Check out some op-amp circuits. I don't have time now but it's decently simple to make a circuit that will only illuminate an LED when there is a small resistance at the end of the wire. These things can easily be done with an op-amp and a current mirror circuit. Simply apply about 1mA down the wire, and measure the voltage across the current source. If it's very high, it's an open. If it's very low, it's a short. There should be a value (I say experiment) where the voltage lets you know of a good igniter.
I wish I had some time to draw you out a circuit, these things make my Electrical engineer senses tingle!
EDIT: you could also use some sort of Wheatstone bridge circuit for greater sensitivity. I think my favorite contiunuty checker was someone who bought a bunch of cheapo multimeters (search surplus sites) and actually measured the resistance of the igniter.