jerryspoolman
Corning CA
Senior Member
Joined: 11/25/2003
View Profile
 Offline
|
My Suburban heater quit working, it is about 4 years old. When turned on it goes through the 3 cycles trying to ignite, but never makes it. I m not sure if it is not enough propane or a weak ignite voltage.
I sense propane in the exhaust when it is trying to light, I use a portable propane leak detector. I removed the cover off the burner and see some spark. I do not have any experience, so I do not know if the spark is strong enough or if it is positioned properly. Any Ideas?
Just Jerry and Vangie
|
RlphKnndy496
Sedro-Woolley , WA.
New Member
Joined: 05/12/2008
View Profile
|
in my experiance it was always the thermal couple...little ceramic probe sticking out next to the pilot flame...with a white wire conected to it...unplug wire and then reattatch..turn on furnace and turn up the heat...the fan should blow first..and then it should try to light..if it still dont buy a new one or clean the end of it..99% that is it
|
javaseuf
California's Gold Coast
Senior Member
Joined: 03/30/2005
View Profile
|
There is no thermocouple in a DSI furnace nor a pilot light.
The safety device is called a flame sensor and it's job is to sense the main burner flame.
If the furnace is completing three ignition tries, then most likely there is no ignition. This can be caused by a number of issues from a clogged orifice to a weak spark to a defective board or flame sensor.
Time for a qualified tech to have a look. It gets expensive changing out parts until the problem is resolved.
FYI..........Never clean a flame sensor with sand paper. Use emery cloth only. Sand paper will leave silica behind and when the flame heats this residue, it turns to glass which then becomes an insulator on the flame sensor and will not sense the flame.
Steve
2007 Springdale 291RKL
2003 F150 King Ranch
2001 Dodge Van w/Wheelchair Ramp
1991 Palomino Mustang PUP
Eureka Timberline Tent
Yamaha IF2400isc
Yamaha EF3000iSEBC
"Politically Incorrect And Proud Of It" 
|
Bob&Billye
Pueblo West, Colorado(Spring-Fall)Tucson Az(winter
Senior Member
Joined: 04/26/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
I am a mechanically challenged person but our problem was the propane regulator. I checked by having the burners on the stove on and then tried to get the heater to work and you could see the flame drop significantly. Had a tech person come in with a tool that measures the pressure of the propane and he said its the regulator. REplaced it and never had another problem..bob
Bob and Billye
Bairne the dog and Max the cat
Retired USAF
2003 Winnie Journey DL 36
Towing 2007Honda CRV
Raodmaster Falcon 5250 Tow Bar
Brakebuddy Vantage tow brake system
|
PackerBacker
Montreal, Quebec,Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 08/22/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
We also had a faulty propane regulator on our 5th wheel a few years ago. There was enough flow to light the stove but not the furnace. Changed out the regulator and solved the problem.
Eric
2009 Holiday Rambler Admiral 33SFS
Good Sam's - FQCC/Camping Quebec - KOA
My Photos
|
|
|
Harvard
51.37N 114.42W
Senior Member
Joined: 12/24/2005
View Profile
|
What if there is oil in the copper line to the furnace?
|
Moose10
displaced Alaskan
Senior Member
Joined: 01/30/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
PackerBacker wrote:We also had a faulty propane regulator on our 5th wheel a few years ago. There was enough flow to light the stove but not the furnace. Changed out the regulator and solved the problem.
I had the same problem this past weekend! Temps were in the upper 20's to mid 30's, and it was our first trip with the new rig. Well our first bottle ran out sometime late Saturday night and I didn't have the other bottle open (mainly because I wanted to see how long the first one would last). So I go out in the morning and open the valve...figuring the auto changeover would work...it didn't. So I moved the lever manually, and the indicator window stayed red. The stove would light, but the flame was very low even on the high setting. The furnace fan would kick on, and I could hear the ignitor, but the burner never lit. So I switch the selector lever on the regulator back towards the right (the empty bottle), then swap bottle positions and everything worked fine. Time for a new regulator.
2001.5 Ram 3500 4x4 QC Sport ETH/DEE
'06 PlayMor Sport 3612 LX
'05 K-Z Sportsmen Sportster 29P (SOLD)
'97 Toyota 4 Runner
'03 Polaris 700RMK VE, MBRP can
'04 Polaris 600RMK VE
'04 & '05 Suzuki Eiger 400's
|
