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Advice Q&A Appliances and AccessoriesRV
Advice Q&A Appliances and Accessories
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Have a 1984 Fleetwood Southwind. Water heater has an electronic ignition to light burner. When I turn on the igniter switch in the kitchen nothing happens. The light does not even come on. Doesn't seem to be getting any power. Can you help?
Dear Johnny,
Have a technician trouble shoot the limit switch and thermostat on the water heater.
You might want to check the fuse first to make sure you have 12 volts to the switch.
My Atwood water heater takes five tries to light and the amber light in the trailer never goes out.
Also, the water heater will not re-light when water cools, unless you shut the amber switch off and start process over.
Dear Mark,
I would clean the burner, check the battery voltage and have a LP gas pressure check done first.
I have a NT30 Suburban heater. It works great except during the cool down cycle, it does not shut off and continues to blow cold air until turned off at the thermostat.
I don't have a manual and my first thought is that the time delay is not opening. However before tearing it out of the cabinet, I'm asking for suggestions.
Dear Lisa,
I would check and make sure that the limit switch is not opening and turning the gas valve off before the thermostat reaches temperature.
1996 Holiday Rambler Alumalite with gas/electric hot water heater. Hot water heater works fine on gas but when on electric the tank relief valve opens.
Does this have a different thermostat for when operating with electric; and if so, can you set the thermostat to a lower temperature with out affecting the gas thermostat setting?
Dear Danny,
The thermostat should be on the control board. You might get the part number off of your control board and check with the manufacturer to see if there is a board with a lower setting.
How do I get the genset out of my 1983 Pace Arrow. Not sure of the type of GM chassis, it's a 34 footer though. I need to check the points and stuff. This is all pretty new to me.
Dear Theo,
A lot of the older units you had to remove that compartment door and slide it out off the frame. It's hard to tell you without seeing it.
I have a 2003 Winnebago Brave. I went to use my bathroom faucets and discovered I had not water coming from my hot water faucet.
When I checked all water systems, it appears that I have no water or pressure from my hot water system. Cold water works good. I also checked and have no water leaks.
Do you have any idea what my problem is?
Dear Lee,
Check your hot water heater by pass.
When dry camping the fridge igniter runs continuous and the burner is lit and fridge is cooling, but when I start the generator this problem goes away.
You had answered me earlier and asked if the fridge is going to AC or am I switching to LP? I am not sure because the fridge is set on auto mode.
Dear Mike,
Sounds like the ignitor. If it's on "auto" and the problem goes away when the generator is cranked or it senses AC I would say ignitor.
But you might want to clean the burner and adjust the gap on the ignitor to flame first.
We are considering installing a washer and dryer in our new 5th wheel. Is it necessary to buy a unit that is especially built for RV's, or would any stackable unit, assuming it would fit, be satisfactory? Do you have any recommendations?
Dear Sandy,
Any stackable unit that will fit will work.
You won't like my suggestion; which is don't do it.
I have a 1998 Fleetwood Bounder. I have a leak somewhere around the hot water tank when we use the hot water, I can not locate it any where. If I turn the hot water switch off it does not leak, I have looked under the unit and can see no excess panels to get to the hot water tank.
Can you tell me what I might do about it without taking it to a dealer?
Dear Steve,
Pull the water heater and see if the tank is leaking.
I have a two year old Suburban 34,000 BTU low-profie furnace. It failed within four weeks of installation and was repaired under warranty. Second trip out (elapsed time about 6 months), it failed to start again.
Symptoms: Blower starts and stops 30 seconds later. There is no hint of the burner lighting off. Propane is on and stove and hot water heater operate normally.
The furnace is now way out of warranty and I doubt I can get much help from Camping World or Suburban.
What to look at?
Dear Mike,
Check the sail switch and limit switch.
Where can I find a 2000 hot water heater cover/door? Mine blew off on a trip. I have a Dutchmen fold down camping trailer.
Dear Sonny,
Any RV parts supplier should be able to take your model and serial number of water heater and come up with a door.
Location of the fuel tank relay switch that stops gas from going to the generator.
1999 Bounder generator works fine running out of a gas can but will not work from the gas line, no matter how much gas I have in it.
Dear Harry,
I don't believe you have a relay switch. You probably have a broken gas line. Start following the line from the generator to the tank.
I just purchased a 2001 Rialta with a Norcold model N3003 refrigerator. When I try to use the gas mode for cooling the gas will light up and have a strong flame, however when I let go of the button on the front panel the flame dies out.
I have replaced the thermocouple, but it didn't solve the problem. Please advise me if you know of anything that may cause this problem. It works good on AC mode.
Also, can you help me on instructions for winterizing this unit so that the plumbing doesn't freeze and break during the winter months?
Dear Jerry,
Have you been holding the button in long enough to heat up the thermocouple and turning up the gas setting before releasing the button?
If so, try adjusting the thermocouple (probe) into flame.
I have a 1992 Telstar motor home. Recently, I had the furnace removed by a RV repairman. Later I could not get the hot water heater lit or the refrigerator to come on when I turned to gas. The gas detector would not turn off. In other words it acted as though it smelled gas.
I took it back to a certified RV repairman. They took the RV detector out and replaced a gas sniffer and disconnected the detector. Still the gas would not come on to the refrigerator or water heater. The RV repairman told me he had never encountered this type of problem before. He thought that it might be a defective valve in the tank and suggested that I take it to the propane gas service dealer.
I tried to talk with the propane gas service dealer by leaving my telephone number. I went by and ask two other times for him to call me. He has not called. I suspect he doesn't want to deal with my problem. Can you tell me what steps I can take?
Dear Bobby,
First, check your LP regulator and see if you're getting gas to the regulator. If you're not getting LP through the shut off valve on the tank the tank will have to be bled off and the valve replaced.
I have a Duo Therm control A/C unit in my 1998 Monaco McKenzie 5th wheel. My ac unit keeps popping the breaker once the temperature rises and calls for the auto to turn on.
Dear Sue,
Have a technician look at it to see if there's a problem with the start capacitor or compressor or even short-cycling.
I can't get any water volume from my hot water faucets. The water is hot, but no flow. It would seem to be some type of clog between the hot water heater and where it splits to go to the faucets. I have a 1996 Jayco Eagle 304BH.
Any advice on how to unclog the line?
Dear Tim,
Check the hot water heater bypass.
I have an Onan Marquee 5000 generator. When I push the start button from either the remote on control board all I get is a fast clicking noise.
Dear Bud,
Sounds like low battery or bad ground.
My furnace in my RV recently stopped igniting. It is an 1988 Holiday Rambler. When I adjust the thermostat the blower starts but no ignition. What should I look for?
Dear Mike,
Have a technician look at it. There are many reasons why it might not ignite.
I just bought a 2000 Georgie Boy Cruise Master. The air conditioner in the bedroom works but the one for the main part of the unit will not come on. No fan or anything.
Do you have any ideas where to start to track down the problem?
Dear Dan,
Breaker panel. Then test for AC power to the unit and check the thermostat.
I just bought a 1994 Winnebago Adventurer as is. When I got the thing home, the I went to turn the generator button on and all I got was a clicking noise, similar to what a bad starter sounds like on a car. The salesman started it up for me prior, and I have plenty of gas in the tank so what could it be?
Dear George,
Dead coach batteries maybe, or loose connections on the battery cables.
We recently purchased a 2009 Gulfstream travel trailer.
The microwave is a Dometic. Initially the microwave worked fine, but now it will not heat food. We removed the microwave and tried it at home and it worked fine there, but when placed back in the travel trailer it will not heat food. The light goes on, the tray rotates.
We had an electrician check the electrical power to the unit in and out and everything appeared fine. All other appliances work fine including the air conditioner. We also tried shutting off all appliances except the microwave and still nothing. Any suggestions?
Dear Diane,
Check for ventilation. Some of the microwaves have to be vented.
I try to put the furnace on and nothing happens. Is there a pilot light that needs to be lit before I turn up the thermostat?
Dear Nancy,
Depends on model of furnace. Check your 12 volt power supply and fuses. Then pop the cap on the thermostat and look for spiders.
I have a 1987 Terry Taurus 24M travel trailer. I am having trouble getting my hot water heater to work. I can't seem to get the pilot to stay lit. Is there any instruction or trouble shooting guide to help me get this thing working?
Dear Barry,
A basic RV repair and maintenance guide book. It will also come in handy for many more troubles in the future.
My air conditioner on my RV seems to be out of Freon. I found the description's label and it says uses R-22 19 oz, so I figure I should be able to fill it like I do my cars; but I can't find a fill valve.
Is there something I'm missing or do I have to replace the whole unit and/or just the compressor?
Dear Benjamin,
There is no service port. You need a technician to check and service the Freon.
My refrigerator runs fine on gas, however when we turn it on to AC it shuts off. For some reason if I put a new 5 amp fuse in the inverter it starts running but not for long, then goes back to gas. I replaced the board and cleaned all the fuse terminals. It doesn't matter if we plug into shore power or run the generator.
Dear Blaine,
Check your AC heating element.
I have a 2000 Fleetwood Flair 25Y motor home, it has an Atwood G6A-8E water heater that has been shutting down after only running a few minutes, however; sometimes it functions properly. Mostly it shuts down and sometimes won't light. When it does run it has a high pitch whistle. The coach is level and all other propane appliances are working fine.
Any suggestions?
Dear George,
Clean the burner assembly and test.
I have an '89 Pace Arrow on a P30 chassis (33 feet), with a Chevy 454. Generator worked fine two days ago. Today, when I try to start at the captain's helm or at the generator, it does not attempt to crank. Before I spend a ton of time tracing wiring, is there typically a fuse that I should look for; if so, would it be near the generator (back of RV) or with the rest of the fuse panel under the hood?
Dear Arthur,
First, make sure you have 12 volts and ground to the gen set. Depending on what type of generator is in the unit there is usually a fuse right next to the start/stop button on the generator.
Our 1999 Coleman travel trailer has been in winter storage until this weekend. Everything works fine except we cannot get the water heater to light. It has the flip a switch inside the camper feature. Help - please, give me a hint where to start checking for a problem and a possible solution.
Dear Teresa,
Make sure the gas is turned on, 12 volt power is present and there are no spiders, etc., in the burner assembly.
Trying to hookup Star Choice to my travel trailer. I am able to get signal to TV if my Star Choice receiver is connected between my dish and my cable inlet on the trailer, but cannot get signal when dish is connected to trailer and receiver is connected inside unit before the TV. This certainly isn't workable as you want the receiver near TV and not outside.
Dear Glen,
Make sure the antenna booster is turned off; and check your cable running through the trailer to make sure it's a number 6 cable.
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