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VanagonEuroVan
Subject:Re: propex heater problems
From:Karl
Date:Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:24:03 -0500

Joy, no, I only drop in here now and then when I have a moment, I'm not
subscribed. Usually I am fairly accessible through email and phone. :-)

I believe your heater is one of the older EX1800 models, so has no
self-diagnostics, therefore no flashing trouble codes. If it has sat for
a long time, I would suspect perhaps a stuck gas valve. If you can see
the gas line where it enters the heater (far passenger side of the van),
you will see the copper line screws into a fitting at the heater
sidewall. Using a blunt object like a screwdriver handle or the like,
tap repeatedly on the largest part of that fitting as soon as you turn
the heater on. Sometimes that will dislodge a stuck gas valve. Of
course, if you suspect the auxiliary battery is low, that should get a
voltage check as well - the heater will shut down below 11.5 volts. If
these ideas don't help, feel free to call me and we'll try to sort it out.

Karl
301.637.2299

Joy Hecht wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> Thanks for all the suggestions regarding my heater.  I'm copying Karl
> directly this time - Karl, are you there somewhere?  Are you no longer
> on the vanagon list?
>
> I've followed the instructions people suggested - turning it on with
> the thermostat dial on the lowest setting, waiting, etc.  The fan
> stays on for about ten seconds, then turns off.  The red and green
> lights (not yellow - I'm sort of color-blind, thought it was yellow)
> stay on.  The red light does not flash.  I assume it would do that
> reasonably soon after the fan goes off, say within a minute?  No
> flashes.  Just two little lights glowing at me.
>
> I have one propane tank, not two.  I do have propane, I've been
> cooking with it before & after trying the heater.
>
> I do have the blue heater.
>
> It is possible that my auxiliary battery isn't super charged, as I
> haven't driven in a few days (and I had started to wonder if it was
> dying of old age and I might need to replace it).  But other things
> that use the aux battery are working fine - lights, radio, etc.
>
> The heater used to work.  I haven't tried it in a long time.  I did
> try it last winter sometime, and it didn't work, but I don't know if I
> had any propane at the time.
>
> If this were a pressure regulator problem, where would I find that
> pressure regulator?
>
> Thanks for any additional advice anyone can offer!
>

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