turn on the centre and right burners.
Expected resultImmediate ignition of the left burner and crossover to the others.
When to stopIf the burner does not light within five seconds, shut the knob off and wait five minutes before retrying.
Never lean over the cookbox while match-lighting, and never light with the lid closed.
Weber Spirit E-310: what makes this model different
- Ignition type
- Battery-powered electronic Crossover ignition (single AA)
- Spark point
- One electrode at the left burner; centre and right light via crossover channels
- Typical spark gap
- Roughly 1/8 inch between electrode tip and burner, per Weber service documentation
- Manual lighting
- Match-light hole provided; lid open, left burner first
- Service parts
- Igniter module, electrode and wire assembly, battery cap
When to stop troubleshooting
- You smell gas while troubleshooting ignition — stop, close the cylinder valve, and let the cookbox air out.
- Repeated failed lighting attempts without waiting five minutes between them; accumulated gas can flash back.
- Visible arcing at the igniter module, melted wire insulation, or a scorched control panel.
- The electrode ceramic is cracked or the wire insulation is damaged — replace the parts rather than continuing to spark them.
- New battery, clean electrode, correct gap, good ground and confirmed gas flow, but still no spark: order the igniter kit or contact Weber support.
Sources and references
- Weber Customer Support — gas grill troubleshooting — Weber-Stephen Products LLC
- Weber owner's manuals and parts diagrams (Spirit series) — Weber-Stephen Products LLC
- Propane safety: cylinders, regulators and leak checks — Propane Education & Research Council
Procedures are summarised from the sources above and from the owner's manual for this model. Always follow the manual supplied with your grill where it differs.