codes on Big Maxx garage heater

[jcs1mpls]

My Mr Heater Big Maxx garage heater suddenly stopped working, and when all is said and done the board blinks twice. According to the inside panel of code meanings, 2 blinks means "System lockout, failure to detect or sustain flame".

Here is what happens. I turn the gas on going to the unit, I turn the power on and then turn up the thermostat. Right away the unit starts (kind of a low hum) and the board light is constantly blinking normally. I will hear a clicking sound (which I assumed when it was working was the call to engage the blower fan). About 20 seconds later it will click again and I think it does it one more time. The unit will ultimately shut itself off and there is a strong gas smell. I presume this is just coming out of the chambers after the unit turns off as the gas has no where else to go.

This just started happening out of nowhere and the unit was working fine w/out any issues last winter. Any suggestions on what might be the problem would be appreciated. I tried calling Enerco but they are closed for the holiday weekend. Thanks

 

[rickairmedic]

Sounds like you have a bad ignitor in the unit to me .

Rick

 

[jcs1mpls]

Thanks for the reply - I've heard the company has been willingly supplying replacement parts to unhappy owners based on what I've read. Is this something they would/should send as a replacement?

 

[rickairmedic]

That I am guessing would be at their discression . I give silicone carbide ignitors a 1 year guarantee and silicone nitride ignitors a 5 year warranty . I am not sure whats in your unit .

I might suggest getting up on a ladder and having a look at the unit with the door off as it starts up .


The starting sequence should be ,

1 call for heat from thermostat
2 inducer draft motor starts
3 ignitor starts to heat up ( will glow orange )
4 gas valve opens and flame lights
5 flame sensor senses flame ( should happen within 7 seconds )
6 once heat exchanger heats up main fan motor will kick in .

Rick

 

[hydramatic]

flame sensor may need cleaning..that was the issue with mine

 

[Innov8tive1]

You do not state whether it actually lights or not. Assuming it does not light then it's not likely a problem with the flame sensor.

 

[ForceFed70]

You do not state whether it actually lights or not. Assuming it does not light then it's not likely a problem with the flame sensor.

No... if it doesn't light then the flame sensor is doing it's job by shutting down the unit.

Strong odor of gas... I would also suspect an ignitor problem.

 

[jcs1mpls]

If it helps, I've turned the lights off in the garage while trying to start the unit so I could clearly see the blinking light on the board in order to determine how it's blinking. I did not notice any orange glow happening elsewhere (although I wasn't really looking for it). Would it be obvious to see an orange glow in this case - i.e. with complete darkness all around? Is there any switches on these units that might be tripped or need to be reset?

 

[laser3kw]

edit: there was a post (started today) previous to this. The post was asking if there was a resolution. Some how they pulled the post and started their own.
see "Big Maxx problem" by sperkins - copied and pasted the mid part of the post #1 above^^^^^^ - troller?

the op froze to death because he couldn't get his heater lit.


(zombie thread from 2011)

 

[sperkins]

edit: there was a post (started today) previous to this. The post was asking if there was a resolution. Some how they pulled the post and started their own.
see "Big Maxx problem" by sperkins - copied and pasted the mid part of the post #1 above^^^^^^ - troller?

the op froze to death because he couldn't get his heater lit.


(zombie thread from 2011)

Definitely not a troller.
Your obsurd childish reply about bumping a 4 year old (one page) thread prompted me to make a new one. Thanks for the help.

 

[Outlawkennels]

Do we know the complete list of codes, mine is doing 4 blinks all of a sudden.

 

[spudley]

Do we know the complete list of codes, mine is doing 4 blinks all of a sudden.

Four flashes indicate flame roll out sensor tripped. You can reset the sensor with a small screwdriver by pushing in the small black plunger between the wire terminals.

The sensor(s) is located in the burner box near the entry to the heat exchanger. Some units have an upper and lower sensor, usually the upper trips.

Could be too much gas pressure (check with manometer), causing flame to roll back into the burner box. Also some posters had luck on older units by pinching closed the flame spreader on the top burner.

A google search will show many threads on this subject.