1996 Coachmen

[bigq11]

Newbie here. Thanks to anyone who might help.

On my just purchased 1996 Coachmen Mirada there is a switch on the panel where the generator start switch is that is marked "heater". It is a lighted switch which lights up when switched to on. Anyone know what this switch is for?

[RV Wizard]

Hello and We are glad to have you join us here and we look forward to reading of your adventures and experiences. I am sure you will enjoy our website and forums. Good luck, stay safe and keep us posted.
You may have a heater core that is located in the same ductwork the furnace uses and when traveling you can turn a fan on to heat the coach from the hot engine coolant flowing through the heater core.

[theroc]

Welcome to the forum, big11.

For that vintage of Coachmen Class A, they labeled the switch for the electronic ignition to the water heater as "Heater." Is your switch located on the display panel just below where the holding tank and battery indicators are?

If so, here are the instructions from the 1997-98 owner's manual:

"Place the remote water heater switch in the ON position. This switch is located in the lower right corner fo the display panel. If the switch light comes on, place the switch in the OFF position and wait 5 minutes. The switch light will only come on in the event of water heater malfunction or if the flame fails to light. After the required delay, again place the switch in the ON position. It may take more than one start attempt when unit is being used for the first time or after the LP gas bottle has been refilled. For complete shutdown, place switch in OFF position."

It then gives an illustration of the display panel and where the "Heater" switch is located.

Use the link below for a PDF copy of the 1997-1998 Coachmen Class A owner's manual to see if the illustration matches your unit. It's on page 34. Unfortunately, I don't have a reference for the 1996 models, however.

1997-1998 Coachmen Class A Owner's Manual

Even though there's not a Coachmen owner's forum here, for future questions, the forum does have a "Class A Motorhome Discussions" (HERE) and a "MH- General Discussions & Problems" (HERE) sections where your questions may get better exposure.

If what I've posted here isn't the correct answer, get back to us and we will go from there.

[bigq11]

[QUOTE=theroc;3422288]Welcome to the forum, big11.

For that vintage of Coachmen Class A, they labeled the switch for the electronic ignition to the water heater as "Heater." Is your switch located on the display panel just below where the holding tank and battery indicators are?

If so, here are the instructions from the 1997-98 owner's manual:

"Place the remote water heater switch in the ON position. This switch is located in the lower right corner fo the display panel. If the switch light comes on, place the switch in the OFF position and wait 5 minutes. The switch light will only come on in the event of water heater malfunction or if the flame fails to light. After the required delay, again place the switch in the ON position. It may take more than one start attempt when unit is being used for the first time or after the LP gas bottle has been refilled. For complete shutdown, place switch in OFF position."

It then gives an illustration of the display panel and where the "Heater" switch is located.

Use the link below for a PDF copy of the 1997-1998 Coachmen Class A owner's manual to see if the illustration matches your unit. It's on page 34. Unfortunately, I don't have a reference for the 1996 models, however.

1997-1998 Coachmen Class A Owner's Manual

Even though there's not a Coachmen owner's forum here, for future questions, the forum does have a "Class A Motorhome Discussions" (HERE) and a "MH- General Discussions & Problems" (HERE) sections where your questions may get better exposure.

If what I've posted here isn't the correct answer, get back to us and we will go from there.[/QUOTE Thanks for the help. After reading the replies, I'm sure it is for the water heater. As soon as I get it back from the shop where some minor repairs are being completed I'll check it out. Thanks again.

[theroc]

Bigq11, my mistake; Coachmen products are included in the iRV2 "Forest River Owners Forum" HERE

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Congrats on the new rig! Keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[pop-sicle]

I have a 2000 coachmen mirada, mine also has that switch,

that switch is absolutely --- not for water heater or coach heat,

although I have never absolutely confirmed it I believe it is for heat strips attached to your waste tanks to keep them from freezing in colder temperature, mine has them but in Florida and travel we have never needed to use.

I just checked mine and that is what the switch is for.

[theroc]

Originally Posted by pop-sicle

I have a 2000 coachmen mirada, mine also has that switch,

that switch is absolutely --- not for water heater or coach heat,

although I have never absolutely confirmed it I believe it is for heat strips attached to your waste tanks to keep them from freezing in colder temperature, mine has them but in Florida and travel we have never needed to use.

I just checked mine and that is what the switch is for.

Thanks for the definitive answer, pop-sicle! That was what I assumed it was for on first thought until I dug up the manual. Many RVs use the title "heater" for the switch for holding tank heaters.

However, I'm confused as I was just going by the manual I linked my previous post.

Can you take a quick look at page 34 that I have attached and give your opinion? ...the section that says "Electronic Ignition"

[pop-sicle]

"However, I'm confused as I was just going by the manual I linked my previous post."

"Can you take a quick look at page 34 that I have attached and give your opinion? ...the section that says "Electronic Ignition"

"The panel on page 34 is the switches for water heater ( far right ) coach water pump --middle and test which will light up all the indicators showing house batteries charge, waste tanks level ( don't trust waste indicator ) and fresh water level. "


"Place the remote water heater switch in the ON position. This switch is located in the lower right corner of the display panel. If the switch light comes on, place the switch in the OFF position and wait 5 minutes. The switch light will only come on in the event of water heater malfunction or if the flame fails to light. After the required delay, again place the switch in the ON position. It may take more than one start attempt when unit is being used for the first time or after the LP gas bottle has been refilled. For complete shutdown, place switch in OFF
position."

( "The switch light will only come on in the event of water heater malfunctions" )

This is not exactly how it works --when you turn the water heater switch on the small indicator light to the left of the switch will go green if the heater lights it will stay green but if it goes red that means the heater didn't light and you have to turn it off then back on until it remains green indicating ignition of the gas.

Hope this helps if you need any other advice with your coach feel free to pm me. These coaches are fairly simple and don't have all the electronic of newer coaches,that's what I like about my old gal.

[bigq11]

Got the coach back from the shop today. It appears the switch in question is to turn on the water heater. The water heater fired up when I turned it on. I guess I didn't listen closely when I tried it before. Thanks to everyone for the help.