We had our water heater go out on us on the last trip and I thought it would be an easy fix. Got the board tested and it was bad so bought a new board. Installed that and found that the gas valve wasn't opening. Bought a new valve and the same thing is still happening. So now I have a new valve and a new board and the gas valve will still not open...what else can I check? Any one had similar issues before?Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am at a bit of a loss here now.Thanks!

Make & Model of the heater?Did you clean the burner orifice? Spiders love these.

If it is an Atwood, the ECO could be bad, as it is between the board and valve. That's pretty obvious looking at it.

Verify that the ground to the gas valve is clean and making good contact.Is it sparking? No, check the thermal fuse under the tubing adjacent to the ECO and thermostat.Check the ECO and thermostat for continuity.

Thanks for all the quick replies.Sorry, the heater is a 6 gallon Suburban, gas only (no electric assist).The unit sparks but will not light and no gas is coming from the valve during the spark process...so the valve is definitely not opening. As I mentioned, we tested a known good valve and it still didn't work. Has to be wiring related at this point I would think, no?

Water Heater Issues! | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

bstar1952
Explorer
Sep 01, 2017
Smarty - Thanks for updating us. Wish everyone would......
smarty39
Explorer
Sep 01, 2017
Just wanted to update this thread. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I was able to fix the issue by replacing the solenoids on the gas valve. Unfortunately it came at the cost of a new board (and likely my old board as well) as the valve was shorting them out as soon as power was applied. New solenoids swapped in and I am back in business!
smarty39
Explorer
Aug 30, 2017
I never thought to check the gas detector, I will try that when I get home. However, I would assume it would shut off all gas to the trailer if that were the case? My stove still works fine...just no gas coming out of the valve in the water heater.
BTPO1
Explorer
Jul 21, 2017
I don't know if you have a gas detector in your trailer that shuts off a solenoid valve at the tank or not. My MH has one and I was experiencing the same problem as you. Everything was working as expected just no gas. It appears that in my case the dog had turned the detector off accidentally. Hope that this might help you. JMO
enblethen
Nomad
Jul 21, 2017
Voltage can only be read when the ignitor is sparking. Once the ignitor stops sparking there will be no voltage output.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jul 21, 2017
Got to have 12V DC coming out of terminal 4 on circuit board.

With voltmeter measure DC voltage between terminal 4 (Brown wire) and terminal 6 (Yellow/grd) on circuit board when ON/OFF switch is turned ON

Also measure DC Voltage AT gas valve......
Terminals 1 & 4 (Brown) and terminals 2 & 3 (Black---Grd) when ON/OFF switch is turned ON
Bobbo
Explorer III
Jul 20, 2017
I hate to belabor the obvious, but is the propane turned on at the tank?
enblethen
Nomad
Jul 20, 2017
While the ignitor is operating try lighting the unit with a long lighter.
It could be the gas may not be reaching the burner due to clogged orifice or dirty burner tube.
Check for valve 12 volt output from circuit board.
Check continuity on each of the gas valve coils. The resistance should be the same.
Toddupton
Explorer
Jul 20, 2017
Voltage to the gas valve?
smarty39
Explorer
Jul 20, 2017
Thanks for all the quick replies.

Sorry, the heater is a 6 gallon Suburban, gas only (no electric assist).

The unit sparks but will not light and no gas is coming from the valve during the spark process...so the valve is definitely not opening. As I mentioned, we tested a known good valve and it still didn't work. Has to be wiring related at this point I would think, no?