Atwood Water Heater Eratic Operation

[KCFDCapt]

I have a new to me 2007 Itasca Meridian with a 10 gallon Atwood lpg/electric water heater. When I turn on the gas operation switch the unit ignites and heats the water and turns off. Then the problem occurs. It will stay off for only 10 seconds and then fires up again for 5 seconds. Sometime is will try to start and will not fire. Usually 2 or 3 tries and it will ignite. I have watched it go through this cycle for about 20 minutes without it quitting. This is the first time I have used the heater in gas mode so I do not know the history of it.

Any ideas of where to look or is it time to call the shop for an appointment?

[Old-Biscuit]

Billing sent :B

Thanks for the update.

It's nice to have hot water

[KCFDCapt]

I followed your instructions and now everything is working properly.

Thanks! No service call needed.

[Old-Biscuit]

Intermittent firing

Pull all spade connectors off and make sure they are making tight/clean contact
(brown wires on t-stat/red wires on ECO/red wires on gas valve)

Pull connector on circuit board...clean contact surface with pencil eraser. Check that all pins make tight/clean contact

Check/clean/tighten grounds......ground wire from circuit board/ground screw on bracket for spark electrode/gas valve ground wires

Check spark electrode to ground rod gap---1/8"
Check that high tension wire from circuit board to spark electrode has clean/tight contacts

Other items........
Burner tube clean and aligned so that gas flows down center of tube
Spreader plate on end of burner tube parallel with end of tube
Burner orifice clean


Good cleaning on contacts especially any with white scaly deposits...usually from dripping Temp/Press Relief valve just above ECO/T-stat
Doesn't take much resistance to stop 12V DC

[jamway]

I had a loose spade clip that caused about the same problem as you have. I had a friend with a corroded ground that did the same.

I would look for something like that first. Check and clean the ground and check all spade clips