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Old 11-10-2019, 07:57 PM   #1
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Exclamation Furnace not working

I have a 2016 Precept 31UL. I’m pretty sure we checked this when we bought it, but this is the 1st time I have attempted to use the furnace and it does not work. I have seen some posts on the forum talking about wet motherboards and swapping them out, but I want to make sure I have done all the rule-out steps before that.

I set the thermostat for heat and cranked the temperature up and nothing happened. Did hear the blower, and I don’t hear propane kicking on. The owners manual is zero help. I checked the 15 amp fuse and it seems ok.

One thing puzzles me. When the fridge is on propane, I hear it kick on under the fridge like a little jet engine. Is this the same nozzle that runs the furnace?

What steps should I take prior to replacing expensive things?
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Old 11-10-2019, 08:21 PM   #2
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If this is the first time firing up the furnace, it may take two or three cycles before the propane gets there, and ignites. It's a completely separate system than your refrigerator, so no to your question on that. Light a burner on the stove for a minute to help it along the way. Cycle the thermostat a few times, and I'll bet it works. The blower comes on first, actuating the sail switch, which is what controls the propane regulator on the furnace. If the ignitor fails to light the furnace within a certain period of time, it shuts off. Then you cycle the t-stat, and the process starts over, and hopefully the propane has reached the furnace. We usually have to do this about three times before ours catches, and it's a short trailer. give it a go, and let us know if it works out.
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Old 11-10-2019, 08:31 PM   #3
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If the furnace is an Atwood there is a reset switch on the top, front, left side of the furnace...if it’s mounted in the horizontal position. The thermostat should be set to Heat with the fan switch on Auto. I assume you have verified your stovetop is working to ensure that there is indeed propane available.

The fridge is very quiet on propane and usually can’t be heard from the inside. The furnace and water heater on gas are a lot louder...not quite as loud as a jet engine.

Others here will chime in with other suggestions, I’m sure......
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Old 11-10-2019, 08:43 PM   #4
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I’ve tried it about a dozen times. When I switch to heat I hear a click in the thermostat. A few times I thought I heard something else ‘clunk’. The blower never came on either.
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Old 11-10-2019, 08:49 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Route 66 Traveler View Post
If the furnace is an Atwood there is a reset switch on the top, front, left side of the furnace...if it’s mounted in the horizontal position. The thermostat should be set to Heat with the fan switch on Auto. I assume you have verified your stovetop is working to ensure that there is indeed propane available.

The fridge is very quiet on propane and usually can’t be heard from the inside. The furnace and water heater on gas are a lot louder...not quite as loud as a jet engine.

Others here will chime in with other suggestions, I’m sure......
It’s an RVComfort HC Coleman-Mack. So I don’t know if there’s a reset switch. I’m not exactly sure where my furnace is. I’m thinking it’s behind 10 screws where the fridge propane outlet is. Not easy to get to.

I did have the stove burner on for quite a while during my tests.
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Old 11-10-2019, 09:00 PM   #6
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I stand corrected. The manual does reference it as an Atwood. And after seeing an unrelated YouTube video, I see it is behind the grate under the fridge. So far I don’t see any reset switch.
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Old 11-10-2019, 09:12 PM   #7
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I took the grate off and looked inside. The video mentioned the “super secret reset switch” being next to the red and black wires going into the unit. I do see a small rectangle hole next to where those wires enter, but it is located inline with the wall. Meaning, I can’t get a finger in there nor can I use my lighted inspection mirror to see what’s in the hole.
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Old 11-10-2019, 09:26 PM   #8
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Here's a troubleshooting guide, maybe it'll help.

https://www.rvforum.net/miscfiles/Furnace_Trouble-2.pdf
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Old 11-10-2019, 09:46 PM   #9
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The reset switch is an ordinary rocker type switch . Mine is on the opposite side of the case from where the wires go into the furnace. It isn't in a hole in the case.
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Old 11-11-2019, 06:53 AM   #10
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I’ve tried it about a dozen times. When I switch to heat I hear a click in the thermostat. A few times I thought I heard something else ‘clunk’. The blower never came on either.
The first thing that happens when things work right is the fan comes on to evacuate propane gasses. This is before propane turns on and is lit. Sounds like the furnace is off or there is not 12 volts to the furnace.
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Old 11-11-2019, 07:34 AM   #11
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If the blower fan comes on to pre-purge the system and you do not hear the sparking from the igniter it could be either the high limit thermostat or the sail switch.
This may make it clear.
https://youtu.be/-g3_Y7MqChE
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Old 11-11-2019, 08:28 AM   #12
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The reset switch is an ordinary rocker type switch . Mine is on the opposite side of the case from where the wires go into the furnace. It isn't in a hole in the case.
I saw that in a picture after I wrote it. The rocker switch probably isn’t in the hole because it wouldn’t fit with the wall being directly inline with it by only millimeters.

I’ve been plugged up to shore power this week and the batteries show full on the power panel. I plan to take the panel off the outside of the. And have a look. They might have moved the switch, or maybe there’s no switch.
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Old 11-11-2019, 08:31 AM   #13
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If the blower fan comes on to pre-purge the system and you do not hear the sparking from the igniter it could be either the high limit thermostat or the sail switch.
This may make it clear.
https://youtu.be/-g3_Y7MqChE
As I said, the blower motor does not come on. When I had the grate off and turned the thermostat on I heard absolutely nothing from the furnace.
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Old 11-11-2019, 10:53 AM   #14
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Take off the outside cover/grill. You will find on the left/center side(right above where it says Atwood Mobile Products) there is a on/off rocker switch make sure that is on. It may have been turned off by the dealer for some reason. So check it and make sure that is on and try again. Hope this was it.
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Old 11-11-2019, 11:05 AM   #15
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As I said, the blower motor does not come on. When I had the grate off and turned the thermostat on I heard absolutely nothing from the furnace.
This is what you said.
“I set the thermostat for heat and cranked the temperature up and nothing happened. Did hear the blower, and I don’t hear propane kicking on. The owners manual is zero help. I checked the 15 amp fuse and it seems ok.”

You said you heard the blower. Sorry I answered you.
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Old 11-11-2019, 11:17 AM   #16
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Take off the outside cover/grill. You will find on the left/center side(right above where it says Atwood Mobile Products) there is a on/off rocker switch make sure that is on.

That's the first time I have seen the switch INSIDE the case! Mine is mounted so that I have to remove the whole furnace from the RV in order to get the front cover off...maybe that's why mine is mounted with the switch exposed on top of the case.


At any rate hope the swtich is the problem....
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Old 11-11-2019, 11:57 AM   #17
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This is what you said.
“I set the thermostat for heat and cranked the temperature up and nothing happened. Did hear the blower, and I don’t hear propane kicking on. The owners manual is zero help. I checked the 15 amp fuse and it seems ok.”

You said you heard the blower. Sorry I answered you.
Sorry, typo using the ipad. That should read didn’t or did not hear the blower. Should have read it again before sending.
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Old 11-11-2019, 12:05 PM   #18
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Take off the outside cover/grill. You will find on the left/center side(right above where it says Atwood Mobile Products) there is a on/off rocker switch make sure that is on. It may have been turned off by the dealer for some reason. So check it and make sure that is on and try again. Hope this was it.
I took the outside cover off to have a look. The rocker switch is in there. It was switched to RESET, so I turned it to OFF and then back to RESET.

My motherboard is located horizontally in the middle of the opening (to the left of the fridge exhaust. I see some cob webs underneath it. Upon close inspection, I see what looks like some corrosion. The internet is poor here so I cannot post any pictures.

I have a multimeter with me, but with all those wires, I have no idea which to test.
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Old 11-11-2019, 12:38 PM   #19
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Have you tried it since you cycled the switch? If that didn't work try removing the furnace 12 volts by removing the fuse for the furnace. Wait a few minutes and reinsert the fuse. I assume you have checked the fuse all ready...


If your knowledge of electronics is limited and you do not have a wiring diagram or schematic it might be to your advantage to seek out a mobile tech in your area. Might save you money in the long run....
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Old 11-11-2019, 12:46 PM   #20
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Check out the videos available from here. This fellow is very methodic in his videos, and they may help.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...0utYK7sVOKwXVY
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