Community Forums

kjackson · 04-17-2013, 03:51 PM

I have a (new to us) 2004 Travel Supreme DS03. We winter in the south and have never needed to use the furnace until now. We are at Bryce Canyon and the temps are quite cold. The furnace worked wonderfully for a few days and this morning it stopped working.

If I turned the unit off and back on and the blower kicks in for about 20 seconds then stops. Apparently I'm not getting ignition. After a bit of googling, I want to debug some things... like see if the sail switch is stuck or the ignitor is clogged.

Via an access door in the 3rd bay back in the door side, I can inspect the back 1/2 of the furnace but the part I'm interested in is in the front side by the intake and the exhaust (both of which are clear). The bay 'door' where the furnace is is hinged so it looks like I should be able to unbolt the bottoms and lift it up to get access.

The water heater is right there too and appears to be preventing me from lifting the door.

Any clues on how to easily get access to the front of the furnace? Any help or suggestions about the furnace would be greatly appreciated too!!

Thanks

Keith

OldHatt45 · 04-17-2013, 04:42 PM

Keith,
Having just gone through almost the same thing, here is how to get access to the furnace.
1. Unbolt the 2 7/16 bolts underneath the door.
2. VERY CAREFULLY you need to score the caulking around the water heater access panel trim ring, so you can remove the access panel trim ring.
3. There are 6 philips head screws holding the furnace intake/exhaust vent panel in place. Take the 6 screws out. There is caulking holding it in place as well and may need to be scored as well to remove. Gently pull the intake/exhaust vent straight out and off.
4. Take the Water Heater access door off. (There is a twist knob that turns 90 degrees)
5. Inside the water heater door, you will see 4 LONG philips head screws that hold the water heater trim ring on (From step 2.).
6. Gently apply pressure to pulling the water heater trim ring off. You may need to cut the caulk if it doesn't come off easily.
7. WIth the intake/exhaust vent off and the trim ring off, you can now lift the big door open. However, you may need to use a flat screw driver to get the door past the lip of the water heater. Don't worry, it bends fairly easily and not permanently. LOL

And that should get you access to your furnace.

Also, get a piece of 2X4 about 3-4 ft long to use as a prop for the big door, so you don't have to hold it up. LOL Don't ask me about this. LOL

Would also suggest you buy some new caulk before you start, so you don't have to run out in the middle of the job when putting it back together.

Hope this helps.

Drew

kjackson · 04-17-2013, 04:54 PM

Drew,

Thanks for the quick and complete instructions. I've had the intake/exhaust cover off already hoping it would give me a better visual inside but put it back on before I tried the 'big door'.

I'll post back on my result.

What was the fix to your furnace issue?

OldHatt45 · 04-17-2013, 08:01 PM

Turned out that the Main problem was the Gas Valve, but there was a mud-daubber nest inside as well. LOL

Stupid question. Do you have Propane? Since you mentioned that the furnace worked for a "few" days, it is possible that you have run out of Propane. Just thinking out loud.

Also, if you do open the compartment up, TAKE PICTURES of everything including the wiring before you touch anything! Ask me how I know about doing that.

Drew

kjackson · 04-17-2013, 11:19 PM

Lol yeah we have propane. First thing I checked was the stove. Luckily we have a propane portable heater that's working very nicely... Its 22 degrees out right now.

Thanks for the top about the pictures... I'm good at having parts leftover.

I am hoping it simply a stuck sail switch!!! Is not even attempting to light.