Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > THE OWNER'S CORNER FORUMS > Newmar Owner's Forum
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-28-2015, 09:04 AM   #1
Member
 
MSG Chuck's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 34
Atwood hot water heater

I have a 2003 Dutch Star with a traditional gas/electric water heater. The electric works fine but the propane side has started giving me problems. The heater igniter works when a demand for heat is sensed. The burner comes on as it should but seconds into the burn, the igniter comes on again and then the gas valve shuts off. It will cycle through this process two or three times and then trigger the reset button inside the coach. Does anyone have a thought on what to check? Is there a control board somewhere I am not seeing? If I turn off the switch, wait two minutes, and turn it back on it will go through the same process again. Sometimes it will stay on and operate as it should. I'm confused
__________________
MSG Chuck,
03 Dutch Star M4005, ISC, Allison 6 speed, Spartan
Audi A4 Cabriolet Toad
MSG Chuck is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 10-28-2015, 09:26 AM   #2
Registered User
 
mel s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
Quote:
Originally Posted by MSG Chuck View Post
I have a 2003 Dutch Star with a traditional gas/electric water heater. The electric works fine but the propane side has started giving me problems. The heater igniter works when a demand for heat is sensed. The burner comes on as it should but seconds into the burn, the igniter comes on again and then the gas valve shuts off. It will cycle through this process two or three times and then trigger the reset button inside the coach. Does anyone have a thought on what to check? Is there a control board somewhere I am not seeing? If I turn off the switch, wait two minutes, and turn it back on it will go through the same process again. Sometimes it will stay on and operate as it should. I'm confused
MSG Chuck
What model is your Atwood water heater?

I suspect that the combination "Spark and Sense Electrode" is sometimes failing to sense the burn.
You may find the part number for yours in your water heater "Installation and Operation Manual".

Most RV shops have them in stock... (mine cost me <$20).
Here's one for an Atwood:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...d/23813721.cfm

See also this discussion:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...d/23813721.cfm

Mel
'96 Safari, (with a Suberban SW10D WH)
mel s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2015, 09:31 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Skip426's Avatar


 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,311
The igniter wire and probe act as the flame sensor after the spark cycle.
The controller will try three times to ignite the flame and if it sees no input from the sensor or doesn't react to the signal, it will shut down until re-started.
The control is mounted to the side of the heater, inside the coach on some brands , follow the igniter wire.
You could try cleaning the probe, carbon build up can lead to slow reaction to the heat. If that doesn't help then remove the control for testing.
Most RV parts places can bench test the control board if you carry it in.

EDIT: I see Mel and I were typing at the same time , and he posted first, sorry if the info is duplicated.
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
Skip426 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2015, 10:13 AM   #4
Registered User
 
mel s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skip426 View Post
The igniter wire and probe act as the flame sensor after the spark cycle.
The controller will try three times to ignite the flame and if it sees no input from the sensor or doesn't react to the signal, it will shut down until re-started.
The control is mounted to the side of the heater, inside the coach on some brands , follow the igniter wire.
You could try cleaning the probe, carbon build up can lead to slow reaction to the heat. If that doesn't help then remove the control for testing.
Most RV parts places can bench test the control board if you carry it in.

EDIT: I see Mel and I were typing at the same time , and he posted first, sorry if the info is duplicated.
Skip426
IMO when there's a problem bad enough to post, one can't get too many correct answers.
Mel
mel s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2015, 06:31 AM   #5
Member
 
MSG Chuck's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 34
Thanks for the quick response. I misquoted the manufacturer. Mine is a Suburban, model number SW10(?) I think. I took both your advice and have cleaned the igniter/spark sensor. I will wait and see if that works. If not, I guess I'll have to pull the heater to get to the control board. Hope the cleaning works!
__________________
MSG Chuck,
03 Dutch Star M4005, ISC, Allison 6 speed, Spartan
Audi A4 Cabriolet Toad
MSG Chuck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2015, 07:27 AM   #6
Registered User
 
mel s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
Quote:
Originally Posted by MSG Chuck View Post
Thanks for the quick response. I misquoted the manufacturer. Mine is a Suburban, model number SW10(?) I think. I took both your advice and have cleaned the igniter/spark sensor. I will wait and see if that works. If not, I guess I'll have to pull the heater to get to the control board. Hope the cleaning works!
MSG Chuck
If cleaning the igniter/sensor does not work I suggest you replace the igniter/sensor, (mine cost <$18), before you spend the $80-$150 for a new control board.
Simply replacing only the igniter/spark sensor fixed my 19 year old Suberban when an RV reair shop said that I would "most likely need both a new igniter/sensor AND a new board".

BTW on my coach it's not necessary to "pull the WH heater" to remove and replace the WH control board.
The control board for my WH is located in a kitchen cabinet a few feet from the WH itself)...yours may be similar ??

Mel
'96 Safari, Suberban SW10D water heater
mel s is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
atwood, heat, heater, water, water heater



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Atwood Water Heater Issue. CaymanPilot Monaco Owner's Forum 6 08-21-2015 03:15 PM
On-Demand Hot Water Heater & LG Combo steamyb RV Systems & Appliances 2 08-16-2015 05:14 AM
Hot water heater plug busted janieD Excel Owner's Forum 23 04-30-2015 08:52 AM
Atwood hot water heater orrconst RV Systems & Appliances 9 02-09-2015 02:38 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:14 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.