The PC486GL is an older-generation 48-inch Professional Series cooktop from before Thermador introduced sealed-burner Star Burner technology, featuring 6 open burners (rated 15,000 BTU/HR on HI, 2,100 BTU/HR on LO) plus a built-in grill module with its own ceramic igniter and removable grate. It’s part of the PC family that also included griddle and wok configurations before the modern sealed PCG rangetop line replaced it.
Because this generation predates Thermador’s current Star Burner and ExtraLow features, repair work centers on the mechanical basics: burner and grill igniter cleanliness, correct flame height and color, and the automatic reignition system that relights a burner or the grill if the flame blows out – there’s no electronic control board or touch interface involved anywhere on this cooktop.
Key Features
- 48-inch Professional Series open-burner gas cooktop, 6 burners plus grill
- Standard burners rated at 15,000 BTU/HR on HI, 2,100 BTU/HR on LO
- Built-in grill module with ceramic igniter and removable grill grate
- Automatic reignition if a burner or the grill blows out
- Predecessor to Thermador's later sealed-burner PCG rangetop line
Most Common Issues on This Model
If you smell gas or a burner/grill blows out repeatedly, shut off the gas supply at the shutoff valve first, then check that the automatic reignition igniters are clean and sparking properly.
A grill that won't light or heats unevenly is commonly a fouled ceramic igniter or a grill burner tube that needs its flame ports cleaned along both sides.
During a power outage, standard (non-ExtraLow) burners on this model can be lit manually - if a burner won't stay lit even with matches, the gas supply or valve is the more likely cause.