Forum Discussion

topbuddy10's avatar
topbuddy10
Explorer
Sep 27, 2019

Atwood 6H6-6E water heater wont light

Hi
I have a 91 Winnebago on a Ford F52 chassis. My Atwood water heater is an electronic start and all appears fine in that the system goes through the pilot on light for the required time then goes to off with no start. It is as if there is no propane flow. All appears normal except that there is rust and the possibility of a bad ground at the gas flow solenoid. Is there a way to bypass this to check if the solenoid is bad and can I buy a replacement solenoid. It acts as if there is a propane lockout. I have checked the tubing, ports etc
Class A
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Sep 27, 2019
    I ran a separate ground wire from the circuit board area to the gas valve.
    You can test the two coils in the gas valve. Each of the coils should read the same. Somewhere around 30 ohms. I would replace the gas valve assembly rather then trying to find coils.
  • MountainAir05's avatar
    MountainAir05
    Explorer II
    Sep 27, 2019
    How long since you ran it. If a while, start the gas cook top and get the air out of the system. Second as you have pointed out , clean the contacts points. You must have a good ground to spark to.

    Have you confirm that you are not getting propane. Everyone seems to want to replace something. Once you have the air out you can take a long stem match or one of the propane lighters and stick in there to light if you have gas to check it out.
  • Gjac's avatar
    Gjac
    Explorer III
    Sep 27, 2019
    I would also check the circuit board and the connections to it. Atwood has on their web site how to check the board. I have had this same issue over the years ran a separate ground wire like Bud described, cleaned then replaced igniter, connector from 12v supply was loose and would cause an intermittent problem crimped on new connector, adjusted burner tube tip, and financially replaced board.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Sep 27, 2019
    Could test the output from the circuit board for 12 volts DC while the ignitor is clicking.
  • Yankee_Clipper's avatar
    Yankee_Clipper
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2019
    My solutions in the past: 1) the circuit board went south and needed to be replaced (exciter failed), and 2) the high temp cut-off failed (worked as advertised to save the system).

    HTH
  • Germania's avatar
    Germania
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2019
    The first thing I do when working on water heater problems is to turn off power and then disconnect and reconnect all of the spade lug connectors sliding them off and on a couple of times.
    Have fixed more than one problem by doing this.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Sep 28, 2019
    If you plan on putting in a new cir uit board, I would recommend a Dinosaur Electronics version.

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