Furnace won't light /stay lit

Don · 04-10-2002, 06:38 AM

The Suburban furnace in my '80 Excella will not light regularly. The ignitor works but does not ignite the gas. When it does light and work properly it does not always light again on the second cycle. The famliy is tired of being cold! Please help with any suggestions. Thanks, Don

**Andy R** · 04-10-2002, 07:42 AM

Take a look at this thread: Furnace Problems...

Don · 04-11-2002, 10:50 AM

Thanks Andy, I did read that post but I was thinking the Suburban model may be different. I do know I have orange/yellow flames when it is lit. Could this be caused by a bad reed switch? I have yet to pull it out but if I know what to look for I can check it myself. If not I can take it into the RV shop and have them check it out. Thanks again, Don

Inland RV Center, In · 04-11-2002, 02:18 PM

Don. Several things can cause the problem you are experiencing. The LPG pressure can be low. The combustion chamber can be loaded with dirt and sand. The pilot assembly may not be adequately in the flame. Furnaces should be removed and overhauled every 2 to 3 years, depending on useage. Also, depending on the model, there are some safety recalls. If you don't have the service manual, I would urge you to take it to an RV dealer for repair. Overhauling a furnace, includes complete disassembly. That requires some gasket replacements. Andy

TinCanSue · 05-16-2002, 09:45 PM

After reading this thread and our furnace manual in detail Mike's Little RV Shop opened again. Mike pulled it out from under the couch, took off the housing, blew the unit off and then the fan with his air compressor...the dust flew everywhere! (This little trailer sat idle for 4 years!) At the pilot light he found an old hornets nest, matches and and dead insects. Then he disconnected all the lines, took a little wire brush and cleaned up the ends, put it all back together, cleaned the unit and housing and connected it all back up.

She lit up, stayed lit and produced heat! It was all pretty simple...especially as I watched!

BobbyW · 05-17-2002, 06:23 AM

TinCanSue;

Good show and thanks for posting the picture and your description of the tasks. Just goes to show that taking a little time and doing it right can yield good results. Trying to blow it out inside the trailer would have just moved the crude around inside the firebox. Now you know what is inside your furnace and that it is clean and safe.

-BobbyWright

davidz71 · 05-23-2002, 01:12 PM

My furnace problems started the same way, lit the first time then would not light again. The circuit board was bad ($140), the combustion chamber was full of mud dabber nests and the motor was not spooling up fast enough to trip the sail every time. New circuit board, new motor, cleaning of combustion chamber and everything has been fine since. Total cost with parts and labor at local RV place was $334.

Inland RV Center, In · 05-23-2002, 06:02 PM

To properly clean "any" Suburban furnace, it "MUST" be completely disassembled. In the process of taking the furnace completely apart, some gaskets must also be replaced. To not replace them is hazardous.
To simply blow air through it will not remove the foreign materials that collect in the combustion chamber.
Anyone that says the furnace can be properly cleaned out with air, has NO idea of the liability that they assume.
Simply stated, cleaning any Suburban with just air, is a gross abuse of the customers position, and possibly their life.
Using air in this manner can expand the combustion chamber, or for that matter, it can also rupture it , which will then allow carbon monoxide to enter the coach, in probably enough quantity to at least cause illness, if not death.
Don't mean to frighten anyone, but the consumer needs to know what can happen. It has happened. Andy

Jim Clark · 05-23-2002, 07:18 PM

Andy is correct .Invest in a Carbon Monoxide Detector. I know of one person who died on a Sail Boat because of a heater, and a Fire Chief who blew himself up because of a propane leak in a R.V.

53flyingcloud · 06-29-2002, 03:37 AM

TinCanSue
May I suggest that you might want to think of investing in a 'wasp
guard' cover for your outside furance air-intake and exhaust. They can be order for a very reasonable price. Best of all, it's so simple to install that, this is one project you don't need to just watch...:-}~~