I have taken my camper back to the dealer, under warranty, thankfully. Just wondering if others had the same problem and what was the solution if anyone has had this issue. Sorry this post is long, but you have to know what has happened to understand the concern.
History first, so you understand what has been done already. Last winter (2010) we had issues with the furnace not wanting to light when it was switched on at the thermostat. AC unit worked properly, no problems. Temperature was consistant on AC. Heat, not so good. When we would go to the camper at our RV campsite, on the weekend, and turn the furnace on, sometimes it would light correctly. It would turn on the blower, as it is supposed to, then try to light up to 3 attempts. Sometimes it would light right off, but sometimes it would go through all 3 and not light. Turn off the switch, wait a few minutes, and then turn it back on. You could smell gas outside, so I know the gas valve was and is still working to supply gas to the chamber. The dealer sent a repair guy to look at it, and they replaced the LP regulator, told us that it was bad. They even replaced the thermostat OK thought we were good to go, and went that next weekend and no joy. Same ole same o. End of season, it would work more often than not. Thought it was just the way it was designed, not at all happy.
Now. Went on a trip the last week, and had tried the heat, it worked fine, before we left, thought it would be fine. WRONG. On the 3rd night of the trip it was chilly, and tried the furnace, it did work and cycled like it should have done, thought things were great. 4th morning, it would not light and it got cold. Turned the switch off, and back on, things went to working. That evening, after traveling about 90 miles, getting to the weekend camping site, Temp in the low 40's outside, turned the furnace on, worked great that day, and into the night. However, on Saturday morning, it was back to its old tricks. Openned the outside cover, looking for any clue. Moved a couple of wires to see better, and turned the unit back on, worked. Didn't last. Had to move the same wires that went to the circuit board to the left of the motor, and then the unit worked. Called the dealer from the road, and told them I would be back in on Tuesday of this week, and was unhappy with the performance of this unit. Same problems all weekend, and Monday night on the way home we stopped, and it worked one cycle to heat the camper, and then would not light to produce heat. Thankfully I have a second unit with a heat pump, so I can heat the camper while on shore power. Had a generator over the weekend providing power, and didn't want to overload the generator.
Today, the dealer told me that they had worked on it, and it was not working. They took the unit out, and readjusted the fan blades to get more air to the cell inside the chamber, and they thought it was working. Put it back in, and no joy. They are working on it.
Has this happened to others, and what was the cure. I am told Suburban is a good heating unit. Water heater works fine. All the LP bottles are on, and at least one is full, and the other one is about half full, so that is not an issue. You can smell gas when it is trying to light so I am convinced that gas is not the issue. It is electrical, but what.
Thanks all for any help. I am asking in case the dealer runs into a brick wall. Obviously a new furnace is the last resort.
History first, so you understand what has been done already. Last winter (2010) we had issues with the furnace not wanting to light when it was switched on at the thermostat. AC unit worked properly, no problems. Temperature was consistant on AC. Heat, not so good. When we would go to the camper at our RV campsite, on the weekend, and turn the furnace on, sometimes it would light correctly. It would turn on the blower, as it is supposed to, then try to light up to 3 attempts. Sometimes it would light right off, but sometimes it would go through all 3 and not light. Turn off the switch, wait a few minutes, and then turn it back on. You could smell gas outside, so I know the gas valve was and is still working to supply gas to the chamber. The dealer sent a repair guy to look at it, and they replaced the LP regulator, told us that it was bad. They even replaced the thermostat OK thought we were good to go, and went that next weekend and no joy. Same ole same o. End of season, it would work more often than not. Thought it was just the way it was designed, not at all happy.
Now. Went on a trip the last week, and had tried the heat, it worked fine, before we left, thought it would be fine. WRONG. On the 3rd night of the trip it was chilly, and tried the furnace, it did work and cycled like it should have done, thought things were great. 4th morning, it would not light and it got cold. Turned the switch off, and back on, things went to working. That evening, after traveling about 90 miles, getting to the weekend camping site, Temp in the low 40's outside, turned the furnace on, worked great that day, and into the night. However, on Saturday morning, it was back to its old tricks. Openned the outside cover, looking for any clue. Moved a couple of wires to see better, and turned the unit back on, worked. Didn't last. Had to move the same wires that went to the circuit board to the left of the motor, and then the unit worked. Called the dealer from the road, and told them I would be back in on Tuesday of this week, and was unhappy with the performance of this unit. Same problems all weekend, and Monday night on the way home we stopped, and it worked one cycle to heat the camper, and then would not light to produce heat. Thankfully I have a second unit with a heat pump, so I can heat the camper while on shore power. Had a generator over the weekend providing power, and didn't want to overload the generator.
Today, the dealer told me that they had worked on it, and it was not working. They took the unit out, and readjusted the fan blades to get more air to the cell inside the chamber, and they thought it was working. Put it back in, and no joy. They are working on it.
Has this happened to others, and what was the cure. I am told Suburban is a good heating unit. Water heater works fine. All the LP bottles are on, and at least one is full, and the other one is about half full, so that is not an issue. You can smell gas when it is trying to light so I am convinced that gas is not the issue. It is electrical, but what.
Thanks all for any help. I am asking in case the dealer runs into a brick wall. Obviously a new furnace is the last resort.