How to Turn On Water Heater?

[Maui]

I have a recently purchased 1994 Dodge Leisure travel Suburban water heater. When I click the interior switch with red light on to fire it up I can see it automatically lights and blows out healthy flame for about 5 seconds then just abruptly shuts off. No sputtering...just shuts right off.
My question is must you have the hot water turned on the shower or faucet before you turn the hot water switch on to fire up the burner?

Any ideas are welcomed. Thanks

[eric1514]

No, you don't need to have water running, if we're talking about the typical 6 or 10 gallon Suburban WH. But! make sure you have water in the tank. Make sure the bypass valves are correctly set and run water in and out of the tank.

I would guess you have a problem with the ECO (thermostat). Google search for a manual and trouble shooting info.

Here's a manual

Eric

[wincrasher]

Don't some of them have an on/off switch in the outside access panel on the water heater? This is in addition to the switch inside the coach?

[Gryphon]

The dual mode Suburbans (gas/electric) have a switch in the access panel but I think that just disables the 120v heating element & does not affect the gas heating ability. My gas-only Suburban does not have that switch.

There's also the manual reset. If the water heater overheats it will shut itself down & you'll need to press that to reset it. That's also behind the access panel.