Atwood water Heater won't stay lit

[John Hilley]

I have a 10 gallon Atwood water heater that won't stay fired up. It is the DSI model with propane, 120 VAC and motoraid heat exchanger. When I turn it on, it fires up for about 10 seconds, then stops, then fires up again and keeps repeating this cycle as long as the switch is on. I have shorted out the fuseable link and cleaned all the contacts. Nothing changes. The electric works fine.

[Clifftall]

When happens to mine , it's the probe that ignites the propane that has to be cleaned off. I use some steel wool. Here is a manual in case you need one. Good luck. http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/atwoodwaterheater.pdf

[John Hilley]

Thanks Clifftall. I did have the manual and also the "Atwood Water Heater Repair for Recreational Vehicles" book. Will try that today.

[John Hilley]

Thank you Clifftall. I cleaned the probe and now it works. I couldn't see that I removed any thing, it looked clean, but it worked.

[Clifftall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hilley Thank you Clifftall. I cleaned the probe and now it works. I couldn't see that I removed any thing, it looked clean, but it worked.

It's a good thing. Wouldn't want you to be without hw on Thanksgiving. Your welcome.

Cliff

[John Hilley]

Unfortunately that didn't do the job, it's back to doing the same thing. I will try cleaning the probes again tomorrow.

[electronman]

I,m having the same problem. Ignites, runs for a while them shuts down. It then restarts and does the same thing. Mine actually sounds as if it is running out of gas. Ive cleaned the orfice, tubes and igniter. Im leaning toward a bad gas valve. If you have any luck let me know. I will do the same

[John Hilley]

Electronman, I'm putting it away until the first week in January. I hope it isn't the circuit board, they are about $220.

[electronman]

I 'm moving tomorrow and will be there for three weeks. I will try to repair there and if I have any luck i will Post it. Parts maybe an issue but I'm hoping its a minor problem.

[Dave78Chief]

A) Make sure all connections are clean and brite (most likely problem).
B) Make sure electrodes are not only clean but adjusted properly (both position within flame front [flame sense] as well as distance between tips [spark quality])
C) Make sure thermal shutdown is not opening to early (jumper around to test to see if unit still shuts down early)
D) Make sure high tension spark/sense wire is in good condition. If it opens when heated then the circuit board looses flame sense.
E) Make sure circuit board is not flexing when heated resulting in a poor component contact (had a furnace circuit board do that to me once).

Dinosaur boards are cheaper and have a great reputation for quality: Marksrv.com Atwood rv water heater parts

Dave

[dpaul99]

Also check the propane shut off unit is operating correctly as it will shut off if not working properly. I had same problem and it was the propane valve unit that needed replacing. RV repair shop I went to had a used unit.

[Leary54]

Had the same problem with mine twice the first time it was still under warranty the second I repaired my self . It was the mixing valve located on the back of the heater. If the valve is stainless it should have a screen that can be cleaned.

[John Hilley]

It is working reliably now. It was the spade connector on the ignitor/flame sense wire on the potted circuit board. The connection was bright and clean, but I found by working it back and forth it would work for a day or two. Finally took a pair of pliers and squeezed the edges of the female spade connector and it has been working for over two weeks now.

[Clifftall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hilley It is working reliably now. It was the spade connector on the ignitor/flame sense wire on the potted circuit board. The connection was bright and clean, but I found by working it back and forth it would work for a day or two. Finally took a pair of pliers and squeezed the edges of the female spade connector and it has been working for over two weeks now.

Thanks for the update. Glad you figured it out.