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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> Help. Furnace quit last night and it was 14 degress this morning.
Post Info TOPIC: Help. Furnace quit last night and it was 14 degress this morning.
tobyjack


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Help. Furnace quit last night and it was 14 degress this morning.
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Our furnace has been working great, until last night. We keep it set at 58 Degrees until bedtime and then turn it down to 50.  It was working fine until about 9 last night.  It started getting cold so I went back to check the thermostat and it was down to about 50 though set at 58.  I powered it off and then back on and it started up but shut down after about 3 minutes.  I pulled the cover and waited five minutes then had my wife turn it on while I watched.  The flame lit and burned strong, again for about three minutes then the flame went out.  I turned it off, pulled the igniter and found it covered with carbon.  I cleaned it with sandpaper and put it back in.  The flame came back on when started and it ran for about five minutes before again shutting off.  I have no idea how to test it to see what is wrong.  It is supposed to be warm today through Sunday, but next week lows will be in the low teens again.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.



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Lucky Mike


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could be a bad flame sensor..... or faulty valve....unfortunately you dont post type of heater or year of your coach so it makes it difficult to give any worthwhile info.....

Need more input

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 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

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My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
The Bear II


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Sounds like it might be a bad thermocouple. It's the sensor that allows the propane valve to stay open when a flame is present. If the sensor is bad or has moved out of alignment it will shut off the flow of propane. Do not clean it with sandpaper.

It's usually located along side of the igniter.

Here's a site that may be of help.

www.ducktec.com/furnace-trouble-shooting.html

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tobyjack


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Lucky Mike wrote:

could be a bad flame sensor..... or faulty valve....unfortunately you dont post type of heater or year of your coach so it makes it difficult to give any worthwhile info.....

Need more input

 Sorry, cold and not thinking  clearly I guess.  It is a suburban nt-34sp furnace in a 1990 36 ft airex.



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Lucky Mike


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pull the thermo couple.......5 dollar part at the hardware store ! that would be a good start , buy 2 because for the year of your coach your fridge and hot water also have one and a spare is a nice thing in a hurry. its pretty easy job and wont take long

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 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
tobyjack


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I see the igniter, but not the thermocouple.  Where is it located?



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Lucky Mike


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My fault.....you have a flame sensor sequence......if you cleaned the carbon off the rod in the gas chamber the odds are it was a flame sensor/ igniter rod.

you are going to have to start with replacing the rod first.......if you go online you can download the troubleshoot for that unit rather quickly.

your going to need that troubleshoot chart and a multimeter or your going to be throwing alot of parts at it.

with the chart it will go quickly...........this is a sealed gas chamber appliance....use caution tampering with it , if you are unsure of what you are doing stop........find a qualified servicer ,bad things working with explosive gas happen quickly and have serious results.

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 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
tobyjack


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Just ordered an igniter.  Can't find one locally, so I have to wait for Monday.  According to the service manual the gap should be 1/8".  When I pulled it last night it was over 1/4".  Can I squeeze it down to 1/8"?



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Lucky Mike


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yes you can.....be gentle or you could crack and create a short in the ceramic insulator. its not a recomended thing to do ....but if it gets you heat during the interim its a good thing!




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 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
tobyjack


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Will try that when I get back there tonight.  Hope it works or my wife and dog will be leaving me soon.  I would really miss that dog.



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Lucky Mike


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you also might try jumping out the thermostat to see if it is what is giving you the problem..

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 1998 ...Harney Renegade DP  class A

rers1@mail.com

 

My Service dog and life partner " Nikki"......Klee Kia Miniature Husky....(she Runs the ship!!)

We are not lost in the Woods.....Just Extreme boondocking!!!!!!
tobyjack


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Posts: 17
Date:
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Will try that too.  Just bought a portable indoor propane heater so we can at least stay warm until I get the parts.



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