-
Aqua Hot Help.
The unit was working fine a week ago. Was going to turn it on to help with the next few cold nights.
I pushed the button to turn it on, the on light comes on for about 20 seconds or so and goes out. I have repeated it several times, same thing, burner will not light. I have not done any trouble shooting yet so I don’t know if blower is starting and blowing diesel or no spark to light, just asking for advice as to where to start checking. I’m not in danger of freezing as the roof airs have heat strips, so I left one on set at 50 degrees and I do have electric heat in plumbing bay. I am on shore power, inverters normal, chassis batteries good, tank full of diesel.
-
20 Replies
-
A lot of times it is the nozzle if it does that it could be fuses or plugged fuel filter try those things
-
Good advice from Peter, the nozzle is usually the first thing to check. Also make sure the photo cell is not covered with soot.
-
Has the unit been serviced in the last year or so?
I believe the spec is annual but now that we have ULSD fuel and since I run my AquaHot regularly, I have been able to go to every other year as long as I don’t see but the smallest bit of smoke on startup and that it runs cleanly once started.
There are many things that can keep a unit from firing. Also, lack of service can cause eventual failure of some components that would have remained functional if the service had been done. Overheating and cracking of the combusiton chamber (or whatever it is called) comes to mind.
I get asked all the time at dog show RV camping if I can help someone with a gas generator that won’t run. When I ask them about the last time it was serviced they frequently say it was the last time it did not run… That’s not good when dry camping in hot weather and air conditioning is needed for the dogs.
Hope your AquaHot problem is something simple.
-
First check to verify that the motor is turning. You should be able to hear it if your outside by the unit. If it isn’t, then take the cover off and check fuses inside the unit.
If the motor is turning, then as Peter said, check the nozzle, then check to make sure you have spark from the coil. If you have all that, and still nothing, then I would think the brain box (aluminum box) usually attached to the webasto may be bad.
A google search will show you detailed instructions.
The Webasto is easier to take out than it first looks. Mainly 2 J bolts to just loosen, and just slip off the slotted brackets on the flange. Then just pull out. That will give you access to the Fuel Nozzle, and photocell that Tom mentioned.
-
I would check if the low voltage light is on, if it’s on, you need to reset it on the Aquahot panel. I would also check the antifreeze level. Just a suggestion.
Hope it helps.
Gil.
-
Larry,
A number of things will produce the sympthom you have described. Annual service mentioned above is a really good shot at fixing it with no diagnostic effort first. Your age unit should not have an electronic control board so no low voltage light to check.
But if you will get a VOM meter, a phillips screw driver, an alligator clip jumper wire, remove any cover to expose the burner and control unit (silver box mounted on the side of the burner), then give me a call on Tuesday. We can do a lot of diagnosing to determine the problem. We can still do some diagnosing if you only have a VOM meter.
I am an Aqua Hot Factory Authorized Repair Center in the Houston area, so your efforts and my experience should pay off. I have three mobil jobs Tuesday but should be able to talk to you along the way. So til then,
Rudy Legett 7 one 3 – 8 one 8 – 3234.
-
I can tell you that Rudy Legett is the go to man for reliable help… He rebuilt 2 for us in the past and did an outstanding job… right in our driveway too !!
Cheers, Diane
-
Thank you Diane for the most kind words. All the best.
Rudy
-
When should a Aqua heat unit be replaced? When should one be rebuilt? If the unit is old, (tell me the age that a unit is old and out of date) would anyone replace a diesel unit with a CNG or Propane unit and what would be the reason to do it? Thanks
-
I don’t have an AH, but I can tell you there is no way I would go to any system that required me to add another fuel source. I have a lot of diesel on board and just the fact it is readily available makes the decision about whether to use alternate fuels an easy one.
I do know some truck fleets are using propane or compressed natural gas, but from speaking to the drivers the available range is less than diesel powered trucks. While they have the ability to refuel at their terminals they have serious concerns when they are threatened with fuel starvation due to conditions beyind their control. One driver told a story of getting caught in a snow storm on a highway that was shut down because it was impassable. He eventually had to shut down the engine which he was using for heat because he was in danger of running out of fuel before getting to his destination once the roads open.
This was a UPS driver pulling doubles.
On our first coach we had propane on board. We used it for our refrigerator, several propane furnaces, the range, and a grille for barbeque. We liked it, but it was a pain keeping track of how much we had on board and then getting to a refiiling station. It held 56 gallons so it wasn’t something we could fill by trading tanks at the local Home Depot.
-
Rudy Legett is now an Adverstiser with us, so lets send some business his way.
-
I will agree with Diane regarding Rudy! We used him on our AH on our Foretravel and woud not hesitate to use him on our Websato..
-
Michael,
An Aqua Hot Heater should be replaced if a tank leak should occur. An example is striking the exhaust pipe with a tire alligator under the coach fracturing the exhaust pipe tank penetration causing a leak of tank coolant.
Allowing the heater turned off to sit in freezing temps for hours on end can result in the fresh water coil bursting. This will result in needing a new heater. You can NOT drain all the water out of the fresh water coil nor can you blow the all the water out with air pressure. Winterize with pink RV antifreeze.
A burner should be rebuilt after very many hours of service when the bearings begin to sieze . A failed motor is usually just replaced. But a leaking fuel pump that has been run leaking can put diesel into the bearings relsulting in the need to rebuild, not just replace the fuel pump. Catching the fuel pump leak quickly can be repaired with just a fuel pump replacement.
Some older heaters that do not have an electronic control board can be rebuilt by Aqua Hot. The heater must be removed, sent to AH for the rebuld and then re-installed. About a one month event and $6854 plus labor, if my memory is correct. Check AH for rebuild possibily and price.
The new heaters, AHE 600D ($10,194) and AHE 675D are low emission, zero pressure coolant tank and electronic control board heaters. Rewiring an old heater for the board is a challange. I am in the beginning stages of replacing a older heater AHE 431/12 with a new AHE 600D right now. Will know more about this by the middle of January but much discussion of how this will be accomplished has already occurred.
I would not recommend replacing a large tank older heater with a new AHE 450D ($8054), electronic control board, 5 gallon tank, 2 heating zone pumps that heats water OR heats the interior but not both at the same time.
Aqua Hot is now manufacturing a propane fueled heater for 5th wheels that have no diesel fuel tank. It is the AHE 450LP. Being in the 400 model series, it has the small 5 gallon tank. I would not replace a large 16 gallon tank heater with a LP unit. But it could be done if the owner so desired and a propane source provided along with changing the wiring to accomodate an electronic control board it you do currently have one.
Hope this helps you.
Rudy
-
Thank you Tom and Bill.
Think of you all often since our visit. All the best.
Rudy
-
Thank you Rudy for your offer of helping me. It is cold here for the next several days and I am not going to be in the cold working on the unit. We are not planning on leaving on next trip til Jan 20 so I have a litttle time to get it going.
A little additional info, although the bus is a 2000, it has only 50,000 miles, less than 200 hrs on gen. It was never actually stayed in, last owner only used it for transportation, actually stayed in motels according to him, he said he hardly ever had the unit on.
Since we have owned it, 3000 of those miles are ours and 175 gen hours are ours. Both trips we were on, we had the Aqua Hot on everyday we were in it, so the unit was on about 18 days, never gave a problem. Exhaust was always normal looking.
Log in to reply.