Atwood Water Heater

[3rdturnfence]

The Atwood water heater in my 1999 Fleetwood Pace Arrow has acted up since I bought the unit in 2009.

For the longest time the pilot light indicator would be lite on the monitor, but the unit required a few (3 or 4) on/offs to light. After a while, I had to go out and slightly twist the connector on the board for the unit to light. This intermittent issue continued for a few years until I replaced the wiring harness.

After I replaced the harness the unit starts without problem as long as the tank is in use. if it sits( overnight for example) then the switch on the monitor must be turned off and then on for the unit to start. It starts right up with a flick of the switch.

In addition, unlike before I changed the wiring harness, the pilot light on the monitoring unit is never lite up.

Anyone have any similar problems?

[j-d]

Atwood has an "edge connector" between its logic board and the rest of the wiring. You can clean one side with a pencil eraser. The other is more difficult, and the tension can go out of the spring contacts on one side. It's possible to tighten those by pulling some arch back into them with a dental pick.

It's been awhile since I tinkered with one so I can't be more specific. Anyhow, they're a problem with Atwood and you seem to have found that.

[Old-Biscuit]

The 'light' is a FAULT light......comes on when it fails to light off and locks out. To reset you have to turn switch off/on.

Intermittent firing is typical of dirty/lose connections.........either on power connectors or grounds

Here is wiring schematic---should be similar to your vintage