Popular New Guides Product Guides Tools Checklists My Rig

Results for "suburban furnace"

783+ Q&A Updated Weekly Free
RV Furnace Blowing Cold Air? Fix Ignition Issues Fast
Propane Medium 45 minutes 98 👍

RV Furnace Blowing Cold Air? Fix Ignition Issues Fast

Staring at my RV furnace blowing cold air at 2 AM with the fan running — desperately need this fixed before morning hits.
I can hear it trying to ignite but it never actually lights. What are the most common causes when a furnace won't ignite? Need to know what components to check and how to diagnose ignition problems myself. …more
Suburban RV Furnace Won't Work on Shore Power - Complete Fix Guide
Propane Medium 2-3 hours 88 👍

Suburban RV Furnace Won't Work on Shore Power - Complete Fix Guide

Around midnight in the RV parts aisle staring at furnace components with no clue why my 2016 Heartland Bighorn's Suburban furnace acts totally different on shore power versus battery. When I'm running off battery power, the thing works like a champ - fires up, heats great, cycles on and off perfectly.

But the second I plug into shore power? It's like the furnace forgets how to do its job. It'll run for about 4 minutes, never actually produce heat, then shut off and lock out until I reset everything. The only way to get it working again is to disconnect shore power and cycle the battery.

I'm wondering if this is some kind of converter problem? Like maybe it's sending the wrong voltage to the furnace control board when on shore power? Has anyone run into this before and know what voltage levels I should be checking? …more
Suburban SF-30 Furnace Replacement: Complete Unit vs Core Guide for RV Owners
Propane Medium 4 hours 84 👍

Suburban SF-30 Furnace Replacement: Complete Unit vs Core Guide for RV Owners

Somewhere between our freezing mountain trip last month and now, my 2002 Born Free's SF-30 furnace died completely and I'm torn between replacing the core versus the whole unit. I believe it's a Suburban SF-30 model. I've been doing some research and see there are two options - I can buy a complete furnace replacement or just get a replacement core that supposedly slides into the existing SF-30 housing for about half the price.

I'm honestly not sure which route to go. The cost savings on the core is tempting, but I don't want to make the wrong choice and end up with more problems. As someone who's still learning about RV maintenance, would you recommend getting the complete unit or would the core replacement work just as well? Any guidance would be really appreciated! …more
Coleman 9420-381 RV Thermostat Voltage Drop: Complete Repair Guide & Solutions
Propane Medium 45 minutes 80 👍

Coleman 9420-381 RV Thermostat Voltage Drop: Complete Repair Guide & Solutions

Pulled the same wire swap trick that fixed my old analog RV thermostat's voltage drop, but this new Coleman 9420-381 digital replacement is behaving completely different. Everything worked great all summer with the AC, but now that heating season is here, I'm having major problems.

The furnace keeps short-cycling terribly - the burner fires for maybe 3-20 seconds, shuts off, then the whole cycle repeats. I've already ruled out the furnace itself (replaced the board, checked sail switch and limit switch). Through testing, I discovered the furnace is steady at 13.4V, but when the thermostat calls for heat, the voltage it sends back slowly drops from 13V down to around 10V, then the burner shuts down.

If I short the two furnace wires directly, the furnace runs perfectly. I suspect the thermostat's solid state components are failing. I'm wondering:
1 Has anyone else seen this issue?
2 Are others using this 9420-381 thermostat without problems?

I really like the digital features, but need a reliable solution. …more
RV Propane Furnace Clicks But Won't Light - Fix Guide
Propane Medium 45 minutes 77 👍

RV Propane Furnace Clicks But Won't Light - Fix Guide

Our RV's propane furnace was clicking but wouldn't light, so I followed three YouTube tutorials and now it won't even click anymore! When I flip it on, I hear it clicking away like it's trying to ignite, but no flames ever show up. The clicking goes on for a bit then just stops, and I'm left shivering in my rig.

I've got propane in the tanks and other appliances work fine, so I don't think it's a supply issue. But maybe I'm wrong? Could this be the igniter going bad, or is there something else I should check first before calling a repair shop? …more
Suburban KT30 Furnace 521099 Circuit Board Upgrade: Complete Wiring Fixes & Spark Troubleshooting
Propane Medium 2-3 hours 77 👍

Suburban KT30 Furnace 521099 Circuit Board Upgrade: Complete Wiring Fixes & Spark Troubleshooting

The multimeter's charged and screwdrivers are laid out — ready to fix this Suburban KT30 Furnace 521099 circuit board myself, just need the proper wiring sequence. I upgraded my Suburban KT30 furnace with the new 521099 circuit board and 528039 adapter harness after the original board failed. The good news is I now have power to the gas valve through the brown wire - that part's working!

But here's what's driving me crazy: when the gas valve opens, I'm only getting ONE spark at the electrode instead of the continuous 5-7 seconds of sparking I should be getting. I've been digging through wiring diagrams and realized the old board had a dedicated wire for the flame sensor, but the new setup just has me grounding that old flame sensor wire.

I'm pretty sure this flame sensor wiring issue is what's causing the single spark problem instead of continuous ignition, but I can't figure out how to properly wire it with this new 521099 board. Has anyone successfully done this upgrade and gotten the flame sensor circuit working correctly? …more

Still stuck on this repair?

Get a personalized answer from a verified RV mechanic. Describe your issue and get step-by-step help.

Chat with an RV Mechanic
27708 RV owners helped · Avg response under 5 min
How to Fix Suburban SF-42 Furnace Rumble and Backfire Issues
Propane Medium 2-3 hours 76 👍

How to Fix Suburban SF-42 Furnace Rumble and Backfire Issues

I looked everywhere online for answers but as a first-time RV owner, I'm completely lost why my 2003 Alpine coach's Suburban SF-42 furnace keeps rumbling and backfiring nonstop! This thing fires up fine initially, but then it starts making these awful rumbling sounds and actually backfires through the intake - scared the hell out of me the first time it happened. The worst part is it's not heating worth a damn even though it runs constantly.

I've already cleaned what I could reach and checked for obvious blockages, but I'm wondering if this could be an air-fuel mixture issue? The unit is over 20 years old now, so I'm prepared for the possibility that major components might need replacing. Could this be related to gas pressure problems, or maybe the igniter is going bad and causing delayed ignition? I really need to understand what's actually causing these rumbling and backfire symptoms so I know what to focus on next. …more
Suburban SF-42Q Furnace Shuts Off After 5-10 Minutes: Troubleshooting
Propane Hard 1-3 hours 75 👍

Suburban SF-42Q Furnace Shuts Off After 5-10 Minutes: Troubleshooting

Pulled into camp last night and there's this sharp clicking sound followed by dead silence when my Suburban SF-42Q furnace burner dies after 5-10 minutes. The system attempts to re-ignite several times before giving up and shutting down completely. Cycling power restarts the unit, but the same pattern repeats.

I've verified the sail switch operates correctly and the thermal limit switch shows continuity when cold. The unit starts immediately and heats effectively during those initial minutes before failure. What are the most likely causes for this specific shutdown pattern, and what diagnostic steps should I prioritize to identify whether this is an overheating issue, fuel delivery problem, or control board failure? …more
RV Furnace Won't Ignite But Blower Runs: Complete Troubleshooting Guide
Propane Medium 1-2 hours 75 👍

RV Furnace Won't Ignite But Blower Runs: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Staring at my 2022 Thor Quantum SE28 furnace after following three YouTube tutorials that somehow made it worse — now it won't ignite despite the blower running perfectly. The unit is getting power and the blower motor kicks on when I call for heat, but I'm not getting any ignition at all - no flame, no heat output. I can hear the blower running strong, so it's definitely getting electrical power, but something in the ignition sequence isn't working.

I've got plenty of propane (3/4 tank) and my stove works fine, so I know gas is flowing to the RV. This is actually the first time I've tried to fire up the furnace this season after it sat unused all summer. The outside vents look clean and I don't see any obvious obstructions, but I'm wondering if there are specific components in the ignition system I should be checking.

What are the most common failure points when you have blower operation but no ignition? I'd like to work through the troubleshooting systematically rather than just throwing parts at it. Are there particular components like switches or igniters that typically cause this symptom? …more
RV Furnace Won't Ignite Just Clicks - Troubleshooting Guide
Propane Medium 60 minutes 75 👍

RV Furnace Won't Ignite Just Clicks - Troubleshooting Guide

Already spent my RV repair budget this month — is there a way to fix my furnace that just clicks instead of igniting for under $50? The thing keeps making clicking sounds like it's auditioning for a marching band, but refuses to actually ignite and warm up our rolling icebox.

I'm hearing all this clicking and anticipation, like it's really trying its best, but then... nothing. Just cold air and the sound of my dreams of cozy RV evenings slowly dying. Is this a sail switch throwing a tantrum? Bad igniter having an identity crisis? I need some troubleshooting guidance before I resort to wearing all my clothes at once like some kind of mobile marshmallow! …more
Suburban SH-42 Heater Wiring Diagram: Complete Thermostat Connection Guide
Electrical Medium 30-60 minutes 72 👍

Suburban SH-42 Heater Wiring Diagram: Complete Thermostat Connection Guide

Around two days before our two-week camping trip, I discovered my Suburban SH-42 propane heater's new thermostat wiring might be completely wrong. The unit was experiencing starting issues prior to the thermostat replacement, and I want to ensure proper circuit continuity.

What is the correct thermostat wiring configuration for the SH-42, and what is the proper procedure to test the thermostat circuit to confirm the connections are functioning correctly? I need to determine if the issue is with the wiring connections or potentially the new thermostat itself. …more
Atwood 8535-III Furnace Replacement: Best Direct & Alternative Options for RV Heating
Propane Hard 3-4 hours 69 👍

Atwood 8535-III Furnace Replacement: Best Direct & Alternative Options for RV Heating

This 1998 Holiday Rambler's Atwood 8535-III is dying and I can't swing a $300+ service call — any DIY replacement options under $200? It's been repaired multiple times over the years, but now it's getting rusty and parts are nearly impossible to find. I'm worried about safety issues if I keep trying to patch it up.

I really need to replace it with something reliable, but I'm nervous about compatibility issues. Will a newer furnace even fit in the same space? Are there any direct replacement options that won't require major modifications to my RV's heating system?

I'd feel much better having a proper replacement recommendation rather than guessing and potentially creating bigger problems. What are my best options for replacing this old Atwood 8535-III? …more
Robert, RV Mechanic
Ask an RV Mechanic Avg reply < 5 min

My Rig Settings

Hi, I'm Hank!
Need help setting up? I can walk you through it
Rig Info
Give it a name you'll recognize
Power & Electrical
Climate Control
Water System
Refrigerator Type
Leveling System
Convenience & Features
Sync across devices