2004 Amana oven problem

[Silvertwinkie]

Ok, been using my oven nearly every trip. This last trip I found something had gone terribly wrong with the oven. Tried to light it and flames shot out of the oven. Turned the gas off immediately, and grabbed a flashlight.

What I found was just too unreal.

The LP line that feeds the pilot/thermocouple had totally sheared off from the pilot light/thermocouple assembly. From the look of it, this pipe goes to into the rear wall of the oven. It would seem to me that I will need to replace the entire section of this alum type pipe and most likely have to yank the oven out of it's location.

Anyone seen this or have had to replace the gas feed line on one of these newer type Amana ovens?

[extiger]

I experienced the same problem. I pulled the unit and attempted to replace the entire line but was unsuccessful at finding the right one(mine is a 2000 AS) I ordered one from an appliance parts place on line, but when it arrived it was the wrong part. I ended up putting a compression fitting on the line and reattaching it. It took a while to locate the right size compression fitting, the big box stores didn't have it. I ended up locating one at a store that installed gas lights and bbq grills. I don't remember the size for sure but think it was 1/8".

This seems to be a chronic problem, that the vibration causes metal fatigue and the line fails.

My suggestion is to get a 1/8" and 3/16" compression fitting and use the right one to reconnect the line. You don't have to pull the unit if you do this.

[Bambi_Bandit]

WOW!!!

Can you post some pics so I know what to look for or monitor?

This sounds like a significant reliability design flaw to me...

[crazylev]

Twink.

This could have brought a whole new meaning to having a blast while camping...

Seriously though, I shall check mine if our unit hasn't been stolen from our storage place yet.

You might want to try this place:

RV Parts and Accessories for Sale

I had to order a new plastic ignitor knob, you know, the one on the far right of the stove that has a lot of play and felt like it was broken anyway.

When I called Amana, er Maytag, or GE (all these companies get bought up) they wanted close to 30 bucks for this piece of crap.

I called PPL, and they were very nice, but sent the wrong knob(s). They corrected that and finally got the right one for a fraction of the cost that AmanaMaytagGEwhoever wanted. They even have pictures of most of their stuff so you can actually see the part. Their site sucks and things are not always in places where they should, so I'd call and go over it with customer service.

I use the word knobs (plural) because whenever something break on our unit, I've learned to order things in multiples so that when, not if, another failure occurs.

You will need the model number and the serial number of your stove.

Let us know how this works out.

Oh and one last thing: I wouldn't use the oven till you get it fixed!

Best to the Mrs.

Jonathan

[ghatfield]

Silver T... amazing! We just now (today) experienced this exact same problem - tried to light the oven pilot light without success, and then flames shot out of the oven (from the broiler/pilot light area). Like you, we shut off the gas, grabbed a flashlight and, on further inspection of the oven, we found that the gas line to the oven/pilot light had broken at the nut that secures it to the burner. We're not sure how this happened, but we also think it may be due to the vibration of being on the road. We have only used our AS on normal paved roads, but over the past couple of years we have put about 12,000 miles on this 2003 trailer (we're second owners and purchased it in late 2005).

Below is a photo of what we saw. Did you contact Jackson Center for their input?

George and Pat

[Silvertwinkie]

Exactly what mine looks like and I mean EXACTLY. I hadn't even considered contacting the factory since I'm out of warranty. Next trip out to the Safari in storage, I was going to verify the model and get a new part, hoping that this one also won't shear off. I wonder if they torqued the nut too much. I can't fathom this type of piping, specifically designed to be in a moving RV would do this in the EXACT same manner on two separate units....

[overlander63]

I'm looking at George's photo, and noticed the line seems to have a kink in the part of it nearest the oven wall. My thought is either it was overtightened (hence the kink) or something may have slid into it during use (and the kink is really a bend).

[Al - K4GLU]

Knew there was some reason I never used my oven other than the fact I can't cook! Seriously this sounds to me like a potentially very serious problem and I think every one who has experienced this should get in touch with Airstream right away. It might even be serious enough to warrant a recall.

[crazylev]

Terry,

I think the kink you see in the photo is actually two seperate lines coming out the wall of the oven, and not a kink. One of the lines goes to the thing on the side of the oven on the left side of the photo.

Either way, this has gone from mildly irritating to downright alarming.

I'll be checking my connection(s) later this week.

Jonathan

[2airishuman]

twink, hatfield and others with ovens...

very scary and totally unacceptable!

vibration should NOT cause an issue like this in relatively NEW trailer, unless the oven is loose in the enclosure.

there are 30 year old unit operating JUST FINE.

i don't have a gas oven,

but this info needs to be widely distributed to all that do.

we really need a recalls and URGENT notice forum with only credible issues like this one posted.

that is the sort of immediate value and power of this venue, if tapped correctly.

wow.

2air'

[ghatfield]

George got a flashlight out and checked - there is no kink in the line. As Crazylev pointed out, what you're seeing is two lines coming from the back wall. Terry, with regard to a bend in the line, I've never broiled in this oven, so nothing could have slid into the line (hence the dust in the photo - George grabbed the camera before I could clean for the photo op!). We just sent a note to Jackson Center, so we'll see what they say/advise.... Pat

[crazylev]

The issue should be taken up with Amana, or who ever owns Amana now, along with Jackson Center.

[Silvertwinkie]

I may call Jackson Center to see what they say. Until there is a recall, I'm betting this is on our dime.

If it were just my unit I might not call, but the pic posted here is an exact issue of what mine looks like. It has to have been over torqued. I can't see how vibration did this and frankly, it may have been cracked for a while...I just didn't notice until my face was nearly cooked by what became a flame thrower.

[SILVER HAPPY]

Dont have any problem with mine....

[Silvertwinkie]

Originally Posted by SILVER HAPPY

Dont have any problem with mine....

Glad to hear it. Mine worked well too up until a bit over a month ago.....

[ghatfield]

Originally Posted by ghatfield

We just sent a note to Jackson Center, so we'll see what they say/advise.... Pat

This morning we received the following not-our-problem response from Jackson Center regarding our 2003 Classic 25:

George,

Below I have linked and provided the phone number to Amana. I am truly sorry you have had this occur. You are asking if this is a warranted situation. I am showing this past the Airstream warranty. This is why I would suggest calling Amana direct to see if they have anything on this.

Amana/Maytag

1-800-843-0304
1-800-545-9086 rv Press 5
www.amana.com
http://www.amana.com/custserv/contact.jsp

Jim

We are currently on the road (near Zion National Park today) and, since we'll be back home in a week (after our month-long tour of western National Parks), we'll follow up with Amana/Maytag then. We can certainly do without the oven for the remainder of the trip.

We'll continue to keep the forum posted on the outcome of this problem.

Pat

[extiger]

I had the same problem and after chasing many bunny trails, I ended up putting a compression ring on the aluminum tube and reconnecting. No problems since the repair. I don't remember the compression ring size but it was less that 1/4 and I couldn't find one at a big box. I thing it was either 1/8 or 3/16.

[Silvertwinkie]

Ok, I called Airstream and they even had my oven's serial number!

I am right now on the phone with Amana looking to see what they come up with....more to come....

[Silvertwinkie]

Ok, just got off the phone. They faxed me a parts list and diagram (that I will try to attach here). Looking at the diagram, I am unsure which part I need yet, but I am farther than I was before.

The folks on the phone told me to look at the diagram, find the part in question, then call their parts dept at 800-442-9991.

[warbler5]

Wow....this is very alarming! We have had no problems in our 2004 Classic, so far; but, we rarely use the oven. I think it's scary enough just lighting the pilot....and, sometimes the burners My other half and I will be inspecting our oven today....thanks for the picture post, which really narrows down what to look for.