Winnebago View – Furnace Igniter & Control Board Replacement

Complete repair guide for the Winnebago View – Furnace Igniter & Control Board Replacement. Follow these steps to diagnose and fix the issue yourself.

Parts & Tools You’ll Need

Step 1: Diagnose Furnace Issues and Prepare Workspace

Start by identifying your specific problem: turn on your Winnebago View’s furnace and listen for clicking sounds from the igniter electrode or note if the burner fails to light entirely. Use your digital multimeter to test the furnace circuit board for power delivery—you should see approximately 12V DC at the main terminals. Document all symptoms and power readings, then disconnect the negative battery terminal and propane supply valve before beginning any work to ensure your safety.

Step 2: Access and Remove the Furnace Assembly

Locate your Suburban or Atwood furnace unit, typically mounted in a lower cabinet near your RV’s fresh water tank or under a bed platform. Remove the exterior furnace cover and access panel by unscrewing the retaining bolts (usually 3-4 bolts at 1/4-inch or 5/16-inch), then carefully disconnect the propane line at the connection fitting and the electrical harness running to the control board. Take photos of wire positions before disconnection to simplify reassembly.

Step 3: Replace the Furnace Igniter Electrode Assembly

Locate the igniter electrode mounted near the furnace burner chamber—it typically has a single wire connection and a mounting bracket with one retaining screw. Disconnect the wire connector by gently pulling straight away from the terminal, then remove the mounting screw to extract the old electrode. Install the replacement furnace igniter electrode by reversing these steps, ensuring the electrode tip is positioned 1/8 to 3/16 inch from the burner flame path and the wire connection is fully seated.

Step 4: Install the Replacement Furnace Control Board

Identify your old furnace circuit board mounted on the furnace exterior or interior casing—it typically has 4-6 wire connections and one main power connector. Before removal, photograph the exact wire placement using your phone camera, noting wire colors and terminal positions. Remove the old board by unclipping or unscrewing its mounting bracket, then position the replacement furnace control board in the same location and reconnect each wire to its corresponding terminal position, cross-referencing your photos to ensure accuracy.

Step 5: Test Furnace Safety Switches and Connections

Locate your furnace sail switch (typically a small plastic flap near the blower intake) and furnace high-limit switch (usually a bi-metal disc on the combustion chamber) and verify both move freely without obstruction. Use your multimeter set to resistance mode (ohms) to confirm the sail switch shows continuity when the blower activates and the high-limit switch shows continuity when cool. Clean any dust or debris from these switches with compressed air to ensure proper operation.

Step 6: Reconnect Propane Line and Electrical Systems

Reattach the propane supply line to the furnace connection fitting, hand-tightening first then using a wrench to snug the fitting to approximately 15-20 foot-pounds of torque—do not over-tighten as this can damage the fitting. Reconnect the main electrical harness to your control board, then reconnect the negative battery terminal and verify your propane/CO combo detector alarm shows no active alerts or error codes. Allow propane to flow into the line for 30 seconds before attempting ignition to purge any air.

Step 7: Perform Full System Test and Verify Operation

Turn on your RV furnace and listen for the igniter electrode to click 3-5 times within 10-15 seconds, followed by a steady blue flame appearing in the burner chamber. Allow the furnace to run for 5 minutes on high setting, checking that warm air flows consistently from your heating vents and the blower motor operates smoothly at 12V DC. After shutdown, wait 2 minutes and repeat the test cycle twice more to confirm reliable starting, then check all propane connections with soapy water solution—any bubbles indicate a leak that requires immediate retightening.