Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Suburban Furnace Just Quit (Read 883 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Suburban Furnace Just Quit

Yahoo Message Number: 19771
Just as it starts getting cold, wouldn't you know it, our furnace decides to stop. Actually, it refused to start after we turned it off for a short time this morning. The Duo-Therm thermostat doesn't be the problem as the heat pump performes normally, albeit somewhat inefficiently with the temps now getting below freezing.
Has anyone experienced this problem? I checked the fuse, and it seems to be OK and lights on the same circuit are working. The fan usually comes on about 30 seconds before the burner kicks in, but now notheing happens. No fan = no heat.
I hate to pull the unit out from under the fridge if something simple could be the answer, so I'll wait a few days for anyone to respond...and thanks in advance.

Dick

Allure #30519

Re: Suburban Furnace Just Quit

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19772
It is probably the circuit board. This is a common problem. Good luck.

Jeremy Smit, past RV tech.

Re: Suburban Furnace Just Quit

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19776
Dick,

I changed the circuit board on mine last year, though it was a different problem than yours (my fan would come on but the burner would not fire). There are a number of troubleshooting guides for Suburban furnaces on line. Just do a Google search and you will get a number of hits of parts suppliers, forums, etc. that will help you through the process. The circuit board furnishes a circuit out to the thermostat. When the thermostat contacts close (calling for heat) the circuit is made and should go back to the furnace making the fan come on. It times for 15 seconds or so and if the flow switch is made the burner ignites. Check first to make sure you have a completed circuit back to the furnace. This is tough 'cause the wires to the thermostat are not easily accessible. Remember, there may be something else in line from the thermostat back to the furnace, too. If you get through this (or not) and need to change the circuit board or pull the furnace out to check it out, there are a few problems you will encounter. Other than these two roadblocks, the effort is fairly painless and doesn't take too long. The first problem is disconnecting the gas (propane) line. It is on the right side of the furnace in a space where getting your hand in is difficult, never mind with a tool of any sort. I ended up heating and bending a couple of open end wrenches to loosen the fitting. Note: you still have to pull all the ducts off. They just twist about 90 degrees and then come out. The other problem was with the wiring. There are no wire connectors to disconnect and you can't exactly get the furnace out far enough to easily reach the wires. I called CC and was informed that I would have to cut the wires. So, get a pair of wire cutters after you get it out far enough to reach them, pay attention to the two thermostal wires as they are the same color and I'm not sure if there is any thing else in line (as I said). I made sure mine went back the same way. Put your own connectors on and lengthen them if necessary, making sure you keep them tied away from the burner housing when you reassemble. You may also have a little trouble getting the connection loose to the outside furnace duct. It comes apart with a little effort, so don't go about removing the outside screws. You can't pry it from there without damaging your exterior. It comes apart on the inside. It tends to try and weld itself together over time, but it will come apart.
Now, if you have to remove the furnace to check out or change the circuit board, it is fairly easy check it out in an enclosed area, or outside if the weather is agreeable. You just need a 12 volt source (battery) and a propane tank from an outside grill. You will have to adapt the existing propane connection to the tank. I think I just removed the flare fitting at the furnace and the tank hose at the outside grill and the pipe threads were the same. If not, just buy the appropriate adaptor. Turn the gas on, connect your power supply to the two big wires (positive and negative), then connect the two thermostat wires together. Follow your trouble shooting guide from here on. It should start the fan immediately, make the flow switch, ignite after 15 seconds and blow warm air. Take your thermostat wire apart and it should continue for a while till the residual heat is removed, then shut off. It goes back in a lot easier than it came out. Hopefully, I didn't forget anything or mislead you in any way. If you have to buy the board, you can get it on line at a much better price than from a local RV supply house.
I hope you don't have to go to the trouble of removing it, but it you do, it is not that bad of a job. Good luck.

Joe

'97 Intrigue

Re: Suburban Furnace Just Quit

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19777
Quote from: jdurbin617@a\.\.\.
> I hope you don't have to go to the trouble of removing it, but it you do, it > is not that bad of a job. Good luck.

Joe

'97 Intrigue
My sentiments, exactly, Joe, but If I do, your directions will be followed to the letter.

Thanks,
Dick

Allure #30519

Re: Suburban Furnace Just Quit

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19780

Not sure if our problem could be the same as yours but ----Our furnace also just quit. We did the fuses, flipped the breakers, and nothing. When we called CC they told us that it could be either an ignitor switch or a printed circuit boad. We are headed to Palm Springs for a SWCC rally and hopefully a CC tech will be there to tell us which one it is or whatever else might be wrong!. Stay tuned for the next installment of no furnace running. Glad to be in Phoenix right now.

Kathy Marsh

2000 CC Allure #30536

Re: Suburban Furnace Just Quit

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19782
Check over-tenperatre switch, usually mounted on the fire chamber, it should show low resistance between the terminals. I've had several fail in the last 10 years. My heater just quit and I'm hoping that's the problem.

Joe Adams

98 Intrigue #10578

Re: Suburban Furnace Just Quit

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19797
Dick,

I have had a similar problem with my furnace. Before you spend money on it, try cleaning it. My problem was lint and dust that built up on the sail switch. After it was cleaned, the furnace worked fine. You may get the thing to work by just removing the access cover to the furnace and running a vacuum cleaner everywhere you can get to in the furnace area. This got me going for a while. I eventually had to remove the furnace to really get to the sail switch at the back of the furnace. After I did that, the furnace worked as good as new. I now remove my furnace about once a year to really clean the thing.

Dave G.

2000 Allure #30491

Re: Suburban Furnace Just Quit

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19832

Dick -

We were lucky!! All it took was to remove a good accumulation of dust from the contacts in the furnace and now we have heat. It is embarassing to think that dust was the culprit. Glad it was tho. Will have to put that area on our spring cleaning list I guess.

Kathy Marsh

2000 Allure #30536