Have you tried cleaning the pilot tube; shows how on this Mr Heater video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_jT7sXZgKQ
Rich
San Diego

      From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
 To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
 Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2017 7:27 AM
 Subject: Friday: (waited for Wi-Fi) Buddy heater
   
About a month ago I posted about the Mr.Heater Buddy I have along on my
winter escape trip.  Well, it started out pretty good...nice to have heat
and a good fit in my rig...but now it is not functioning very well.  I've
been using it for an hour or two most days, and it's reliability has
deteriorated, despite my efforts to keep it working properly.  From what I
see on fhe Net, I'm not alone having problems...
  We are using a second one, in a camp trailer, same model, same age (~3
months old) filled with propane from the same sources, and that one seems
OK, so far.
  I think the quality is not good, like many things we are getting in
recent times.... I can probably "fix" it...But should I have to?
 anyway...The Mr Heaters I've bought have a 50% reliability record now, in
just 3 months of fairly light use..