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newf · 10-23-2013, 05:17 PM

Hi I have a 2003 Pace Arrow and the furnace always times out after the coach is sitting for a while and even sometimes from one day to the next day and will not start once you get it to light it works perfect you may have to try several times before you can get it to ignite anyone with any idea of the problem Thanks

Arch Hoagland · 10-23-2013, 05:31 PM

Most furnaces have an air vane switch. When the furnace first comes on the only thing that is working is the impeller that blows the air. As it moves the air the switch engages which tells the furnace controller that the blower is working and it's safe to light the burner.

So....does your fan come on every time? If so then the air vane switch may be dirty.

Look at the area where the blower is located and see if you can see a little air blade maybe the size of quarter.

Move it back and forth and see if this helps.

newf · 10-23-2013, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

Most furnaces have an air vane switch. When the furnace first comes on the only thing that is working is the impeller that blows the air. As it moves the air the switch engages which tells the furnace controller that the blower is working and it's safe to light the burner.

So....does your fan come on every time? If so then the air vane switch may be dirty.

Look at the area where the blower is located and see if you can see a little air blade maybe the size of quarter.

Move it back and forth and see if this helps.

Yes the fan comes on every time

Arch Hoagland · 10-23-2013, 07:31 PM

OK the fan comes on...now have you located the air vane switch that tells the controller that the fan is indeed running?

newf · 10-23-2013, 08:43 PM

No I haven't but will look in the morning because we are not on the road with it now heading for Florida November 5th so I have time and I will post again tomorrow night and let you know thanks

George Schweikle · 10-24-2013, 08:00 AM

I fought the same sort of intermittent furnace problem for two years. Someone on this forum suggested taking the furnace circuit board to the local dealer and having them use their "circuit board tester". This sounded a little like snake oil, but the local people had been pretty nice; even suggesting checking the sail switch, fan function, temperature snap switch, cleaning the circuit board contact points with a pencil eraser, etc. So, the furnace circuit board tested "bad" and I asked about Dinosaur Electronics Home. High quality circuit boards for RV appliances.. They claimed to have had a few bad results from these, so I bought a new circuit board from the dealer and the furnace has worked flawlessly since then.

Also, the thermostat was the original 1999 mechanical version, and I later changed to a digital version with an actual thermometer function. $20 from Home Depot, and much better!

Quote:

Originally Posted by newf

Hi I have a 2003 Pace Arrow and the furnace always times out after the coach is sitting for a while and even sometimes from one day to the next day and will not start once you get it to light it works perfect you may have to try several times before you can get it to ignite anyone with any idea of the problem Thanks

workinrvers · 10-24-2013, 09:38 AM

on my 5th wheel the sail switch (air vane switch?) was mounted to the inside of the fan housing. Mine was doing the same thing, I found the sail switch was sticking so replaced it for around $10.00. Never had the problem after that so if you are not sure $10.00 is a small price to pay for a new one that could solve your problem. Your model may be different but most of the furnace manufacturers use the same type of technology.

Phil

ps: mine was an Atwood if I remember correctly

t55watson · 10-24-2013, 09:47 AM

Could be the thermo-couple. I had to replace mine when I thought it might be the circuit board, but it tested good.

newf · 10-24-2013, 01:48 PM

Hi to all my Furnace is a Atwood hydro flame 8500-lv series and I found out today that it has a red light that flashes a code to tell you the problem but today it fired up perfect so next time it happens I will check the code first, The sail switch looks like a cheap thing to try and I will do that as soon as I get back on the road. I could not find a air vane switch and it doesn't show it in the parts list.
For you people that has this furnace here is the service manual you can download at this site http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/hflamefurn04.pdf
Thanks for all the input and I will do a follow up when I gets it fixed.

Arch Hoagland · 10-24-2013, 08:53 PM

Sail switch is the correct name for what I called an air vane switch.

Sounds like the furnace knows you are on to it so it will work perfect now, waiting until you are out in the boonies and it's minus 5 degrees outside.