Greetings: I've been enjoying my 1996 Sierra by Cobra TT thanks to the help of the forum. Recently, a new problem developed & I wanted to get some assistance. My water heater as suddenly stopped heating water as there is no flame. I've turned the switch off overnight, turned it back on, and can hear the spark plus the "thud" sound of requesting LP (or at least that's what I assume the sound is) but no flame. I waited until the evening & could see the spark, but again, no flame. My tanks are full. I turned 'em off and back on to ensure pressure. The stove works great and the tanks are full based on the pick 'em up & swish test. The spark is strong. I took off the connectors to clean them thinking there was a problem there. No fix. The high limit control is exposed. I'm not sure what to do with this part. I took off the small, grey plastic part in the below picture & re-seated the part but still no luck. I can only think of the following things that are different from the past several months of great use out of the water heater. First, the temps here in Las Vegas have reached 100+ during the day. While I'm not in the TT during the day, I do leave the water heater on all day while I'm out. Second, I replaced the anode rod about 2 weeks ago. The water heater was working just fine after the anode rod replacement though so I don't think the problem is related. I suspect something is going on with that "high limit control" area but I haven't been able to find out much in my research on what to do next. I have done general MX/repairs on the TT, so hopefully I'm capable of getting the water heater fixed -- or it's time to take the TT to Camping World to get a new one installed!Thanks for any further troubleshooting recommendations y'all have!Cheers. Additional picture:

The sparker is at the end of the orange connector. You already know that, but anyway I mentioned it just because. Put your BBQ lighter (must be at least 6" long) and light it manually - to make sure the flame is near where the sparks are at. Then with the BBQ lighter off, but in the same position, have someone turn on the water heater switch. When it starts clicking, light the BBQ lighter, and if the flame comes on, your main flame might not be lined up well with the spark ignighter. Anyway if it lights, you will have warm water for one night anyway.I had a friend with a spider web put into the gas line, and blocking most of the gas flow. I took it apart, cleaned it, and it worked fine for a few years until he sold the RV.Fred.

A clogged orifice could be the problem. Spider, bug or slight corrosion can limit your gas flow.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Unfortunately, none have worked so far. Here is what I tried: 1) Got a pipe cleaner and cleaned out the path from the LP opening to the sparker. No luck. Also, I tried Fred's suggested BBQ lighter with no luck getting a flame. 2) When the sparker is sparking and I hear the "thud", I don't smell any gas. I switched from one LP tank to the other thinking maybe I was crazy and was out of gas in one tank but no joy with getting a flame. How does one clean out the orifice? Fred, you mentioned a "spider web put into the gas line" & required cleaning -- can you elaborate? I'm full timing in the TT and thankfully the park where I'm staying has warm showers near. I may be taking the TT to Camping World soon to see if they have any ideas. Thanks for the help!

Moved to Tech Issues Moderator TT Forum

Forum Discussion

secundinus

Explorer

Jun 03, 2013

Spark Good, No Flame (Suburban Water Heater)

Greetings:

I've been enjoying my 1996 Sierra by Cobra TT thanks to the help of the forum. Recently, a new problem developed & I wanted to get some assistance.

My water heater as suddenly stopped heating water as there is no flame. I've turned the switch off overnight, turned it back on, and can hear the spark plus the "thud" sound of requesting LP (or at least that's what I assume the sound is) but no flame.

I waited until the evening & could see the spark, but again, no flame. My tanks are full. I turned 'em off and back on to ensure pressure. The stove works great and the tanks are full based on the pick 'em up & swish test.

The spark is strong. I took off the connectors to clean them thinking there was a problem there. No fix. The high limit control is exposed. I'm not sure what to do with this part. I took off the small, grey plastic part in the below picture & re-seated the part but still no luck.

I can only think of the following things that are different from the past several months of great use out of the water heater.

First, the temps here in Las Vegas have reached 100+ during the day. While I'm not in the TT during the day, I do leave the water heater on all day while I'm out.

Second, I replaced the anode rod about 2 weeks ago. The water heater was working just fine after the anode rod replacement though so I don't think the problem is related.

I suspect something is going on with that "high limit control" area but I haven't been able to find out much in my research on what to do next. I have done general MX/repairs on the TT, so hopefully I'm capable of getting the water heater fixed -- or it's time to take the TT to Camping World to get a new one installed!

Thanks for any further troubleshooting recommendations y'all have!

Cheers.

Additional picture:

14 Replies

secundinus
Explorer
Jun 05, 2013
Thanks for all the suggestions! Unfortunately, none have worked so far. Here is what I tried:

1) Got a pipe cleaner and cleaned out the path from the LP opening to the sparker. No luck. Also, I tried Fred's suggested BBQ lighter with no luck getting a flame.

2) When the sparker is sparking and I hear the "thud", I don't smell any gas. I switched from one LP tank to the other thinking maybe I was crazy and was out of gas in one tank but no joy with getting a flame.

How does one clean out the orifice? Fred, you mentioned a "spider web put into the gas line" & required cleaning -- can you elaborate?

I'm full timing in the TT and thankfully the park where I'm staying has warm showers near. I may be taking the TT to Camping World soon to see if they have any ideas.

Thanks for the help!
trsky
Explorer
Jun 05, 2013
A clogged orifice could be the problem. Spider, bug or slight corrosion can limit your gas flow.
azwildcat
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
X2 on the spider webs.
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
The sparker is at the end of the orange connector. You already know that, but anyway I mentioned it just because. Put your BBQ lighter (must be at least 6" long) and light it manually - to make sure the flame is near where the sparks are at. Then with the BBQ lighter off, but in the same position, have someone turn on the water heater switch. When it starts clicking, light the BBQ lighter, and if the flame comes on, your main flame might not be lined up well with the spark ignighter. Anyway if it lights, you will have warm water for one night anyway.

I had a friend with a spider web put into the gas line, and blocking most of the gas flow. I took it apart, cleaned it, and it worked fine for a few years until he sold the RV.

Fred.