Community Forums

cwj212 · 04-19-2014, 07:55 PM

We have a suburban furnace in our 2010 Itasca Suncrusier. It has been acting erratic, starting this past week while traveling back north from Florida. It ran for a few hours with no problem. Then we woke at night to find the coach cold and the furnace not working. I could not get it to light. The fan comes on but shut down after a few minutes. It would not work through the next night also. It was in the 20's that night, (good thing we had an electric space heater!)

We got home the other day and I started the furnace in the driveway. It ran for hours but when I went out to check it this morning it was shut down and it was cold in the coach. So...I re-started it this morning it has been running all day. I was on shore power all the time when this occurred. I don' know what would make it act like this. It's very frustrating.

We did have it in for a similar problem prior to heading south in February and it was a bad gas regulator on the main propane tank. It worked all the way down then after the repairs. Didn't need to use it till we were on our way back north.

I don' know what would make it act like this. It's very frustrating.

Craig and Joan
2010 Itasca Suncrusier

TXiceman · 04-19-2014, 08:42 PM

What make and model furnace do you have?

Ken

RV Wizard · 04-20-2014, 04:17 AM

I believe you may have bought a propane/butane blend of fuel in Fl. This can cause an erratic operation; working OK when temperature are above freezing and not when temps are below freezing.

cwj212 · 04-20-2014, 04:34 AM

The furnace is a Suburban SHD-2542. I did not purchase any propane in Florida. I just went out and checked this morning. It is out again. It is 49 deg inside. It was running last night.

Maybe it's afraid of the dark!

Craig and Joan
2010 Itasca Suncrusier

94-Newmar · 04-20-2014, 04:53 AM

Craig/Joan, How are you resetting it so that it starts again? Power off then on?

Have you or anybody disassembled the burner assembly and checked for any spider/insect debris? A simple spider egg or web will render these units wonky and in some cases inoperable. Many units I work on that have been down south have weird wasp nests about the size of a marble that have been made in the burner somewhere and it will cause erratic operation as you mention.

George Z · 04-20-2014, 05:07 AM

Sounds like the sail switch may be getting a little balky. Senses the blower operation when blower and switch are operating properly. but can create erratic start up if if it becomes dirty or sticky.

cwj212 · 04-20-2014, 06:26 AM

We have an appointment in a couple weeks to check it out. The problem is convincing them something is wrong. You know how it goes, the start it and let it run for an hour or so and determine it's ok.

This may be related but we don't feel that the air coming out of the vents is enough. The furnace is in the rear and you can barely feel air out of the front registers.

Craig and Joan
2010 Itasca Suncrusier

Shellback1 · 04-20-2014, 06:41 AM

Here is a sheet telling you of the sequence of operation. Make sure your coach batteries are fully charged. I had a problem where my Atwood would work 95% of the time, but wouldn't run when rain or damp outside. Was the electode, instead of 1/8" gap it was 3/8" gap. Works fine now that I regapped it.

http://www.rvforum.net/miscfiles/Furnace_Trouble-2.pdf

cwj212 · 04-20-2014, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shellback1

Here is a sheet telling you of the sequence of operation. Make sure your coach batteries are fully charged. I had a problem where my Atwood would work 95% of the time, but wouldn't run when rain or damp outside. Was the electode, instead of 1/8" gap it was 3/8" gap. Works fine now that I regapped it.

http://www.rvforum.net/miscfiles/Furnace_Trouble-2.pdf

Thanks. I will look that over. Lots of things that cause problems with these things.

When we had the issue on the way home, shutting it off and re-starting manually didn't work. Now it will here at home in the driveway...till sometime overnight, when it won't re-light on its own.

Craig and Joan
2010 Itasca Suncrusier

RV Wizard · 04-21-2014, 03:02 AM

If you feel there is an air flow issue, you are probably right. If so, this can cause it to shut down when colder temperatures at night cause it to need to run longer.