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Hurricane heater revisited

Yahoo Message Number: 7562
I've been very happy with my furnace/water heater for some time, but now have a mysterious problem. It is drinking coolant and I can't find a trace of where it's going. I've added a half gallon in about a week. Anyone have a clue?

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7565
Hi, Walt

My Hurricane has always used some coolant, slowly but surely. Like you, I don't see any sign of a leak, it just "uses" it.
I just had the system serviced by Holland Motors in Mich, and naturally, when I tried it out the other day for the first time, it will not flame up. I am getting code 7. No problem, just another full day, 280 mile round trip, to have them look at it again.
Course, this time of year, it snows nearly every day in western Michigan, which makes it even more fun, since it will mess up the coach.

"My first born for a dealer that can do something right the first time, and will take the time to check out their own work". One good thing about buying a coach at Holland Motors, you will get really good at fixing things yourself!

Bill Harris

03 Allure 1st Ave 30912
Datastorm

Quote from: spiker1029
I've been very happy with my furnace/water heater for some time,

but

Quote
now have a mysterious problem. It is drinking coolant and I can't > find a trace of where it's going. I've added a half gallon in

about a

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7566
ALOT OF COACH OWNERS SHOULD CONSIDER DOING THERE OWN WORK USELESS YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY TO FEED DEALERS
I'M A ELECTRICIAN BY TRADE AND MECH SECOND NATURE AND DO ALMOST OF OF MY MAINTENANCE BECAUSE NO DEALER AROUND

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE
HAPPY HOLIDAYS

BRIAN 10030 INTRIGUE

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7569
Hi Walt,

I have the same problem. I am worried about using it when the overflow tank is empty, but I kept pouring it in and it kept disappearing. Someone wrote a while back they thought it was evaporating, but isn't that the point of coolant? raising the boiling point so it won't evaporate? Anyway, I bought some replacement fluid from Waltham in Medford, because they told me it was just like EL Compleat, but of course, it wasn't . The Compleat is blue, and this stuff is RED! !!!! So now I don't run the hurricane, because I don't know if I should add the red, and if I do, I know the darn thing will just drink it all down. I am not getting any leaks, and the system is supposed to not work if there is air anywhere in the line, just ask me it took 12 months to get it working well.

Joe and Patti

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7570
Hi Bill,

Yes, it is a problem we all suffer with: Dealers who do the work right. I have to say, though that Guaranty in Junction City, OR was/is the best service we have ever had on any of our MH's. Even better than the factory if that is possible. They may not have the authority the CCI folks had, but their attitude was great. ' I can't remember what's the 7 mean? How many hours do you have on your burner? Joe and Patti

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7573
I was happy to see some Hurricane correspondence again. I haven't yet answered the ITR factory letter since we haven't used our coach since April.
Several were still having trouble with control boards. Have those been solved? We are on our third, but it didn't get tested much because of other Hurricane design problems that were not fixed until we got back at the end of the trip.

As to coolant loss, there should be none if the system is sealed properly.
After we installed the replacement system [our first one burned] we purged the lines for several hours. We expected to add fluid as he air worked out of the system with driving and with use. The total added was about a quart.
It hasn't "leaked" since, but then it didn't get much use due to the other problems. If fluid is continually being lost once the system has purged itself, something is leaking. I've seen systems in boats go for two years with no losses.

Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has had leaking or board problems and now has them fixed. Need to know what spare parts to take on the next trip.

Doug 03 Allure 30929

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7577
Hi, Joe

I'm going from memory, the coach is on the other side of the state.
The code 7 is explained as a flame out condition. It tries to start, does not get a flame, shows code 7. It will repeat 3 times, then give up. I have tried resetting the system, but it just will not start. I can't remember exactly how many hours on the system, not that many, really, mainly for hot water use.
Bill Harris 03 Allure 1st Ave 30912 Datastorm

Quote from: Joe and Patti Frazier,\[br\
III"] > Hi Bill,

Yes, it is a problem we all suffer with: Dealers who do the
work right. I have to say, though that Guaranty in Junction City, OR was/is the best service we have ever had on any of our MH's. Even better than the factory if that is possible. They may not have the authority the CCI folks had, but their attitude was great. '
Quote
I can't remember what's the 7 mean? How many hours do you have
on your burner?

Re: Hurricane heater revisited (coolant type)

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7578
Joe, I think they recommend a "pottable safe" type fluid, since if there was a crack in the heat exchanger, fluid could get into your hot drinking water. We were told, "don't worry about it" since the chance of that in the stainless heat exchanger is slim. You decide for yourself, though.

Bill Harris 03 Allure 1st Ave 30912 Datastorm

Quote from: Joe and Patti Frazier,\[br\
III"] > Hi Walt,

I have the same problem. I am worried about using it when the
overflow tank is empty, but I kept pouring it in and it kept disappearing. Someone wrote a while back they thought it was evaporating, but isn't that the point of coolant? raising the boiling point so it won't evaporate? Anyway, I bought some replacement fluid from Waltham in Medford, because they told me it was just like EL Compleat, but of course, it wasn't . The Compleat is blue, and this stuff is RED! !!!! So now I don't run the hurricane, because I don't know if I should add the red, and if I do, I know the darn thing will just drink it all down. I am not getting any leaks, and the system is supposed to not work if there is air anywhere in the line, just ask me it took 12 months to get it working well.

Quote
>

Joe and Patti

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7579
Hi, Doug

Regarding the control board, I was one of the first to have the upgrade done last winter, as a result of the "fire problem". I talked with the mfgr. after receiving the letter this fall, and they said they had made some more changes to the board since I had the upgrade, and recommended having a new one installed. They said it contained more overheat safeguards. If you call them with the information on the board, they will tell you if you have the latest version.

Bill Harris 03 Allure 1st Ave 30912 Datastorm

Quote from: Doug Rosenberg
> I was happy to see some Hurricane correspondence again. I haven't

yet

Quote
answered the ITR factory letter since we haven't used our coach

since April.

Quote
Several were still having trouble with control boards. Have those

been

Quote
solved? We are on our third, but it didn't get tested much
because of other

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7583
Hi Walt and Joe,

I do not have a hurricane but I do have a engine coolant reservoir that is too small. I found this out by putting the overflow hose in a 1 gal plastic jug for monitoring any coolant loss. I had no leaks either. My solution was to built a second coolant reservoir positioned on top of the original - no loss after this.
Fred Kovol

Quote from: Joe and Patti Frazier,\[br\
III"] > Hi Walt,

I have the same problem. I am worried about using it when the
overflow tank is empty, but I kept pouring it in and it kept disappearing. Someone wrote a while back they thought it was evaporating, but isn't that the point of coolant? raising the boiling point so it won't evaporate? Anyway, I bought some replacement fluid from Waltham in Medford, because they told me it was just like EL Compleat, but of course, it wasn't . The Compleat is blue, and this stuff is RED! !!!! So now I don't run the hurricane, because I don't know if I should add the red, and if I do, I know the darn thing will just drink it all down. I am not getting any leaks, and the system is supposed to not work if there is air anywhere in the line, just ask me it took 12 months to get it working well.

Quote
>

Joe and Patti

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7608
Quote from: spiker1029
I've been very happy with my furnace/water heater for some time,

but

Quote
now have a mysterious problem. It is drinking coolant and I can't > find a trace of where it's going. I've added a half gallon in about

a

Quote
week. Anyone have a clue? >

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Dear Walt,

I have my coach into Birdland in Houston, as my Hurricane has got good flame but the air coming out of the registers is only mildly warm. We're debugging it now.

Re: Lose of Coolant, I just talked with Craig Garrison at Hurricane and he talking to Birdland as to how to plug up one of the hoses going to the "bronze" fixture near the plastic coolant resourvior, which he says we'll stop this mysterious loss of coolant, I'll let you know the exact fix when I see it tomorrow. Craig is an owner of a Country Coach as well and has fixed his.

MIke...Allure 30898

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7609
Team,

Re: Flame Out...Code 7, remove the front panel and re-set the "aquastate" by pushing in the "little red button"...its located on the end of the combustion chamber....hard to get your hand in there so don't burn yourself.

Mike...Allure 30898

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7610
Team,

Another tip on the "flame out" code 7, during the 3 times the Hurricane will try to fire up, open the "T-Valve" on top of the Hurricane all the way open to purge air from the fuel line.

It may take doing this 3 or 4 times before the Hurrican will keep burning. Also, put you finger over the "air filter" to make sure there is a "suction feel". Also look at your "fuel fiter" to see if it contains fuel, if not its probably a bad fuel pump.

Mike...Allure 30898

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7612
Mike,

I had to remove that "bronze" bleeder valve last year. Also, I had to add an overflow tank. I posted pictures in the photos section under the "Hurricane" folder. Two other important fixes were replacing the fuel pump and fuel solenoid next to the burner. The bleeder valve removal and overflow tank fixed the coolant loss problem. The fuel pump and solenoid fixed the flame out conditions.
Rob

'02 Intrigue - #11480

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7616

I had this happen with my Hurricane up in Utah last month where the temperature was around 40 degrees. It would try to start three times and give me the error code. I finally checked the fuel filter and the diesel fuel in the filter had turned to gel due to cool temperature or sitting, I'm not sure. I cleaned out the filter and filled it with fresh diesel and it started right up.

It's worth a try I guess.

Brad and Kim Salute
2003 Intrigue #11568
La Quinta, CA

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7620
We are going to dry camp for two nights at Christmas time. Does anybody know how long you can run the Hurricane on batteries before depleting them?
D. Loop/ 2001 Intrigue

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7633
We solved the battery drain by using the Hurricane by turning it off during the night, and since the wife gets up early, she turns it on and its nice and warm when I get up. Seriously, we have used ours extensively all night, setting it at 65 degrees and have never had a problem in two years.

Ron and Molly, '01 Intrigue # 11262, San Diego

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7637
It has just dawned on me that the loss of coolant began when I started using the Hurricane for heating instead of just for hot water. My next step will be to look at the heat exchangers in the coach, but I think if that's where the leak is I would have noticed it in the coach--at least the odor. I just went out and looked at it and there is no sign of coolant loss since yesterday, although the temp here in southern Arkansas was in the twenties last night. I have the thermostat set at 52 for freeze protection.

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

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Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7643
My coolant leak was in the green hose on top of the fuel tank where it goes into a Y and had three sets of hose clamps on it - one was loose, or too small to tighten adequately. The leak was slow and gathered on top of the fuel tank is why it took me 16 months to find it - no dribble on the pavement below the tank.

Ron and Molly, '01 Intrigue # 11262, San Diego

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7645
That is going to vary considerable depending on how long the fans run, both in the burner and in the heat exchangers. Two days in cold weather may be too long for my unit. Two days of heavy use would be too much for the 1200 amps of batteries on my boat.
Doug Allure 30929

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7659
Mike, I already disconnected the bronze relief valve, so that isn't my problem. As I mentioned in another message, my leakage started when I started heating the coach, not just water. I have noted no coolant loss the last two nights when temps here in Texarkana got into the 20's and am theorizing that the long period of not using the furnace for heating the coach might have resulted in some seepage or evaporation somewhere in the system, and what I have been experiencing is simply filling it back up. I don't know if this makes sense or not since I have been using the Hurricane for heating water extensively.
By the way, I had occasion to use Birdland in Houston a few weeks ago for electric toilet problems, and they were first class. My only complaint was that I had to pay them $ 160 for labor which Thetford has yet to reimburse me ( my coach is out of warranty, but not the toilet.). I guess that tells me why Birdland wouldn't wait for Thetford to pay them.

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: Hurricane heater code 7 flame out-"and the winner is......."

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7663
Thanks, Mike

You win the prize!

I took my coach back to Holland Motors yesterday, armed with a couple suggestions from contributors of this message board, and sure enough, all it took was a push of "the little red button". I don't know if resetting this is normally done after replacing control boards, but if so, they apparently never ran the system after they serviced it two weeks ago.

Bill Harris

03 Allure 1st Ave 30912
Datastorm

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7666
Team.

OK, I've completed the suggested re-wiring of the Hurricane Control board thats suppose to assist in STOPPING the mysterious loss of Coolant.

Remove Control Board Cover, Locate the Dual 7 Pin Connector Strip.
There 7 Screws on Top Strip and 7 on the Bottom Strip.
Remove the BROWN WIRE from the TOP MIDDLE PIN marked (P+) and attach this BROWN WIRE to BOTTOM MIDDLE PIN marked (SW)....thats it.

This is per Craig Garrison of Hurricane.

Thanks, Mike....

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7676
Walt,

After 2 years of Hurricane problems we have started a new system for using the Hurricane and it seems to work. We now run the Hurricane whenever it gets a little cold, which is quite often. It seams that the more you use it the better it works so we no longer use the heat pumps or our small electric heater. We like the heat better and it comes on everytime when you use it constantly. We also carry about 3 filters and i change the filter every couple of weeks or when ever the unit goes off a few times. Diesel is a very unrealible fuel in cold weather especially unwinterised. Lots of us go from Florida to a cold climate and wonder why that Florida fuel does not work well in our Hurricanes.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

Re: Hurricane heater revisited

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 7700
Mike,

Did anyone explain how changing the wiring is going to stop coolant loss? Isn't the system closed, i.e. any overflow goes to the expansion tank, not out a vent?

Doug Allure 30929