Heater Repair, or lack of in my case ?

Took the camper in to a small dealer to get the heater fixed. They turned it on and fan would blow but no heat. So they checked a few routine things and couldn't find anything. Took the unit out to look at it on the bench. Still couldn't find anything wrong. Put it back in and it worked. Said they didn't see any dirt dobber nests or anything but maybe a valve was sticking or maybe a piece of trash or something was holding it. Anyway they cut it on and off a few times through out the afternoon and it worked fine.

The last couple of times I went camping and needed the heat it took a couple of tries for it to come on.

The last time we went out it wouldn't work at all no matter what I tried.

He's charging me for a few hours bench time. 190 bucks worth. I'd have felt much better if he had changed something out. But he was honest about it and told me what they did straight up.

I still feel like theres somethings not gonna work right. They fixed it today, Monday. I'll pick it up early Wed morning and he said he'd be there to run it through the paces again with me there..

Mine did that, sail switch wires had to be re-soldered.

Had the sail switch stick twice, shore power or genset would start it. I found the last time it failed that after running the heater for 3hrs straight that seemed to fix it right up.

Joel

Phillip,

There are few things that have to be present for the heater to work. The ignition sequence goes like this:

Thermostat falls below set point and senses need for heat.
Stat sends command to heater mother board for heat.
Mother board turns on fan
Mother board turns on gas
Mother board sends command for spark (click, click, click ...... until burner tube fires)
Burner tube fires and hot air is pushed through duct work and heats trailer until
Heat causes Stat to reach and exceed TS set point.
Mother board closes propane valve
Fan continues to run until internal thermocouple senses reduced heat in ducts.
Fan shuts down until TS calls for heat again.

So, the furnace needs O2, Propane, a spark and 12VDC power to run.

Do you hear the click, click, click of the igniter trying to fire up the propane. If yes and the furnace doesn't fire, you're not getting gas.
If you don't hear the igniter clicking, then the mother board is probably bad and needs to be replaced. It won't open the gas valve if spark is not present.
If you're hearing the igniter trying to light the furnace and it doesn't, then you're not getting gas to the furnace. Probably the mother board again not opening the valve.

Don't know what else to tell you.

Best of luck.

Two years ago I had a problem with my furnace that seemed to go away just like the tech told you about yours. On mine the fan would start but never get past just blowing cold air for a few minutes and then shut down. It was just before a cold weather camping trip (I noticed it on my check before leaving) so I was a little panicked. I tried everything I could think of including blasting compressed air into the vent outside and banging on the side of it to try and shake things up. Did this for two hours when all of a sudden it fired and has worked great since. So, it is true that sometimes you don't have to change something out to have a furnace work again. It has been two full camping seasons with mine since I had mine stop. Keeping my fingers crossed though.

I'm hoping it will be simple as that.

[quote="schrowang"]
Thermostat falls below set point and senses need for heat.
Stat sends command to heater mother board for heat.
Mother board turns on fan
Mother board turns on gasquote]

I thought when you fired the heater the igniter fires first to heat the tube and once it reaches the correct temperature the blower comes on. When the setpoint is reached the burner cuts off and the blower runs for a min to cool the tubes and then shutsoff.

I have an issue with mine making a loud vibrating noise after it runs for a few minutes and gets good and hot. I don't seem to have alot of air coming out of the ducts either. Do you guys get a pretty good flow out of the vents?

Phillip I guess when push comes to shove and you need some heat, do like we did when I was growing up. The oven was multi purpose! Cooking and heating!

I had a ceramic heater we used when the heat didn't work.

I have an issue with mine making a loud vibrating noise after it runs for a few minutes and gets good and hot. I don't seem to have alot of air coming out of the ducts either

Sounds like your fan bearings or the electric motor are about to go out. should be a good bit of air coming from the vent.

New '06 28RK. Don't use a heater that often here in Arizona, so, worked, then didn't, worked, then didn't. Frustrated! Several attempts at repair. Worked, then didn't. After much problem solving and frustration by owner, manufacturer and dealer finally discovered that the "Stainless Steel burner tube had an accumulation of RUST, yes, RUST inside that would pile up and plug or unplug, depending on the ride to the campsite, thus blocking or allowing gas to the ignitor. Three years after final replacement of "Stainless Steel" burner tube and all here in the "Valley of the Sun" are warm and cozy. Just another anomaly in the journey of the Wildcatter.

"Stainless Steel burner tube had an accumulation of RUST, yes, RUST inside that would pile up and plug or unplug, depending on the ride to the campsite, thus blocking or allowing gas to the ignitor

Thats what I'm guessing is going on with mine.

Picked up the camper this afternoon. First time I've seen it fire up on the first click since I bought it. So I guess it just needed a good cleaning. As little as i've used mine, I guess i'll start cycleing it more often here at home. at least once a month.

If your ever headed down I-16 toward savannah , GA . Steve's RV is in Dublin right off the interstate. He's just a small used dealer. But a straight up guy. I liked dealing with him.