Suburban Water Heater Problem

[arich4387]

Just bought a used 8327SS this winter. Finally got it set up in our driveway. Everything seems to be working well with the exception on the water heater. I put the plug back in it after being winterized. When I turn the switch on from the inside it lights but will not stay lit. I have hit the right reset button a couple time in the unit (see picture). It will not stay lit for more than a couple minutes. Any suggestions? I do not know how it was winterized since I bought it used that way. Am I missing something?


2008 Duramax K2500 Suburban
Allison 6SP - DSP5 Tuned
2014 Rockwood 8327SS

[Jay2504]

I am no expert by any means, but did you bleed the air out first and make sure it is full of water? Mine is gas/electric and so far I have only used the electric side. Did you bleed the air out of the propane lines? Jay

[crunchman12001]

Start with using compressed air on the copper tube to eliminate spiders, mud daubers and stink bugs living in there.

[Broadway Joe]

Check your bypass at the back of the heater, if left in bypass mode there is no water in the heater.

[Flybob]

Check the back side of the WH ( from a panel inside the TT). There should be 3 shut off valves they may be shut off ( keeping water out of the WH) See pic below. This is the winterized setting. To put back into operation, turn each of the three valves 90 degrees. If the gas has been off for a while, air in the lines may have to be bled out before the WH will light and stay light. Try running the stove for a while to clear lines.

[BooBoo23]

And if there was no water in the tank and you hit the electric switch you will now get to purchase a new heating element also.

[arich4387]

Ok figured it out. The water was bypassed so there was no water in the tank. Turned the valves to close the bypass and turned on the cold water into the water heater and the hot water out.

Thanks Jay2504 you got me thinking about bleeding it and I pulled the drain plug and realized there was no water.


2008 Duramax K2500 Suburban
Allison 6SP - DSP5 Tuned
2014 Rockwood 8327SS

[arich4387]

On a side note how do I know if this is a gas/electric combo unit?


2008 Duramax K2500 Suburban
Allison 6SP - DSP5 Tuned
2014 Rockwood 8327SS

[BooBoo23]

If you have the option for electric you should be able to see a small black toggle switch in behind the gas solenoid valve on the outside in the lower left corner. You may have to bend over to be able to see it. I'm sure someone will post a photo of it.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by arich4387

On a side note how do I know if this is a gas/electric combo unit?


2008 Duramax K2500 Suburban
Allison 6SP - DSP5 Tuned
2014 Rockwood 8327SS

This FAQ should fix you up:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ore-36197.html

It does appear you have an electric heating element, as I can see the cover for it in the very first pic you posted.

[arich4387]

Yep I see that now. Looks like a trip to Home Depot is in my future to get a new element.............


2008 Duramax K2500 Suburban
Allison 6SP - DSP5 Tuned
2014 Rockwood 8327SS

[Broadway Joe]

Make sure you get the one for 120v and not 240v.

[RangeMaggotBob]

[QUOTE=arich4387;1174286]Yep I see that now. Looks like a trip to Home Depot is in my future to get a new element.............

Did you find the switch? It's really hard to see. Took me a minute to find it, but I also knew it was there. I can see why this is confusing for people; just to glance in there, you can't see it. Couldn't they find a better place for that switch?!?

[RangeMaggotBob]

What's up with that Suburban of yours? Sounds pretty tricked out. I didn't know you could get one like that with the Allison tranny. (I did know you could get the diesel.)

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by arich4387

Yep I see that now. Looks like a trip to Home Depot is in my future to get a new element.............

Only if you turned ON the electric heating element switch with no water in the tank (and you were connected to a form a 120 AC power)

If a no on either, then you wouldn't have burned out the electric element. Just turning on the propane/dsi switch with no water in the tank will not burn out the electric heating element. You must energize the electric heating element itself to burn it out and it's on it's own switch.

Also, in the second pic you posted of the rubber cover over the ECO hi-limit/thermostats, you need to push both round parts that say reset. The left one is for the electric heating element and the right one is for the dsi/propane side.

If you dry-fired the water tank with the propane, it's likely that it heated the tank up quickly..and what happens then is the ECO (Emergency Cut Off) portion of both sides tripped even though it was only the propane side making the heat (they are both connected to the tank wall and affected by temperature). You need to reset both sides to make sure because if the left hand one is still tripped, the electric heating element cannot come on.

This is what is behind that cover. The left side controls the electric element and the right side controls the propane/dsi.

[arich4387]

Originally Posted by tdst51

What's up with that Suburban of yours? Sounds pretty tricked out. I didn't know you could get one like that with the Allison tranny. (I did know you could get the diesel.)

I bought this Suburban last March and sent it down to Eric at Duraburb in Florida to convert it from the 6.0 gas to the 6.6 Duramax with the Allison. It took them 2-3 weeks to do. Got it back in June of last summer and love the thing. Chevy has not put a diesel in a suburban since 1999 with the gutless 6.5L. Big mistake on their part. Lots of power so I had to go find a bigger trailer. Here are a couple pics.




2008 Duramax K2500 Suburban
Allison 6SP - DSP5 Tuned
2014 Rockwood 8327SS

[BobHanke]

Looks gas only. Light on while attempting ignition. Goes out when started.

[wicked1]

Originally Posted by arich4387

I bought this Suburban last March and sent it down to Eric at Duraburb in Florida to convert it from the 6.0 gas to the 6.6 Duramax with the Allison. It took them 2-3 weeks to do. Got it back in June of last summer and love the thing. Chevy has not put a diesel in a suburban since 1999 with the gutless 6.5L. Big mistake on their part. Lots of power so I had to go find a bigger trailer. Here are a couple pics.

Attachment 105961Attachment 105962Attachment 105963


2008 Duramax K2500 Suburban
Allison 6SP - DSP5 Tuned
2014 Rockwood 8327SS

Wow can't imagine what that costs to do?


2016 F350 SCREW SB 6.7 PS Diesel
2015 FR Rockwood Roo 23IKSS

[Lookin2camp]

Just a thought. I am a visual guy so here is a pic I obtain from another knowledgeable camper on this forum. Good luck, as I had many questions too.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[arich4387]

Originally Posted by wicked1

Wow can't imagine what that costs to do?


2016 F350 SCREW SB 6.7 PS Diesel
2015 FR Rockwood Roo 23IKSS

Let's just say it wasn't cheap.


2008 Duramax K2500 Suburban
Allison 6SP - DSP5 Tuned
2014 Rockwood 8327SS