[Pluto]

Thanks Richard, I'll check into it. Hannah and I spent about an hour and a half last night diagnosing it, but weren't able to make any progress. She printed the entire 100+ page manual and put it in a 3 ring binder which really helped as we went through each step of diagnosis but we still weren't able to get anywhere.

Everything that we tested was good. Now we're just trying to figure out if we're getting spark and fuel. We pulled the burner head off and followed the instructions for testing, but I wasn't able to get anything to happen with the burner off. With the burner head installed the the fan and motor would start up and run, but with it off it wouldn't, so we have to figure out how to get it to come on with it removed to check for spark.

Cold showers are an inconvenience, but in South Florida at least we don't need to worry about cold temperatures that require the furnace. When we get to AZ though it's going to become a more serious issue. We can manage having an unreliable unit down here where there is no winter but in below freezing Temps we can't.

Despite the high price of having a new unit installed it's beginning to look like the best option.

Thanks again for all of the help from the Gurus!

[Latitude 28]

Tyler,
Sorry for all the cold showers!  Based on what I am hearing about the AH not firing lets break this down into several steps/questions;

• With your new Beckett Controller has the fuel stropped dribbling from the nozzle?  If so that's good
  
• I know you have checked and rechecked voltages so lets just go back to "what's supposed to happen" troubleshooting.
  

Check all the wires connecting the Beckett controller and Beckett igniter coil to the AH to include the terminals on the backside of the igniter coil if those all look good.

With the burner removed from the aqua-hot chamber and hooked up electrically to the Becket's controller and igniter coil every thing should work as if it's installed into the burner chamber of the AH.  We are going to check the fuel delivery part of the AH.

• With the burner removed from the chamber and hooked up electrically and in full view disconnect the igniter +POS wire from the Beckett controller....VERY IMPORTANT to do this as you don't need an ignition source for any fuel.
  
• Start the aqua-hot - the blower should run and a fine mist of fuel should emit from the nozzle.
  
• If a fine mist of fuel emits from the nozzle that's good.
  

Now we are going to check the ignition source

• Disconnect the FUEL +POS wire from the Beckett controller VERY IMPORTANT as you don't want a fine misting of fuel with the igniter going.
  
• Reconnect the IGNITION +POS wire from the Beckett controller.
  
• Start the AH you should have the blower running and sparks at the igniter probes (HIGH VOLTAGE) if not try adjusting the probes a little closer than the tool/jig has you setting it to and try again.
  

You should see all these happening with the burner assembly exposed and connected properly to the Beckett controller. 

Hope this helps drilling down to the issue.

Steve

[Latitude 28]

Tyler,
It occurred to me your original issue of fuel dripping out of the exhaust pipe is what I had BEFORE doing the Beckett Mod to an original unmodified AH.....https://newellgurus.com/showthread.php?tid=5386&highlight=beckett+and+mod.

So the next question is what has not been touched that could be a culprit POST Beckett Mod?

Asking the Gurus if the igniters themselves can have an internal breakage inside the ceramic insulators causing an intermittent non ignition?

https://www.heatmyrv.com/product/electro...x-274-313/

[Richard]

In addition to the troubleshooting guide you provided to Ty.

I would do a couple of things based on the recent history. No doubt the excess fuel will have caused a ton of soot when the unit did ignite. That soot is going to contaminate the swirler and the photo eye.

I would remove the burner and clean the chamber and swirler. I would also clean the photo eye and test its resistance when exposed to light and when covered from light as outlined in the Webasto trouble shooting guide.

Just being frank here, but some electrical calamity let the smoke out of the controller. It is possible the same event affected the ignition module. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=paBO-GLyAYs

https://www.beckettcorp.com/bulletins/ge...-igniters/

[Pluto]

I called Newell this week to ask about having them replace our old AH unit.  I spoke to Tracy and he referred me to a place called heatmyrv.com to purchase the unit because it would be cheaper through them.  

He didn't give me a quote for a replacement unit through them but did say that we are looking at approximately $4500 in labor and parts to have them do the installation. 

He did say that he thinks that the units are around 10-12 thousand dollars for a new one.  So it's probably going to be in the neighborhood of 15-17 grand to have the old unit replaced.

That's a big chunk of money for sure! 

On top of that, we just got home from a hike and now the front A/C has also quit working. 

So between the two nonfunctional air conditioners, the AH unit, the exhaust needing replaced and the need for new tires we're going to be bleeding money. 

C'est la vie, as they say.

[Trainer]

Tyler, call me about reman AH heater. I have replaced 8 at much less cost. Not cheap but easier on the wallet.

Rudy Legett. 7 one 3. 8 one 8. 3234
Between 8 and 8 central

[arcticdude]

The unit is not tough to replace. Drop the exhaust connection out the bottom, drain the coolant/shut off the zones and disconnect the lines, disconnect the 120/240v and 12v feeds. Remove the box after removing the hold down bolts.

Reverse to reinstall. You can do it.

[Latitude 28]

Tyler, call me about reman AH heater.  I have replaced 8 at much less cost.  Not cheap but easier on the wallet.

Rudy Legett. 7 one 3. 8 one 8. 3234
Between 8 and 8 central

Rudy, In that coach, a 431/12 AH unit is installed with the Newell wiring/interface at the terminal board.  Can a newer rebuilt AH such as an AHE-100-04S with the separate black controller box be installed (with the appropriate wiring interface to the Newell) be installed in its place?  
   

[Trainer]

Well Steve, The electronic control board, used to run the heater, is not used with a 431/12. They are used for newer models and have now been replaced with the Reporter, still fancier. A 431/12 has fuses and clear relays to run it.

I just need to know the way the heater is installed to order the correct reman. When the reman is installed at my place, I have an excellent RV repair mobile shop do the heavy work. I ship the heater to them. They show up at 9:30 and by 5:30 it is in turning and burning. They have do 8 for me now. I am there to answer questions and run an errand if needed.

Let me know if you have any other questions or call between 8 and 8 central.

[Latitude 28]

Thanks  Rudy.....that's kinda what I was thinking that a 431/12 needs to replace a 431/12.