There is a flame sensor failure.
Here is the ignition sequence for a furnace. This will help you understand what is happening/not happening.
Thermostat calls for heat.
draft inducer motor (DIM) starts drawing draft through heat exchanger.
Pressure switch detects proper operation of DIM, and sends signal to board to begin ignition.
(it detects negative pressure)
Ignitor starts ignition attempt and gas valve sends gas to burners.
Upon ignition, flame sensor detects flame and sends signal to board stopping ignition sequence and continuing gas flow for heat mode operation until thermostat is satisfied.
During this sequence the blower motor is brought on, and by using a series of temperature limit switches, the system assures that the unit is operating properly.
(If the blower is not operating, or the airflow is inadequate, the heat exchanger will overheat and trip one or more temp limit switches.)
There is also a "rollout" switch that detects improper flame pattern "rolling out" into the controls compartment.
Now, to apply that to your situation.
If the flame sensor does not sense flame, it shuts down the furnace to prevent a dangerouse gas build up.
With most modern glow coil ignition systems you have one of two failures.
1) the flame sensor is bad and needs to be replaced.
2) the control board is not proccesing the signal from the flame sensor and shuts the system down. In that case the board would need to be replaced.
There is a possibility that a temperature limit or roll out switch is breaking the curcuit, but that would be quite unusual to happen consistantly at three seconds.
Unless you have the ability and tools to test the snesor and board, the next step would be to replace the sensor first, and then the board if that does not fix it.
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