Suburban Oven Pilot Light Not Staying Lit

Four22 · 01-12-2018, 11:45 AM

Hey all. We have a large suburban oven in our 2017 Vibe and the pilot light stays lit when the knob on the control is pushed in but goes out when released... Anyone had the same problem and if so, what was the fix? If its a cheap fix i'll do it myself but if not, I'll take it in to the dealer

We're supposed to get snow in our area this weekend and really don't want to have to uncover, put the batteries back in and recover the camper before the warranty goes out...

Any thoughts??

Keystoner · 01-12-2018, 11:52 AM

Are you releasing the knob as soon as the pilot lights? If so you need to hold it for a little bit.

Four22 · 01-12-2018, 12:02 PM

I've held it down for up to a minute.

The oven worked flawlessly all summer and worked the day before I had this issue. My suspicion is the thermocouple is dead but thought I'd ask...

Keystoner · 01-12-2018, 12:13 PM

The only other thing I know would be to check for dirt in the tube. Sorry that I can't be of better help.

llr · 01-12-2018, 12:31 PM

bad thermocouple(sp). This is what heats up when you hold the knob in and once hot allows gas to flow and if the pilot goes out it cools and cuts the gas.

easy to change depending on access and routing. it runs between the pilot and the oven gas valve (behind the knob and panel) with a thin metal tube in between

Tbates · 01-12-2018, 01:33 PM

Our oven would start, run for 5 minutes and then go off, found out that the orifice was too small, had to take it in and have it replaced, fixed the problem.

DegaDog · 01-12-2018, 01:40 PM

Wouldn't it be nice if Suburban became 21st century and had a DSI lighter like Fusion and Atwood?

Scrapper · 01-12-2018, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llr

bad thermocouple(sp). This is what heats up when you hold the knob in and once hot allows gas to flow and if the pilot goes out it cools and cuts the gas.

easy to change depending on access and routing. it runs between the pilot and the oven gas valve (behind the knob and panel) with a thin metal tube in between

X2.

Another cause can be that the bracket for the thermocouple has been bumped causing the tip of the thermocouple not to be in the flame enough.
This could have been Tbates problem.

Iwannacamp · 01-12-2018, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DegaDog

Wouldn't it be nice if Suburban became 21st century and had a DSI lighter like Fusion and Atwood?

....I think this would be 20th century at best. I guess if it were DSI then they would fail too. I have thought of adding an impulse magneto, but just don't use the oven that much...or too lazy.

MCTroy · 01-12-2018, 01:53 PM

YOu beat me to this post. I am planning to take our WJ with a Suburban oven back to the dealership for the 3rd time to repair the oven. I had the same issue of not staying lit. They replaced the thermocoupler and igniter. Now it will stay lit on the pilot and will heat up to the set temperature - one time. If won't relight to maintain the temp.

I will be following your post. Please update if / when you find a solution. I am going to request a new gas control valve. I suggested that before since that was a problem with our previous Suburban oven. Unfortunately, the dealership did not do this and now we are back to the same problem.

CedarCreekWoody · 01-12-2018, 04:01 PM

As mentioned above be sure the thermocouple is in the flame. Bend bracket to adjust. A minute should be long enough, but sometimes is not. Try holding it longer if properly in the flame.

**KyDan** · 01-12-2018, 04:12 PM

As mentioned - make sure thermocouple is in the pilot flame.
It should not take a minute.
The OP stated it worked fine until it didn't.
IF the pilot flame looks normal then it just might be a bad TC.

I can release and turn mine to desired temp in about 3 seconds after lighting.

No way am I going to stand/sit/squat there for an entire minute!

Hope you get it working!

The Newsoms · 01-12-2018, 04:59 PM

I have to hold ours in for at least a minute. ~ Teresa

**KyDan** · 01-12-2018, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Newsoms

I have to hold ours in for at least a minute. ~ Teresa

Wow- I believe you but that's way too long. It should work in mere seconds!

Two Ole Travelers · 01-12-2018, 06:34 PM

This past summer our 2017 Rockwood with Suburban stove/oven had same problem. I called Suburban since it is under warranty and 700 miles from our dealer. Suburban arranged for RV service in this area. They replaced the thermocouple and no problems until this week. Oven thermometer is 75 degrees off (set at 425 to get it to heat to 350.) Same deal, we called Suburban and they arranged for replacement of the oven burner. I don't know why they don't have a recall because it's a common problem with this appliance apparently according to our service provider.

**bikendan** · 01-12-2018, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DegaDog

Wouldn't it be nice if Suburban became 21st century and had a DSI lighter like Fusion and Atwood?

Our Atwood stove has DSI for the burners but not the oven.

Mdaniels4 · 01-12-2018, 06:44 PM

Our issue with the suburban was the front burner won't light via spark. I don't think it's getting one. It's getting gas, so I turn it on, and light it with a Bic lighter. Can't seem to see how to get the top off to get at the capacitor. Maybe that's broke or bent too far from the gas.

Thurman · 01-12-2018, 09:13 PM

One trick that has worked multiple times for me: Take a small piece of aluminum foil, was it up, then reach back and rub this on the t'couple lightly. T'couple can/will get a sooty coating on them and will not read temps correctly.

rockfordroo · 01-12-2018, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Two Ole Travelers

This past summer our 2017 Rockwood with Suburban stove/oven had same problem. I called Suburban since it is under warranty and 700 miles from our dealer. Suburban arranged for RV service in this area. They replaced the thermocouple and no problems until this week. Oven thermometer is 75 degrees off (set at 425 to get it to heat to 350.) Same deal, we called Suburban and they arranged for replacement of the oven burner. I don't know why they don't have a recall because it's a common problem with this appliance apparently according to our service provider.

Not sure about RV ovens, as I've never looked at mine that hard, but on manual residential gas ovens, you can adjust the knob.

Assuming RV ovens are similar, the knob actually consists of two parts: the actual knob, and a plate that connects to the gas valve. The plate can be rotated relative to the knob. You pull the knob off and on the back, there are usually 2 screws that you loosen, then rotate the plate. You need to rotate it about the same amount as the distance between (in your case) 350 and 425. After some use, you may find you need to do it again to get it exactly where you want it.

UPDATE: Just googled Suburban RV Oven Manual and the one I got says:

2. Operation of Oven Burner

a. Turn the oven control knob counter-clockwise to the desired
setting. Oven burner will come on immediately and the oven burner will
stay on until it reaches the desired setting. Then the oven burner flame
will decrease in size. This is normal for this type of thermostat and this
flame size will maintain a constant temperature withing the oven.
NOTE: Oven thermostat was calibrated at the factory and is not field adjustable.

So I guess you can't adjust it. You need a new thermostat.

Wolverine 1945 · 01-13-2018, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llr

bad thermocouple(sp). This is what heats up when you hold the knob in and once hot allows gas to flow and if the pilot goes out it cools and cuts the gas.

easy to change depending on access and routing. it runs between the pilot and the oven gas valve (behind the knob and panel) with a thin metal tube in between

Thermocouple may just be dirty,,, they can be cleaned with a pic of steel sandpaper !!! Also I wonder if you need batteries for your oven to work ???

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