We have a fairly new heater. went to turn on the pilot light and it won't ignite. what do you think is wrong? gas has been turned on before igniting

Not to sound silly, but are you pushing the igniter button down hard enough so it snaps? If so, your igniter is no good. Try to light the water heater the old fashioned way by using a match. I would use fireplace matches since they are long enough to reach the pilot light point.

Generally, if a RV water heater is self igniting, then it is not designed to be lit manually. If you remove the outside vent cover door, then the unit can be observed. The self igniter should be visible at a point of where the pilot light is located. The problem with trying to light the water heater manually is that the circuit that activates the igniter also turns on the gas at the same time. If the igniter is not getting power, then most likely the valve to turn on the gas is not getting power either. If the problem is that the igniter itself has failed, then it may be possible, but unlikely, that with someone inside activating the turn on switch and a flame being applied to the pilot light area, at the same time, the pilot may light.

spk I think means spark for ignition and plt means pilot so i assume the heater tried to light but the pilot light is not staying on. could be dirtly contact on the ignition spark plug or dirty pilot flame need to be cleaned and the unit serviced.

i hope this was useful.

turn gas supply on....turn gas valve to pilot....press down and hold to allow gas to come through pilot tubing.....light the pilot right by the thermal couple, once lit hold valve down for about 60-90 secs...then release ur hand on the gas valve and turn the valve to on position............make sure the bloody tstat is turned off before doin anything other wise burners will fire up soon as you turn valve to on position

Copy following links
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-gas-water-heater.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-gas-water-heater.html#pilot
http://www.thetankatwaterheaterrescue.com/forums/forum3/

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

hot surface igniter may not be hot enough to ignite the burners

Burners don't have anything to do with the problem of pilot not lighting. Is the problem that flame will not 'stay' lit? Or you can't even get a flame to ignite? If former: possible bad pilot generator or bad gas valve. If latter, possible bad gas valve or no fuel to ignite.

It is probably something much more simple than that...Turn it on and stand back until it finally ignites, then look, using a mirror, at the burner tray from below. You will probably find a lot of the tubes, especially those near the pilot area, are not working or are burning bright orange. If that is the case, something, probably spiders, are blocking the gas from getting into the tubes. That will cause the big burst at ignition as the gas builds up for a bit before it finally reaches the pilot area.

THIS HEATER DO NOT HAVE A PILOT YOU MUST HAVE A DIFFERENT MODEL. DO YOU GAS? TURN KNOB TO PILOT PRESS. LIGTH PILOT WAIT FOR 60 SEC AND RELEASE IF STAY ON TURN KNOB TO ON. IF TURN OFF PILOT MUST BE REPLACE

Most new dryers don't actually have pilot lights. They use an electric heater that turns red hot, and ignites the gas at the right time. If your trying to light the pilot light (which probably doesn't exist) because the gas isnt being ignited,,, its possible that the electric igniter needs to be replaced.