[a/s] First time out

[Donna Dykstra <Donna@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey gang -

Took the Excella out for the first time this season.  I rather enjoyed her
with her new flooring - Pergo throughout, and new upholstery (yeah -
finally done with that, but still have to do the curtains)

Anyway, we are used to using her without the conveniences of electricity,
etc.  We took her to a State Park here in Michigan and I FINALLY enjoyed
the electricity.  Because of some "mishaps" (not with the A/S) here at
home, hubby and I didn't get a chance to "run through" everything before I
left Friday afternoon.  We just got her back from the dealership on Tuesday
with some minor fixes, so thought she'd be good to go.
Well.....had a couple of difficulties.  The Suburban heater that has the
electronic start (we didn't have that little luxury in the 1973!), didn't
work so well.  We ran the fan for the 5 minutes that it stated to with the
gas valve off in order to purge the air.  Shut the fan back off, turned the
gas valve on, and cranked the heater up.  No luck.  Tried a couple of
times.  At one time during the weekend she DID kick out some heat, I shut
it down because we tried it during the day when we didn't need it, but just
wanted to make sure it worked.  In the evening hours, followed the steps
that I had worked through earlier in the day, it kicked on (heat) for a
small amount of time, then the heat was gone (I cranked up to 90 degrees
just to see if it would get warm, and it was by NO means 90 degree temp in
the trailer).  The fan works, and blows the air but it's not the hot air
that I longed for during this wonderful 35 degree weekend (evenings).
Could it be the thermo-coupler gone bad?  Any ideas??  Just wondering
whether any one else has had these difficulties with this particular brand
of heater, or could advise me.  The manual doesn't give any details at all.

Then, I tried to use the catalytic heater just so I could stay warm (we
have two, a  CAT in the front - which works like a charm) and a different
unit (can't recall the brand) in the rear bedroom - where I sleep, and
FROZE!!  Do these units go "bad"?  I had pushed the lever over, and tried
the ignitor and twice had the thing lit.  I continued to hold the lever
(gas flow) over until she started real well, but both times, the minute I'd
let go of the lever, she'd quit.  (aarrgghh!!)  I NEVER had this difficulty
with my 1973, and that unit was the same type as I have in the '85.  Just
trying to find out if there is some foolproof way to get these things going?  

Thought I'd ask here before hauling her back down to the dealership.  I
will be traveling up North for the weekend and really don't want these
difficulties there!

Advise?

Thanks,
Jim and Donna Dykstra
1985 32' Excella (maybe we should've kept the '73 - lol)