It's been so long since I used the water heater I can't remember what happened when I first turned it on. Was there a green 'water heater' light? Cause there isn't now. It is just blank for about 6-7 secs then the red light comes on. I sprayed all the contacts and cleanded the air tube. I turned on the kit burners for a while. What else can I try? Do I have aaan easy test to see if curren6t is even getting there? I have a multimeter but I'm not sure which settings to use or where to use them.

Make sure the propane sniffer is turned on and finished its initialization (flashing green light, no beeping).

Light one of the stove burners, to purge the air from the lines, then try the HW heater again.

I tried turing on the stove burner before I posted. I have no idea what a 'propane sniffer' is. where would this 'flashing green light' be?

thanks
Tigger

Open the heater cover and turn on the ignition switch. Does the igniter work (you will see an arc of electricity like a spark plug)? If the igniter works, but doesn't light, you have a gas flow problem. Check the grounds-sand contact point and apply dielectric grease. The igniter computer board costs about $100. Check the burner tube for spider webs, dirt, etc. Make sure the burner flue is clear of dirt daubers nest. You can flush out the dauber nest with a water hose and sprayer. If dirt has clogged the flue, you will have intermittent ignition with a flame and shutdown almost immediately.

quote:

Originally posted by tigger:
I tried turing on the stove burner before I posted. I have no idea what a 'propane sniffer' is. where would this 'flashing green light' be?

thanks
Tigger

The sniffer is a gas detector that operates a remote solenoid valve on the LPG main. It's located near the floor.

The typical one has a brown finisher plate (about the size of a light switch plate on its side), a green light, and a slide switch. Unless that switch is on, the sniffer won't go through its startup cycle (usually takes a minute or two, during which time it should beep).

It only turns on the gas when no propane has been detected inside the coach. It also turns off the gas if it detects propane, and also sounds that beeper.

"Was there a green 'water heater' light"
My '86 Regal had a green light during ignition try which turned to red when it caught.
Did your range top come on? If not, it's a propane problem.

Rusty, do all Barths have a propane sniffer? I've never noticed one in my 85 Regal. Where would it be located?
Jim

My sniffer was next to the entry steps, just above the floor.

Jim, my Barth did not come equipped with a propane sniffer, so yours might not have one either.

I have had problems in the past similar to what you describe. It was caused by a broken winding in one of the two solenoid coils that operate the gas valve on the water heater. With the water heater switch turned on, I could remove one of the power spade connections to the control board, and re-connect it to recycle it from the heater itself. I could hear the very faint click from the solonoid, so I disconnected and reconnected each one of the coil inputs separately, and determined that one of them was not operating. I then took it all apart, and rewound the coil repairing the open connection. I did this three times over the previous two years, and then this year when it happened again, I spent the $100+ for a new gas valve assembly.

I thought they were required since the early '80s. Apparently not. I'd install one if my coach didn't have.

well things have changed, anyway. After numerous switch flips, I no longer get the red light, however, I don't get the burner to ignite either.
I can hear the origional click.
Tomorrow when it's light again I'll try a couple of the proposed tests written above - wish me luck.

Tigger

My light would come on but I would not get any clicking at the igniter. I ended up changing the igniter board and it's working great now. I went with the Dinosaur board for around $100.

Ronnie