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11-23-2010, 12:03 PM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Austin
Posts: 127
M.O.C. #10861
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Help - at my camp site - water heater won't light
Hello... A small emergency here.. We are camping at Garner State Park (in the middle of no where Texas )
My gas hot water heater won't start. I have gas as the stove and oven work. I can hear the heater trying to start and see the sparks from the electric ignitor but it never starts. I never smell gas at all. Makes me wonder if the gas valve is not working. Any thoughts on what I can do or try?
Thanks,
Chris
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11-23-2010, 12:05 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 854
M.O.C. #5592
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Try resetting the two switches they are under the two rubber buttons.
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11-23-2010, 12:07 PM
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#3
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Austin
Posts: 127
M.O.C. #10861
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by bw2
Try resetting the two switches they are under the two rubber buttons.
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Ok, I have found those buttons but how does the reset work? Do you press them or what. I have pressed them but I have not felt them move at all.
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11-23-2010, 12:15 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Casa Grande
Posts: 5,369
M.O.C. #6333
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This happened to mine and I had to replace the gas valve. I no, you don't want to hear that, but it is what it is.....
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11-23-2010, 12:20 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 3,335
M.O.C. #10496
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If your water heater is on the same side as your furnace, try running the furnace and creating a demand on the system that way, ditto for your refrigerator. Just an idea ... worth a shot. Please keep us posted and good luck!
__________________
2010 3150RL
LevelUp, Dual 6 volt batteries, Progressive Industries EMS HW50C, Honda EU2000i Generator, Bridgestone Duravis R250 tires, Torklift Glowstep Revolution Stairs, LED Tail lights
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie SRW LB CC Cummins 6.7L Aisin Trans B&W RVK3600
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11-23-2010, 12:25 PM
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#6
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Austin
Posts: 127
M.O.C. #10861
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by exav8tr
This happened to mine and I had to replace the gas valve. I no, you don't want to hear that, but it is what it is.....
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Yeah, I was afraid of that... Is this easy to replace (if I can get the part) or are we just hosed on this trip?
-Chris
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11-23-2010, 12:55 PM
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#7
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Unknown
Posts: 436
M.O.C. #6570
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My gas valve failed earlier this year as well .... didn't look too hard to replace but the technician that diagnosed it replaced it for me.
One quick thing to try .... take a hair dryer and blow it into the burner area. One time mine got some debri/cob webs or something there and the hair dryer cleaned it out and it started working again .... might be worth a try.
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11-23-2010, 12:57 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location:
Posts: 2,376
M.O.C. #6575
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Might try swapping propane bottles. Perhaps not enough flow for the water heater.
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11-23-2010, 01:31 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Belvidere
Posts: 1,834
M.O.C. #185
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Had the same problem and it was the gas valve too.
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11-23-2010, 01:32 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: K.C.
Posts: 11,731
M.O.C. #5980
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all good suggestions!
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11-23-2010, 02:23 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: silver creek
Posts: 1,507
M.O.C. #7770
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can you run your heater on electric for now ?
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11-23-2010, 03:28 PM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Austin
Posts: 127
M.O.C. #10861
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by racerjoe
can you run your heater on electric for now ?
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Nope. My water heater is only gas. Good suggestion though.
Well, I am all out of ideas. I think it is the gas valve. We will boil water for washing dishes and then take showers in the bath house. Could be worse. We could be sitting at home instead of enjoying Garner State Park!!!
-Chris
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11-23-2010, 03:36 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Winfield
Posts: 7,327
M.O.C. #6846
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chris,
if you remove the outside panel to the water heater, you will see a small black toggle switch on the lower left side of the unit. this will turn on the electric side of hte hot water heater. Always make sure there is water in the heater before turning this switch on as it will burn out the electric element in a couple of seconds. Our previous rig was a 2007 3400 and it has both gas and electric for the hot water. Gas switch is inside at the steps, electric switch is outside on the heater unit. Hope this helps
Bingo
__________________
Bingo and Cathy - Our adventures begin in the hills of WV. We are blessed by our 2014 3850FL Big Sky (previous 2011 3750FL and 2007 3400RL) that we pull with a 2007 Chevy Silverado Classic DRW CC dually.
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11-24-2010, 01:03 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location:
Posts: 2,376
M.O.C. #6575
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Good thinking Bingo. I thought maybe they were boondocking. Sounds like their dealer didn't explain things very well huh?
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11-24-2010, 01:51 AM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Tonawanda
Posts: 551
M.O.C. #3662
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Mine did that a couple of years ago and had to replace the valve
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11-24-2010, 02:07 AM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Vermontville
Posts: 1,129
M.O.C. #9045
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Chris I believe Bingo is right. Just seen the year of your monty....it does have electric as it comes from the factory that way. Do as Bingo says and I'm sure you will find that switch.
Dave
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11-24-2010, 03:12 AM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Olympia
Posts: 1,058
M.O.C. #9441
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I have had problems lately with the check valve in the propane bottles not letting enough flow thru to my furnace. I have had to disconnect the bottle and drop the tank about 6" to the ground to reset the check. It seams that I could get some flow but not enough to allow my furnace to stay lit. This is not a good condition to have happen when it is 20 deg and snowing out.
__________________
2020 Ram 3500, 2022 Luxe 38GFB,2500w Solar with Victron equipment, Gen Y Pinbox
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11-29-2010, 03:48 PM
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#18
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Established Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Brownton
Posts: 26
M.O.C. #10901
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You may have a bad thermocouple. If you can replace it, the cost will be much less than replacing the whole valve.
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11-29-2010, 05:08 PM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bakersfield
Posts: 5,316
M.O.C. #15
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by cgaskins
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by racerjoe
can you run your heater on electric for now ?
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Nope. My water heater is only gas. Good suggestion though.
Well, I am all out of ideas. I think it is the gas valve. We will boil water for washing dishes and then take showers in the bath house. Could be worse. We could be sitting at home instead of enjoying Garner State Park!!!
-Chris
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Chris,
Have you determined for certain that you do NOT have an electric heating element?
Thanks,
Dennis
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12-01-2010, 05:00 PM
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#20
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: San Jose
Posts: 389
M.O.C. #2277
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For some weird reason spiders LOVE the smell of propane and will set up camp in the burner tube. I've lost count of the number of times I've used a single strand of thin copper wire to clean out the orifice.
The other thing I've seen happen is a loose connection on the controller board. Mine was stuck to the top of the tank insulation and the edge connector has come off a few times. When I push it back on the water heater works again.
Without hot water what use is civilization?
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