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thecatsandi · 04-08-2006, 09:02 PM

Hi all,
Well I got up early Wednesday morning and headed out for the Dealer.
I arrived about 1/2 hour early. They were in the final stages of cleaning when I arrived.
i got a quick tour on my baby before the shop guys went to lunch. During that time I did the paperwork. After lunch they took my truck in for the hitch work. We then started the 3 1/2 hour orientation session.

I spent evening moving what I brought from the truck to the trailer and the night at the dealer test driving everything. It all checked out. I had a few questions about some of the systems but. I went to sleep and was awakend by the sales people opening up the trailer the next morning. I was really tired.
I left there mid-day thrusday and headed for my friends about three hours away. Dinner Friday with friends in Virginia Beach and the night with my father in Newport News. My first tunnels. Somewhere on the way home the water heater on Gas died. Will have to call the dealer monday. Fortunately the electric still works.

More later,
Time for bed. In my trailer in the driveway of my house. The only fully assembled bed is in the trailer....

Michelle and Butter Cup (the trailer)

SafeHarbor · 04-08-2006, 10:02 PM

Hi, Michelle,

Be smooth and SAVE this call to the dealer. You shouldn't expect the water heater to run when towing. A stiff breeze can blow it out when parked, and running with it towing sounds dangerous to me.

Of course, this may well not have been what you meant! If you mean that you can't restart it now on gas... that's different.

Some of the newer water heaters have a remote start switch somewhere. It may flash red to show that the water heater is starting. Since you mentioned running it on electricity, I'm guessing that you have one of the dual power models. They take a lot of juice all by themselves, so you may find that you can't run the elec. element and your airconditioner at the same time.

Congratulations on the new Airstream. I usually hang out in the vintage area, so I'll leave this for the folks more familiar with the new models and their equipment to answer.

Enjoy that new trailer, and if you're ever in deepest dixie, save some of that new trailer smell for me.

Lamar

bradk · 04-08-2006, 10:17 PM

Glad to hear the delivery went without issue!

Enjoy the rest and you're new rig!

brad.

thecatsandi · 04-09-2006, 06:26 AM

Lamar,
I meant the heater worked while parked my friends in Va beach. It was off during the travels. The heater control and display is in the bathroom. When turned it on last evening it lit then went out. Then did the same thing again. and again. Then the red light came on. This according to the manual means it failed to ignite. It has electronic ignition. I took a look last evening and there are no obvious signs of loose wires or something broken. I am going to check the gas line for a loose fitting today.

I am passing within an hour ofthe factory next week and my have to stop if they can fix it there.

Chaplain Kent · 04-09-2006, 06:43 AM

What an exciting day! Please do keep us posted of the adventures of Butter Cup.

lewster · 04-09-2006, 07:26 AM

Michelle,

CONGRATS ON THE NEW BABY! What type of heater is it....Atwood or Suburban? Model #? Let me know and I can give you a few spots to look at for fault testing.They are fairly simple beasts and only have several areas that would cause non-ignition.

I've had my CCD since Dec and it still smells new (maybe that's ecause it IS!)

wheel interested · 04-09-2006, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

Lamar,
I meant the heater worked while parked my friends in Va beach. It was off during the travels. The heater control and display is in the bathroom. When turned it on last evening it lit then went out. Then did the same thing again. and again. Then the red light came on. This according to the manual means it failed to ignite. It has electronic ignition. I took a look last evening and there are no obvious signs of loose wires or something broken. I am going to check the gas line for a loose fitting today.

I am passing within an hour ofthe factory next week and my have to stop if they can fix it there.

Maybe because of the travel air is in the line or the gas dissipated and it will take some time for the gas to make it from the tank to the water heater. Try waiting a minute in between restarts. Also have the electric switch off when lighting the gas.

Congratulations and can't wait for pictures!

SafeHarbor · 04-09-2006, 12:48 PM

Hi, Michelle,

It sounds like you have the auto-start Atwood. It's normal that the light will come on for a few seconds. You should then hear the little whoomph that indicates that it's lighting. I doubt the electronics have died this early, so next I'd check to see if it is getting gas. Have you tried switching tanks? Do other gas appliances work correctly?

And I'm not sure it would light if the electric element already had the water heated. Also, trying several starts may have gotten it into a lock-out mode.

I took out an Atwood gas/electric heater from my Excella and replaced it with a switched-start gas only model. It's nice not having to muck around with going outside when the pilot blows out, but not being able to run the A/C and the electric heater at the same time made the dual-power job far less attractive to me.

Good luck with this.

Lamar

juel · 04-09-2006, 03:18 PM

Congratulations girl, where are the pictures? You are an inspiration to us all.

dieterdog · 04-09-2006, 03:24 PM

Congratulations,,, another Montana gal with a stream! best of luck and great adventures to you! Happy Trails,,, donna in Montana

thecatsandi · 04-09-2006, 03:59 PM

I promise I will have them soon.
I am trying to pack my house at the moment.
Moving and all.
Butter Cup is going to be my home for the next year or two.

thecatsandi · 04-09-2006, 04:01 PM

I will probably be in Hamilton in about two weeks.
Courtesy parking available?

overlander63 · 04-09-2006, 05:33 PM

Are you sure there is propane in the system? The tank(s) may be M-T, or someone turned them off for you.

thecatsandi · 04-09-2006, 06:19 PM

I am sure there is propane in the tanks. THe furnace has worked for the past few days. I checked them bith before I left. Come to think of it quit working after I had to turn off the gas to go throught the Monitor Merimack Tunnel.

thecatsandi · 04-09-2006, 06:28 PM

Ok here are the pictures I promised.
My baby getting ready for the truck.
[IMG]file:///Users/michelle/Desktop/DSCN3847.JPG[/IMG]
My first night on the Dealers Lot
[IMG]file:///Users/michelle/Desktop/DSCN3849.JPG[/IMG]
My first stop, my friends house.
[IMG]file:///Users/michelle/Desktop/DSCN3850.JPG[/IMG]
My Second Stop
[IMG]file:///Users/michelle/Desktop/DSCN3853.JPG[/IMG]

juel · 04-09-2006, 06:32 PM

I can't get the pictures. Can you put them in your photo gallery on the forum? Judy

thecatsandi · 04-09-2006, 06:33 PM

ok lets try this again.....

dieterdog · 04-09-2006, 07:08 PM

Michelle,,, have courtesy parking,, water and electricity,,, you are welcome to come and stay,,,, contact me when the time gets nearer. Hamilton is one hour from Missoula,,,, safe trip,,, donna

thecatsandi · 04-09-2006, 07:20 PM

I have an Atwood GC6AA-10E. It is now behaving like the gas supply is in-suffcient. It would not light then it lights and goes out. I checked there is no inline shutoff I can find just the main valve.

I am going to call the dealer in the morning and see what they think.