furnace working off and on

[budaa]

I am haveing problems with my furnace working sometimes and not others. When turning it on it starts the first time. Meaning that it cycles and then turns off. Next time the fan comes on I hear a click wait a min and hear another click and then the fan turns off. If I turn off the furnace at the theostate and turn it back on sometimes it will restart and sometimes not. Other times I can just lower the heat setting and then raise it back up and sometimes it will work and sometimes not. I have read some old post that talk about low gas presure could be the problem. How do I ajust the reglater pres. Also seen someone talk about low dc volts. I am hooked up to shore power so the power should be coming off of the converter right? Need some help want to get the problem strightend out before it gets cold again.

[budaa]

I am haveing problems with my furnace working sometimes and not others. When turning it on it starts the first time. Meaning that it cycles and then turns off. Next time the fan comes on I hear a click wait a min and hear another click and then the fan turns off. If I turn off the furnace at the theostate and turn it back on sometimes it will restart and sometimes not. Other times I can just lower the heat setting and then raise it back up and sometimes it will work and sometimes not. I have read some old post that talk about low gas presure could be the problem. How do I ajust the reglater pres. Also seen someone talk about low dc volts. I am hooked up to shore power so the power should be coming off of the converter right? Need some help want to get the problem strightend out before it gets cold again.

[RV Wizard]

You will need a professional w/ the right testing equioment (manometer) to test and if needed adjust the lp gas presssure. This is a presice adjustment and should not be atempted by untrained persons for safety reasons. You may also have a slight malalignment of electrodes in the furnace. At what altitude are you operating the furnace? High alltitudes have an adverse effect on the gas pressure casusing issues like this. I would recommend you have a qualified tech handle the problem.

[troth]

Budaa, Mike's right about the regulator adjustment; -not something you want to do yourself. I read your post several times and will offer the following:
Check the water level in your batteries; should be up to the rings in the cells. You are correct about the converter putting out 12vdc while you're plugged into shore power. But understand, a weak battery can influence furnace operation, usually by reducing blower motor rpm and the reduced airflow will not open the sail switch (which tells the gas valve to open). I assume you have a newer model furnace which lights on demand, not one which has a constant pilot light. Try getting inside of your furnace and with a small piece of scotchbrite pad, clean off the electrode sparker and the thermocouple rod (just remove any scale or soot). Also look for the "brain box"; disconnect the little electrical 'gang' plug and clean off the metal connectors with a pencil eraser, then reconnect.
Good luck and keep us posted on what happens after you did a little maintenance...

[Frankie]

You can self test some of the newer ones.Blinking red diode for differant codes.I went though he77 last year ,same as you describe.Had a rv tech at my house and we could not fix,tried everything.Brought to dealer and it ended up being a minor adjustment on a high tolerance igniter something or other.

[Grumpy Dave]

Not the most high tech solution but have you cleaned your chimney lately? We had kindof the same symptoms and it ended up being flakes of stuff dropping from the chimney tube onto the burner. Dave

[Grumpy Dave]

never mind last post I had a brain fade... I was thinking of the fridge oops... Must be getting old or maybe it was killing all those brain cells back in the 60's...

[WA4SLC]

We had a simular problem with our Sprinter TT. Sometimes the frunace would work and sometimes it would not. Ofcourse when I carried it in to the dealer it would work just fine. I finaly had a independent RV repair man look at it and he found 2 problems. A sticky gas valve and the ignitor electrode was too close to the side of the furnace. The spark that lights the gas was getting grounded out. He replaced the valve and adjusted the electrodes and I have not had any more problems with it.

Bill

[budaa]

thanks for all of the info. The fiver is a 92 travel surperme. It has elect. igniter not pilot light. The fiver sits on a pad 80 miles from my house in the winter I try to plug it in once a month to keep battery charged. If battery are low why would that have any thing to do with the heater running as long as it is pluged in? Going over this weekend so i will try your suggestions and get back with you all.
thanks again.