Chapter 4
Troubleshooting
Problem D: Heater usually ignites but sometimes does not
Check that the valve on the propane cylinder is fully open. Occasionally, a tank will fail
to supply enough gas to the heater unless the valve is fully open.
Is any extra ductwork connected to the exhaust or air inlets or outlets?
Yes
. The heater should have less than 15 feet connected to the inlet and outlet in the
trailer. Any additional pipe connected to the exhaust should be 3 inches in diameter and
less than 8 ft long. Disconnect all ductwork to the heater to see if this corrects the
problem.
No
Carefully check all the inlets and outlets and blower for debris and obstructions.
Follow the trouble shooting suggestions for problem B, paying special attention that the
heater is getting sufficient voltage while the heater is under load and the spark probes are
in good condition.
Problem E: Heater ran down the battery at night while plugged in
When the 110V standby has problems the heater will switch back to 12 V power. With
the 110V standby unplugged and the heater off, check the fuse in the 110V standby
enclosure. Replace it with a 2.5A AGC fuse, if necessary.
Plug in the 110V standby and restore power to the heater. If the green light never comes
on, check the fuse again. If it is already burnt out the 110V standby needs to be fixed. If
the green light comes on momentarily, then carefully check the wiring in heater for loose
connections. If you don’t find any problems, the 110V standby or the control box needs
to be inspected and serviced.
Problem F: Carbon Deposits near Exhaust Outlet or Smoke from Exhaust
Outlet
Under normal use, the heater will deposit very little, if any, carbon near the exhaust
outlet. These deposits are often the first sign of a problem with the heater and an
indication the heater should be shut off. In addition, this problem often shows up first
when the vehicle is not running. These deposits typically indicate that one of the
openings in the heater is obstructed or the heater is not receiving enough voltage while it
is running.
1) Check if the heater is running off of the battery only (ie the vehicle is not
running). If the battery is significantly run down, the heater cannot receive enough
voltage to operate properly. Running the heater for less time on the battery or
starting the vehicle should correct the problem. If this occurs even when the
heater has been running off the battery for less than a couple hours, refer to the
troubleshooting suggestions for when the vehicle is running.
13
