Heater in 1997 Duetto

Hi all,
We've recently purchased a 1997 Duetto and am a relative novice when it comes to auto sleepers.
I am struggling to get the gas heater to work I wondered if there is something obvious that I might be missing. I have followed the instructions and all the lights on the control panel are functioning as they should - but I am getting no heat. The fan comes on for about 6 seconds initially, but once this stops I can hear no other signs of life. I have connected the gas, which works fine on the other appliances, and the valves are switched on.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks in advance for any help
Jonny

Hi Jonny,

First, please take a moment to introduce yourself here..

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]


As regards your heater, is it a Carver P4 or a Propex? Both operate similarly but they do take time to purge themselves when first started and can seem a long time before they get going. If it's a Carver, the lights on the thermostat/switch flash a number of times, depending on the number of flashes, you can tell what the fault is. If you haven't got the Carver instructions, let me know if you get flashes and I can tell you what the fault indicated might be. If you have no flashing lights, then I can only suggest at this stage that you give it more time to start blowing out heat.

Hi Paul
Apologies for my oversight and flying straight in there - I have added an intro on the welcome board.
Thanks a lot for your help, its a Propex system. There are no flashing lights, will try giving it a little longer to kick in and hopefuly time is a healer.
Cheers
Jonny

I had hoped it was a Carver only because I've got one in my Symphony of the same year and I've had a few problems with mine so I've got to know a bit about them. Not familiar with the Propex as regards them having flashing light codes but I'm sure someone with a Propex system will be along soon but hope that just giving it more time will show it to be OK.

Mine's a Propex. The only time mine's given problems lighting was when the battery was low or of course when it was out of gas.
You should find two pipes under the van, one clipped to the "doorbell" on the sill. These are the intake and exhaust for the Propex, make sure there is nothing blocking them. Apart from that, I really cannot offer any help.
You do know to turn the temp dial up to full when lighting it don't you?

Frank

Thanks Frank - the intructions said to have the dial at lowest setting, then to push the switch (so the red light comes on) then rotate the dial until the green flame light comes on. The fan then starts but we are not getting any heat, even if I then turh the dial to the max setting.
Might try that though.
Cheers
Jonny

We had this heater in our last van but I can't remember how it worked. What I do know is that the makers in Southampton serviced it whilst we waited and were very helpful. I had originally phoned them about getting a replacement but they said that they would try to repair it as there wasn't a lot to go wrong, and repair it they did.

boxerman wrote:...........

You do know to turn the temp dial up to full when lighting it don't you?

Frank

No-one likes a smart-* Inappropriate Word * Frank!!

For me the answers go:

1. "Yes I do."

2. "Then I forgot"

3. "I had put the heater down as temperamental."

4. "I read this Thread."

5. "I have tested the heater three times today and it is behaving itself."

We spent a few chilly hours yesterday morning on a car park in Alnwick as a result of 2. and 3. above!

Thanks for the reminder!

Best regards,

Ian

Hi Jonny.

I agree with Boxerman. When I had a Propex heater in a van I once owned. If it acted up it was normally the stainless steel balanced flue inlet or exhaust pipes under the van that had become partially blocked. They tend to collect road dirt under there. They also have a flame proving unit inside of the heater that can go wrong. this tends to be a quite expensive fix if my memory serves me correct.

Heres hoping your is just a blocked pipe.

Good luck. whisky.