If you have a programmable t-stat;
Try jumping the it's contacts manually with the t-stat
off the wall.

Your batteries or t-stat board could be bad.
This would explain all your symptoms.

Either jump the t-stat wires or put a manual t-stat in to check.
Then post back.-br

I wouldn't just go jumping out the t-stat not really knowing whats going on.......sounds like it could be an ignitor issue and or a flame sensor. Call a Technician.

When I flip that main switch, a couple of clicks happen in the furnace then its off and running. When the furnace shuts down whatever clicked at start up doesnt unclick at shutdown and the furnace will not run. What resets in the furnace when the furnace shuts down?

The worst that could happen if you bypass the thermostat is that you will find that the tstat is not the problem, if it's not then I would guess that there is a problem with a ground inside the furnace control system many times when you have these intermittent problems if you take all the control wires apart and put them back together including the ground wires from the burner or gas valve you will cure the problem

You guys keeps saying to jump the t-stat, but it sounds to me that the OP doesn't even have the knowledge to do that, and by trying could possibly short out the transformer, circuit board or all the above. Don't take this wrong Cheesburger, that is why I said to call a Tech.....
Could be a grounding issue, loose screw on the flame sensor, or a number of things that can't be checked over the internet, that why you should call a Tech...

Yes I did connect the red and white wires and the furnace ran forever. So I guess that means I need a new thermostat. What digital thermostat would you recommend?

"......sounds like it could be an ignitor issue and or a flame sensor"

No it doesn't, the unit never went into lockout.

"it sounds to me that the OP doesn't even have the knowledge to do that"

Cheesburger gave an excellent description of specifics.

"...trying could possibly short out the transformer, circuit board or all the above"

No it wouldn't. That would only mimic the t-stat.
Mikenew's advice is spot on.

Cheese - Honeywell or Lux are fine. BTW you did a great job discovering your problem, as well as saved money in a safe and reasonable way.
- Nice job.
-br

Cheeseburger, after removing jumper did you let the furnace cool done and then rejump the wires to see if the furnace would restart again?
if it did work mulitable times then yes sounds like the stat
Let us know the outcome.
Thanks

Even stranger turn of events...When I reconnected the thermostat there was no power to it at all the display was dead. So, I removed the red and white wires and reconnected them now the thermostat works. So it may not be a t-stat issue after all but a bad connection. How do I trouble shoot a bad connection? Should I run some new wire from the t-stat to the furnace? What's the name of the wire I should get? I have a 4 wire gas furnace, red, white, blue and green. Smworker...good point...no it didn't work all the time ...apparently the bad connection seems to be the culprit.

Your t-stat takes it's power from the furnace?
No batteries?
I've seen some furnace manufacturers say don't use that kind.
You sure you didn't swap wires by mistake ?

Yes, you could run new wire - hardware store will have it.
Tell them what it's for.

I once followed a 3 wire hookup back to the stat from the furnace - one of the wires was bare in the wall and was shorting the circuit (only 24v of course) Really it only needed a 2 wire setup but it was a real pill until I discovered it. Furnace acted like the way you described. Let us know how it turns out.
-br

Oh its not the t-stat now is it? Botonanger you need to reread the posts....OP did state
"The furnace will try to restart several times then gives up and sits there dead---until I flip the main furnace switch off/on then it will repeat the above" ..... sounds like a lockout to me.
If you reread my post I also stated
"Could be a grounding issue, loose screw on the flame sensor, or a number of things that can't be checked over the internet, that why you should call a Tech..." .....so don't just go slammin' me and my quotes as if they were way off.

Boltonranger...just to clarify..the t-stat is a Honeywell digital with batteries. If I lose power again on the thermostat I guess I'll run new wire. I recall way back when all this started that the T-stat display flickered once for 10-15 seconds then returned to normal. A short in the wall?

"Oh its not the t-stat now is it?"
I don't know Jeff.

".. sounds like a lockout to me."

A lockout needs a hard reset. Once a primary trips - it won't reset simply by cycling the breaker. You have to re-arm the primary manually.

"or a number of things that can't be checked over the internet"

True, Jeff but diagnosing a lockout over the internet is no more sure than diagnosing a t-stat over the internet.

Jeff - no slams here; just diagnosing what we've been told.

Cheese- All the stat does is make and break a low-voltage connection.
Essentially it's a part of a relay circuit. It opens and closes what is usually a 24v circuit, that's all it does. The stat gets it's working power from the batteries. If the batts are weak; the stat won't reliably close the connection.
IOW it isn't always telling the furnace "it's cold, make heat."
Jeff wasn't wrong-I just don't believe that a diagnosing a bad t-stat is over your head, 24 volts will not hurt you like 120v or 240v.

If you lose power in your display - it's not the 24v from the furnace.
It's the stats internal battery power failing - or some other element of the stat failing ie. bad component on the board, or bad contact on the board etc.

Are your batteries new?
-br

There is some sort of a reset switch on the side of the control pane.Its a 3 amp switch that when I reset it the furnace always runs. Why does this need resetting all the time?

Well Cheese; what you originally described sounded most like a thermostat problem. Tell us what model/make furnace what fuel you burn etc.
-br