01 Dip furnace problems

[Garranch]

We have had our dip for 4 years now and have had issues with the furnace on and off. Sometimes it would work and others times it wouldn't without any particular reason. I filled the propane tank, ran the stove, cycled it on and off 10 times, and it was still inconsistant. Was never a big problem until it worked less and less and I could smell raw propane when the furnace was trying to ignite.

I wiggled wires, and finally I took the ignitor out to test and see if it would spark. I wish I had taken a picture of the mud ball I presume some critter had packed in there. It was about the size of my thumb. I crumbled the mud ball off, tested it and got a spark.

I figured I had fixed the problem and reinstalled the ignitor and still no worky. Everything is working, fan, spark (at least some spark) and I can smell the raw gas (scary).

So I'm thinking I need to look at the burner and see if there is more mud inside I can clean out. Problem is I can't figure out how to access the burner. Do I have to take out the entire furnace I can't see any simple way to remove the burner or even get a look at it. Do I have to remove the refer that sits above it?
HELP!

Signed: cold in Colorado

[MonacoMama]

Dear "Cold in Colorado" (aka Garranch) ... Can you tell us what brand your furnace is? I am not sure if it make a difference - but it would help a novice like me....
Also...Is it safe to assume that all the other propane appliances are working as they should?

[Garranch]

After a long delay, and using heat pumps all the time we've decided we have to get our Atwood furnace fixed. Everything works fine. The furnace has been hit and miss since we bought the coach. Finally it stopped all together.

I removed the igniter and found it had been a "basecamp" for the mud dauber tribe of little SOB's.
The build up was the size of my thumb! I was able to remove it, clean the mud off and and get it to spark.

Furnace still will not light. I can hear the igniter, I smell gas but it never lights off. My fear is the critters have nested even larger then I thought and burner or flame sensor have mud around them. I'm thinkin I need to expose the burner and clean it out. How do I access it??? Do I have to remove the refer? I have tried to repair it from the outside but can't gain access to the "guts"

Any help would be wonderful.
Thanks in advance.

[Rex]

You should be able to remove the outside furnace door. Turn off the propane at the tank. Disconnect the electrical and propane at the furnace and you should be able to pull the furnace out of the cage. That should expose enough for you to clear all the dirt daubers. Then reinstall in the same manor. The duct work should be attached to the cage so don't remove any of it from the cage. Hey think like a dirt dauber and look in those places where they may have built nest.

[Garranch]

Rex I did exactly as you described and took every screw I could find off but it doesn't appear that the guts can come out that way. Have you done this? Did you have to take the access door and frame completely off?

Thanks for you imput

[mikedes]

I have a 2000 Diplomat and I have taken the ignitor and the burner out all in one unit. After taking off the outside door and disconnection the ignitor wire and the gas line (turning off the gas first ) and using a long 1/4 socket wrench it was possible to take off the sheet metal screws around the burner and the burner itself all from the outside. You do not have to disturb the fan unit and it was all on the right side of the fan with a metal wall between the fan and the blower
Mike D

[Rex]

Yes I have removed it the way I described. The outside door must come off. You will also have to pull harder than one would think to get it out of the case. Contact me direct rbdtanasi@yahoo.com and I will send you some drawings and service manual in PDF form.

[Garranch]

Rex and Mike thanks for your advice. We have been staying in an area without internet :( UNTIL TODAY

I'm going to tackle this project today and hopefully get it fixed. The heat pumps just arent' gettin it.
thanks again,

Jim

[Garranch]

Ok got the burner out (just a little thing) and found about a cup of bug nest/mud in my heat exchanger. Cleaned it all out tested the igniter got a consistant spark. Put it all back together fired it up and ........... still no working furnace. It lite for 4 seconds the first time, and now won't even do that again.I can smell gas during the ignition process but it never lights the burner, I never hear that lovely "whoosh" of the burner lighting off.

Got gas, have spark (not sure how big and bold it's supposed to be, mine is small and golden not big and blue) Fan works just fine. I'm thinkin it's gotta be the circuit board that has the ignitor starter on it.
We are traveling in DC and Virginia for two more weeks, where can I find parts?
Any thoughts?
thanks for your help
Jim

[Rex]

Jim, any motorhome or RV dealer should have the board in their parts department. If you find a Camping World, they should have it.

[Garranch]

Bought a new board today and she fired right up $121 otd
The old board showed no signs of wear or burning. The place were I bought the new one (Queensland RV in Washington DC) had a machine that tested my old one first. That way I wasn't playing $$$ roulette and got the right part the first time. Thanks again Rex and Mike.

Toasty in DC

[RVhauler]

One more reason for installing screen guards on furnace(s) and hot water heater openings. FYI there is a Camping World located on I81 at Winchester and Roanoke, VA

[Garranch]

RV, put one, i didn't know we had the critters (bought the coach used)

Never again will they get us.

thanks,
toasty