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Old 08-23-2022, 06:41 PM   #41
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I ordered a new circuit board from Dinosaur. Furnace still won't fire. I looked at the list of certified Dometic Service cenetrs in my area provided by Escape. It's a useless list for the most part. Four of the five work on boats and not RVs. The other is REI and they sell camping and outdoor equipment. I think I'm just going to have to take it to an RV service place here. This is frustrating and disappointing. The trailer is only 3 months old. I'm going to call Dustin every day until I get an answer about what to do now.
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Old 08-23-2022, 06:46 PM   #42
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Anchorage certainly has RV repair, but they may not service what they don’t sell. I’d research mobile RV techs.
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Old 08-23-2022, 06:51 PM   #43
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Got a board from Dinosaur. Problem not solved. Darn it.
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Old 08-23-2022, 09:27 PM   #44
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Originally Posted by Rossue View Post
Not many people know this: Dometic will allow you to use any licensed (Business License) repair- including mobile mechanics. They typically won't reimburse for the separate charge some mobile techs bill just to show up. They fix it you pay them and you send the bill in for reimbursement.

I have that form if you need it. You just need the fastest fix so I would start calling anyone who works on RV that has a good track record and get them on the job.
That's what I suggested 8/13. Complaining about Escape seems to be a distraction to getting it fixed.
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Old 08-23-2022, 09:46 PM   #45
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Sorry to hear that the new control board did not fix your furnace. Not surprising though. Control board and sail switch did not work for me either.
Today, I finally got mine working by removing the propane valve assembly with the igniter and burner attached. The burner was rusty, so I brushed the rust off. I also cleaned the orifice while I was at it. Then I reset the igniter gap. I also tested the propane solenoid valves..
Miraculously, it works, for now at least.
After watching the YouTube video previously suggested to you, the task was not as daunting as I thought. If you decide to do this, I would be willing to lend a hand.
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Old 08-23-2022, 11:06 PM   #46
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Got a board from Dinosaur. Problem not solved. Darn it.
Did you try bending the sail switch paddle a bit toward blower?
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Old 08-24-2022, 12:58 AM   #47
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Not yet. I can hear a click that sounds like the sail switch (?) but no fast clicks from the igniter. It's worth a try however.
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Old 08-24-2022, 01:07 AM   #48
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I did an internet search today and it appears there is an RV shop in Anchorage that services Dometic. I did not know as Rosseau has indicated that you could take the trailer anywhere. I was told by Escape that I had to take it to a Dometic certified repair center. But the link Escape provided steered me toward marine repairs. I certainly am not complaining about Escape because I find that more fun than getting the trailer fixed. That's ridiculous. I'm looking for help and there have been some very nice people with good suggestions. A thank you goes out to them.
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Old 08-24-2022, 02:14 AM   #49
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Oh, that's so painful. I am still trying to get the furnace operating and trying all suggestions short of getting into the gas valve. Still no luck. Dustin says to go to a certified Dometic dealer. I guess I will be making calls. So far I tried: Multiple starts, cleaning sail switch, removing inside grill and duct work, drying outside compartment with a hair dryer, prepping propane, checking to see if there was a gas smell coming from the outside compaertment, checking for loose wires, putting the trailer on shore power. What am I forgetting? Ah, ordered a new circuit board from Dinosaur for $120. Escape would not provide, even though the Reese video said they would. I guess that's no longer an option for a 3-month-old trailer under the new ownership. Heck, after waiting a week for Gina in post sales to get back to me, I emailed Karl. That got the problem to Dustin who now says I must go to a certified repair shop. And I've already heard how that usually goes. But I'll give it a try. I'm out of ideas. Oh, and I bought a Buddy heater. I did get a deal on registering and tagging the trailer here in Alaska. $55. And a permanent tag because I'm old. Got to love Alaska. Not Dometic furnaces.
Wow That does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling waiting for mine to be built Maybe I should just order a new sales switch now and all the above
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Old 08-24-2022, 02:16 AM   #50
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That's what I suggested 8/13. Complaining about Escape seems to be a distraction to getting it fixed.
Especially after 3 months of ownership haha
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Old 08-24-2022, 10:04 AM   #51
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I think the issue is that the malfunctioning furnace is covered under your Dometic warranty, so if you don’t take it to one of their designated servicers you will wind up having to pay for the repairs. The link of Dometic servicers Escape provided you is straight from Dometic’s Furnace Warranty. https://epi.dometic.com/globalassets...ref=5164F82D75

If a marine shop says they can service the furnace I would have no issue taking it there. I think REI is just listed because they sell their 12V coolers. If another shop works on it during the warranty period it may void the warranty.

Unfortunately all these RV appliances are not great. They are basically the same brands and models across RVs. If you don’t care about paying for the repair yourself I’m sure any RV service center could handle it.
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Old 08-24-2022, 10:39 AM   #52
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I think the issue is that the malfunctioning furnace is covered under your Dometic warranty, so if you don’t take it to one of their designated servicers you will wind up having to pay for the repairs.
That is not true. I know because I needed to get help with a new Dometic Refrigerator a few months ago and spoke with a Supervisor at Dometic. You can call them yourself to verify. In the mean time here is the form they sent me to get re-imbursed for paying ANY RV repair facility myself. Dometic sent the check within a week.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf Retail Reimbursement (new) (1).pdf (80.7 KB, 5 views)
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Old 08-24-2022, 10:43 AM   #53
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Dometic Retail Re-Imbursement

Here it is in case you can't open the PDF file:
Attached Thumbnails
Dometic Form.jpg  
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Old 08-24-2022, 11:09 AM   #54
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Thank you Rossue for the form. I am calling the RV place today that I found with an internet search. I think Escape linked to the wrong list (marine) of certified repair centers. I am a first-time RVer and learning as I go. I think I did a pretty good job of trying to troubleshoot this furnace problem and found the suggestions offered here helpful. But going into the furnace igniter is beyond me. I do expect good customer service particularly with a new trailer. I don't think that's what I got in this case. I think Escape is experiencing some growing pains. That said, I love my trailer and very happy with the build. I expect issues to arrive. I also hope to handle these myself if possible. That's the approach I've taken with my home repairs and feel this is the same.
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Old 08-24-2022, 11:12 AM   #55
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Thank you ALL who made suggestions here. I hope this thread and how I went about troubleshooting the furnace is helpful to others. Now, I am bringing it in to an RV repair place I found. I hope this has been helpful to others. Adios!
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Old 08-24-2022, 11:40 AM   #56
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Wow That does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling waiting for mine to be built Maybe I should just order a new sales switch now and all the above
You could do that and everyone could do that and then there'd be thousands of unused spare parts. Despite the problems in this post the majority of furnaces work just fine. Some have had problems like pet hair fouling the sail switch and many others like me have used these furnaces for years without problems.

Quote:
Originally Posted by chesaka View Post
I do expect good customer service particularly with a new trailer. I don't think that's what I got in this case. I think Escape is experiencing some growing pains.
It's been obvious for a long time that the person in the center of customer service is ill suited for the job. My advice is go to the top, be persistent and aggressive. Poor customer service detracts from a great success story and folks who love their trailers. I'd like to know that the person in Customer Service would sweat bricks if he knew someone was out in the cold with a furnace that wasn't working.

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Old 08-24-2022, 11:44 AM   #57
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I have owned 5 Escapes and have yet had to replace the the sail switch in any of them, nor had to refill the propane tanks!!
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Old 08-24-2022, 11:57 AM   #58
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Ron, when I didn't hear back from Gina in customer service and waited a week, I emailed Karl and he forwarded to Dustin who responded immediately. Unfortunately, the link he provided was for marine work and none of the options worked out. That took some time. In the meantime, I tried to triubleshoot. I heard from Dustin again today and he said I need to contact Dometic myself if I can't find an authorized service center, and they will instruct me on the next step. I think yesterday I found an RV place in Anchorage that can do the work. I'm calling this morning. I think next time I would navigate this more quickly.
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Old 08-24-2022, 11:59 AM   #59
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One more thing before I truly say adios, I don't think it's a bad idea to have spare parts on hand. I now have a spare sail switch and circuit board. Both were easy replacements to install. Might come in handy down the line.
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Old 08-24-2022, 12:34 PM   #60
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I asked Dustin at Escape about this and he said, today (8/24), that Dometic must APPROVE any work that is to be done. You have to go through Dometic and get approval for the work to be done at any specific business.
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