Water heater mostly not working quirk

[david j. forjan]

Maybe someone has encountered this problem with the water heater mostly not working. JSYK, I read all the previous topics but did not find anything
similar.
The water heater has worked only twice. The 2 times I pulled into an RV park, and plugged into the external electricity source. Each time it heated
the water just fine, got it nice and hot, initially, but did not continue heating the water, even though I stayed in place, hooked up for 2 days each
time. So it only heated the water once, each time I pulled into the RV park, and hooked up to external electricity, heated up the tank of water just
fine initially, once, but didn't continue heating water. Even though I tried resetting everything to like it was when I pulled in to the park
initially.

If this hadn't happened twice, I'd just say the water heater was fried. But twice now, it worked initially, just once, after just connecting to
external electricity in both trips to RV parks, heated up the water once, and not again. Until the next park. And never off the generator
electricity, just off external electricity, with roof A/C running both time. And even when it's not heating, there is still electricity at the water
heater poles, i checked.

I'd hate to spend more money on a new heater AND for someone to diagnose it. So I'm asking here in case anyone ever encountered this. Since it
qualifies as a quirk presently, I'm hoping there's a simple answer/solution. Hoping.

Any help is very much appreciated...
--
David J. Forjan, 1977 403 26' Palm Beach, glad to have the 3.70 Final Drive and pork chop for level front end, Tularosa New Mexico

 

[Matt Colie]

David,

I would like to say that I have seen this and figured it out right away. Yes, that is what I would like you to think.

The temperature switches that are used are very reliable, except when they are not. When they get old, the mechanism wears and the pivots get bad.
As an experiment, try tapping the controller body and see if it suddenly starts drawing power. I think it is working occasionally for you because the
coach vibration does the same thing as the tap on the control. You can probably get it to reset by loosening and tightening any screw on it anywhere
and then you can believe that this was part of the cause....

Matt

> Maybe someone has encountered this problem with the water heater mostly not working. JSYK, I read all the previous topics but did not find
> anything similar.
> The water heater has worked only twice. The 2 times I pulled into an RV park, and plugged into the external electricity source. Each time it
> heated the water just fine, got it nice and hot, initially, but did not continue heating the water, even though I stayed in place, hooked up for 2
> days each time. So it only heated the water once, each time I pulled into the RV park, and hooked up to external electricity, heated up the tank of
> water just fine initially, once, but didn't continue heating water. Even though I tried resetting everything to like it was when I pulled in to the
> park initially.
>
> If this hadn't happened twice, I'd just say the water heater was fried. But twice now, it worked initially, just once, after just connecting to
> external electricity in both trips to RV parks, heated up the water once, and not again. Until the next park. And never off the generator
> electricity, just off external electricity, with roof A/C running both time. And even when it's not heating, there is still electricity at the
> water heater poles, i checked.
>
> I'd hate to spend more money on a new heater AND for someone to diagnose it. So I'm asking here in case anyone ever encountered this. Since it
> qualifies as a quirk presently, I'm hoping there's a simple answer/solution. Hoping.
>
> Any help is very much appreciated...

--
Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
'73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
Now with both true Keyless and remote entry
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[jerry burt]

Are you running the engine coolant to the water heater? If so, you are heating the water with the coolant while traveling and that is probably the hot
water you have when you get to the campsite and not the electrical.
--
Patti & Jerry Burt
73 Gmc 26' Canyon Lands -
Photos - http://jburt.smugmug.com/GMC-Motorhome
Lots of upgrades but lots to do to make it ours.
Members: FMCA - GMCMI - GMCWS - Pacific Cruisers

 

[thomas phipps]

Replace the thermostat and the over temperature sensor. This is easy. If the does not totally cure the problem, check the heating element with meter
for continuity. Your heating element may be failing/burned out. Pretty common and cheap part. Get 220v rated heating element, and never worry about it
again. Your choice of big box stores have them. Bring the removed one to match with new one.
Tom, MS II
--
1975 GMC Avion
KA4CSG

 

[george1]

Are you sure it's not just the residual heat from the engine heater feed while driving?
--
George Castleberry
73 Painted Desert
Flagstaff, AZ

 

[david j. forjan]

Thanks for all the advice about what to check and replace. Great ideas. And yes, the water could have been heated by the engine coolant, but the hot
water coming out was VERY hot. And now that I think about it, both times I'd waited an hour or two before I turned on the water heater. thank you
all very much. I'll F/U about what I did and what worked. David
--
David J. Forjan, 1977 403 26' Palm Beach, glad to have the 3.70 Final Drive and pork chop for level front end, Tularosa New Mexico

 

[johnny]

You're describing water heated by the engine - which is hotter than hell. When I got to the show site in the late afternoon/early evening, I'd have
hot water for the breakfast dishes. Norris put a selector switch, choose A/C or water heater. I always opted for comfort knowing I could wash the
skillet anyway.

--johnny
--
'76 23' transmode Norris upfit, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.

"Sometimes I wonder what tomorrow's gonna bring when I think about my dirty life and times" --Warren Zevon

 

[robert mueller]

G'day,

As others have noted it could be that your water heater is not working at all electrically, the water is being heated by the engine
cooling water that circulates through it.

You have noted that you have power to the heater element so the first thing I would do is turn off the heater circuit breaker and
check what the resistance of the heater element is. If it's open circuit all you need is a new element which you can buy at any RV
store.

Below is a list of troubleshooting steps for the water heater.

To trouble shoot the problem you will need:

Maintenance Manual X-7525 / Section 24J - Living Area Water System / Page 24J-20 / Figure 38

OR

Page 24J - 22 / Figure 43

The illustrated parts manual would also be helpful.

See: Parts Book 78Z / Section 28 - Furnishings / Page 28-32 / Figure 28.034 - Heater - Water (First Design)

OR

Page 28-34 / Figure 28.034J - Heater - Water (Second Design)

Your problem could be as simple as the heater has overheated and popped the RESET BUTTON.

1) Turn off the water heater circuit breaker (CB) in the power supply panel
2) Gain access to and depress the RESET BUTTON
3) Turn on the water heater CB
4) Go have a beer or beverage of your choice
5) Turn on hot water tap
6) If you have hot water Bob's your Uncle!
7) If you don't have hot water turn off the CB
a) disconnect one lead from the heating element and see if you have resistance
b) disconnect one lead to the temp switch (with reset button) and see if you have continuity
c) disconnect one lead to the overtemp switch and see if you have continuity

Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of David J. Forjan
Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2016 6:21 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: [GMCnet] Water heater mostly not working quirk

Maybe someone has encountered this problem with the water heater mostly not working. JSYK, I read all the previous topics but did
not find anything similar. The water heater has worked only twice. The 2 times I pulled into an RV park, and plugged into the
external electricity source. Each time it heated the water just fine, got it nice and hot, initially, but did not continue heating
the water, even though I stayed in place, hooked up for 2 days each time. So it only heated the water once, each time I pulled into
the RV park, and hooked up to external electricity, heated up the tank of water just fine initially, once, but didn't continue
heating water. Even though I tried resetting everything to like it was when I pulled in to the park initially.

If this hadn't happened twice, I'd just say the water heater was fried. But twice now, it worked initially, just once, after just
connecting to external electricity in both trips to RV parks, heated up the water once, and not again. Until the next park. And
never off the generator electricity, just off external electricity, with roof A/C running both time. And even when it's not
heating, there is still electricity at the water heater poles, i checked.

I'd hate to spend more money on a new heater AND for someone to diagnose it. So I'm asking here in case anyone ever encountered
this. Since it qualifies as a quirk presently, I'm hoping there's a simple answer/solution. Hoping.

Any help is very much appreciated...
--
David J. Forjan, 1977 403 26' Palm Beach, glad to have the 3.70 Final Drive and pork chop for level front end, Tularosa New Mexico

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