no heat from suburban furnace - Luxury Coach Lifestyles
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 12-03-2012, 04:06 PM   #1
David Carrol
Senior Member
 
David Carrol's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 116
Default no heat from suburban furnace

furnace worked day before yesterday than Yesterday evening I kicked it on but could get no heat. The fan comes on and runs for a few moments then goes off. I can turn the furnace off and back on and the process repeats. I took the cover off so that I could get to the furnace but really didn't gain much. I can see the motor and that is about all. I had my wife cycle the furnace while I watched............. It attempts to ignite; I get a blast of hot air out the exhaust but it does not sustain.



Does anybody have a suggestion.
__________________

__________________
"I dare you to say that to my face!" - David
David Carrol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-03-2012, 06:23 PM   #2
prairieschooner
Senior Member
 
prairieschooner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Idyllwild, CA
Posts: 1,340
Default

Here is a link to a previous discussion;
http://www.luxurycoachlifestyle.com/...-furnaces.html

I had to replace the Thermocoupler on one of mine and another required a new circuit board. I bought one from Dinosaur Electronics. I just called them to get the proper circuit board and it works much better than the original;
Ignitor Board Index page
__________________

__________________
have Coach will Travel
Steve & Tricia
1982 Newell 38' (built before #1) 6V92 DD, 5 Speed Allison, 12.5 KW Kohler, Couch used to make into a Bed but I fixed it!
https://newellshowcase.com/thumbnails.php?album=214
2007 Yukon, 1981 CJ7 Laredo, 2002 Honda CRV, 1955 Thunderbird, 1952 Pontiac Sedan Delivery, 1952 Ford 8N, 1958 Airstream, 1959 Glasspar 16' Avalon, Cabin in the Woods........what will I work on next
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
prairieschooner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-03-2012, 10:17 PM   #3
Newell Attack
Senior Member
 
Newell Attack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Prescott Valley, AZ
Posts: 237
Default

Suburban has a thermocouple that keeps the pilot lit after the timer tries to shut the gas valve off. To do that it is positioned in the pilot light flame and if it is warm enough it holds the gas valve open.

If you are getting heat for a brief period of time the thermocouple is probably not getting hot enough. It may be bad but probably just needs to be repositioned to get more heat from the pilot light.
__________________
1978 39 FT. Newell Classic

Jeff & Leann Shackly
Newell Attack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-03-2012, 11:45 PM   #4
The Newell
Senior Member
 
The Newell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,018
Default

When the fan starts do you hear a clunck shortly after? If not your gas valve probably isn't opening. Could be a board problem.
__________________
1976 Newell Classic (Sold)

Home Base: Riverside, CA

If anyone needs my contact info private message me and I will send it to you.

-Joseph-
The Newell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2012, 04:37 PM   #5
David Carrol
Senior Member
 
David Carrol's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 116
Default

No I don't hear anything like that, I'm hoping it's a minor thing, like a small wasp nest stuck in the sail switch or something. Boards are not cheap.
__________________
"I dare you to say that to my face!" - David
David Carrol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2012, 08:47 PM   #6
David Carrol
Senior Member
 
David Carrol's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 116
Default

I talked with Newell and they think there it is too much butane in the tank and claim that down in the south they mix a lot of butane with the LP. According to them when it gets as cold as it has been here the butane just won't work.

Thought I would share,

David Carrol
__________________
"I dare you to say that to my face!" - David
David Carrol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2012, 09:11 PM   #7
77newell
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Just North of Detroit, a surprizingly great city
Posts: 380
Default

David: the logic in the control boards I've had for my Suburban furnaces goes as follows: fan kicks on - then sail switch checks air flow and timer runs to ensure no fuel is left in furnace - when timer times out the igniter starts sparking and gas valve opens (I can usually hear the sparking when the front of the furnace is open and usually hear the gas valve open) - then the board checks for flame and a timer will shut things off if no flame detected after a short period- furnace continues to run until thermostat circuit opens then everything shuts down.

Butane will vaporize down to about 34 degrees, depending on the mix with propane you may get lower and still get gas.
__________________
Jon and Alie Kabbe
Started with 77 Coach
Now have 39' 93 coach
2007 civic toad
77newell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2012, 09:19 PM   #8
The Newell
Senior Member
 
The Newell's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,018
Default

Thanks David, We appreciate the update.

Well, they DO mix a lot of butane down south and yes, it does not vaporize as well in very cold weather. Some blends may be as high as 70-80% butane. Butane boils at right around 30 degrees F., so pure butane wouldn't be worth much on a cold night. Propane boils at something like -100 F and a mix of the two boils off somewhere in between. Plus, I suppose drops of liquid butane might condense out on very cold surfaces, though, and maybe that causes problems in the burner tube or orifice on extreme cold nights.
__________________
1976 Newell Classic (Sold)

Home Base: Riverside, CA

If anyone needs my contact info private message me and I will send it to you.

-Joseph-
The Newell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2012, 02:14 AM   #9
prairieschooner
Senior Member
 
prairieschooner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Idyllwild, CA
Posts: 1,340
Default

Hey we all have an opinion.......go to the Troubleshooting part of the Owners Manual and follow the suggestions. That is what I did.
__________________

__________________
have Coach will Travel
Steve & Tricia
1982 Newell 38' (built before #1) 6V92 DD, 5 Speed Allison, 12.5 KW Kohler, Couch used to make into a Bed but I fixed it!
https://newellshowcase.com/thumbnails.php?album=214
2007 Yukon, 1981 CJ7 Laredo, 2002 Honda CRV, 1955 Thunderbird, 1952 Pontiac Sedan Delivery, 1952 Ford 8N, 1958 Airstream, 1959 Glasspar 16' Avalon, Cabin in the Woods........what will I work on next
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
prairieschooner is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Late Model Newell Coach Window Blind Question?? william seacrest Interior Works 3 02-03-2013 09:21 PM
Heart Interface EMS 2800-12 Inverter quit! HoosierDaddy Charging Systems, Electrical & Solar 24 02-02-2013 08:34 PM
Switching over to Synthetic Oils in Motor Home Jonesy Major Mechanicals 15 12-15-2012 04:31 PM
Fuel Prices afrench45 Life on the Road | Livin' in Luxury 5 04-15-2011 05:55 PM
Pick up our Newell Saturday! Summersgal Introduce Yourself - Welcome Wagon 26 09-22-2009 10:25 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Newell Coach Corporation or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT. The time now is 07:02 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×