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suburban furnace won't start

goofasap
Explorer
Explorer
we have a suburban furnace that will not start up.
When we run the temp up for it to kick on...there is a click at the furnace....and nothing.....
The battery tested good...replaced the thermostat and ...no change..
I removed the furnace and had it bench tested at camp world and it worked fine. Re-installed it and it worked for a couple days, then reverted back to the original problem.
Now what to look for ?? converter ? how would I determine if the converter is the issue?
16 REPLIES 16

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
YOO-HOO

'goofasap' are you still around...........is furnace working?
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

tenbear
Explorer
Explorer
I would check the voltage at the furnace before I did anything else. Your OP said it worked when you first reinstalled it, then quit. Maybe the battery recovered enough to run it for a short time before the voltage dropped.
Class C, 2004/5 Four Winds Dutchman Express 28A, Chevy chassis
2010 Subaru Impreza Sedan
Camped in 45 states, 7 Provinces and 1 Territory

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
John&Joey wrote:
Old-Biscuit wrote:

If it has a bad stand alone timed delay relay it can 'click'
If bad relay is on circuit board it can 'click'
If sail switch is stuck closed...you can hear just a 'click' and nothing will run
If motor is bad you can hear a 'click'
Click could be just at t-stat when contacts close.


If you can hear a bi-metal relay click, a sail switch click when it is stuck in only one position, or a computer board which doesn't have any magnetic relays click (that I know of) then you got some super hearing ability. Me I can only hear the igniter clicking when the furnace is not on the bench.

To the OP take a look at the following Youtube.. You need two things to have ignition spark and gas. If you hear the sparker, then it leaves only gas. Now if you do have ignition and it goes out after a few seconds, then it will be your electric safeties coming into play. If you have no ignition but do have spark....

On Edit:

Bugs love the smell of propane and will do all sorts of damage to that area. You might pay to install some screens on the furnace if your area is prone for this happening.

Second Edit:

OP You may also have a slow leak in your propane line allowing air. Prior to running the furnace try to light the stove with a match. It should ignite right away, and not blow the match out. If air is in your line after sitting for awhile then your furnace need to cycle a few times before the line is purged of the air. If you want to get fancy you can build a manometer pretty cheaply.


Well if OP responds back with info on 'when' he hears click and whether or not fan runs then we'll have better info as to the 'click'
Surprisingly clicks from furnace can be other things than JUST spark electrode.

And one does not have to purge AIR out of propane lines unless lines have been opened/fittings removed etc.
What one needs to do after a prolonged period of not using the propane system is establish flow and place a demand on LP Regulator.
That is why it helps turning on stove top burners......establish flow and place demand on LP Reg.
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
The fan must be running before the ignitor or gas valve operates.
OP: does the fan run?

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

John_Joey
Explorer
Explorer
Old-Biscuit wrote:

If it has a bad stand alone timed delay relay it can 'click'
If bad relay is on circuit board it can 'click'
If sail switch is stuck closed...you can hear just a 'click' and nothing will run
If motor is bad you can hear a 'click'
Click could be just at t-stat when contacts close.


If you can hear a bi-metal relay click, a sail switch click when it is stuck in only one position, or a computer board which doesn't have any magnetic relays click (that I know of) then you got some super hearing ability. Me I can only hear the igniter clicking when the furnace is not on the bench.

To the OP take a look at the following Youtube.. You need two things to have ignition spark and gas. If you hear the sparker, then it leaves only gas. Now if you do have ignition and it goes out after a few seconds, then it will be your electric safeties coming into play. If you have no ignition but do have spark....

On Edit:

Bugs love the smell of propane and will do all sorts of damage to that area. You might pay to install some screens on the furnace if your area is prone for this happening.

Second Edit:

OP You may also have a slow leak in your propane line allowing air. Prior to running the furnace try to light the stove with a match. It should ignite right away, and not blow the match out. If air is in your line after sitting for awhile then your furnace need to cycle a few times before the line is purged of the air. If you want to get fancy you can build a manometer pretty cheaply.
Thereโ€™s no fool, like an old fool.

Crockett
Explorer
Explorer
im going with fan control relay. either on the board or off the board, with a remote possibility of motor. the board mounted relays are problematic. intermittent on the motor would be more rare IMO. assuming the click and no fan.

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
John&Joey wrote:
Old-Biscuit wrote:
John&Joey wrote:
IMO, if you hear the clicking then all your electrical stuff is OK otherwise ignition would not be attempted. Stand outside by the exhaust and see if you can smell propane during the clicking. I'm guessing your jet has debris in it. When you pulled it, and took it to CW it shifted and now it's back.


That's if the click was actually the spark electrode and NOT just relay/module...depends on IF FAN comes on or doesn't

No Fan then relay/module or even sail switch stuck closed.

OP needs to post what it is doing and what it ISN'T doing along with model


Well you must have ears like a rabbit, because all I can ever hear is the sparker. Also you're off the fan comes on prior to sail switch and the relay prior to fan is heat based, no clicking.


If it has a bad stand alone timed delay relay it can 'click'
If bad relay is on circuit board it can 'click'
If sail switch is stuck closed...you can hear just a 'click' and nothing will run
If motor is bad you can hear a 'click'
Click could be just at t-stat when contacts close

YES besides spark electrode there are other things that can 'click' and spark electrode will click repeatedly for 6-8 seconds

That is why OP needs to respond and explain with more info.
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

John_Joey
Explorer
Explorer
Old-Biscuit wrote:
John&Joey wrote:
IMO, if you hear the clicking then all your electrical stuff is OK otherwise ignition would not be attempted. Stand outside by the exhaust and see if you can smell propane during the clicking. I'm guessing your jet has debris in it. When you pulled it, and took it to CW it shifted and now it's back.


That's if the click was actually the spark electrode and NOT just relay/module...depends on IF FAN comes on or doesn't

No Fan then relay/module or even sail switch stuck closed.

OP needs to post what it is doing and what it ISN'T doing along with model


Well you must have ears like a rabbit, because all I can ever hear is the sparker. Also you're off the fan comes on prior to sail switch and the relay prior to fan is heat based, no clicking.
Thereโ€™s no fool, like an old fool.

wasatchmtnatvr
Explorer
Explorer
most likely your fan control circuit board.
Coleman folding trailer
GMC conversion van
Haulmark Harley Hauler enclosed trlr.(No Harley)
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tenbear
Explorer
Explorer
It doesn't sound as if your converter is the problem. The converter provides the 12+ voltage to charge your coach battery when plugged into power. It also powers the 12v items in your RV.

If you are worried about it check the battery voltage when plugged in and when not plugged in. The battery voltage should be higher when plugged in. How much higher depends on what converter you have.
Class C, 2004/5 Four Winds Dutchman Express 28A, Chevy chassis
2010 Subaru Impreza Sedan
Camped in 45 states, 7 Provinces and 1 Territory

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
John&Joey wrote:
IMO, if you hear the clicking then all your electrical stuff is OK otherwise ignition would not be attempted. Stand outside by the exhaust and see if you can smell propane during the clicking. I'm guessing your jet has debris in it. When you pulled it, and took it to CW it shifted and now it's back.


That's if the click was actually the spark electrode and NOT just relay/module...depends on IF FAN comes on or doesn't

No Fan then relay/module or even sail switch stuck closed.

OP needs to post what it is doing and what it ISN'T doing along with model
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

John_Joey
Explorer
Explorer
IMO, if you hear the clicking then all your electrical stuff is OK otherwise ignition would not be attempted. Stand outside by the exhaust and see if you can smell propane during the clicking. I'm guessing your jet has debris in it. When you pulled it, and took it to CW it shifted and now it's back.
Thereโ€™s no fool, like an old fool.

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
Could be timed delay relay, power module, stuck sail switch

Which Suburban Model and Year........NT, SF etc.

Are you plugged into shore power or just running off battery power?
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
I would say the motor could be suspect. The click you hear could be the time delay relay energizing, so that means there is power to the furnace.

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker