This guide covers the complete furnace igniter and control board replacement procedure for the Forest River Arctic Wolf – Furnace Igniter & Control Board Replacement. Follow each step carefully to restore reliable heat to your fifth wheel.
Parts & Tools You’ll Need
- Suburban/Atwood RV furnace replacement unit
- Furnace igniter electrode assembly
- Furnace sail switch
- Furnace circuit board / control board
- Furnace high-limit switch
- Furnace blower motor (12V DC)
- Propane/CO combo detector alarm
- Digital multimeter (auto-ranging)
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Step-by-Step Repair Guide
Step 1: Disconnect Power and Verify Gas Safety
You’ll need to disconnect the 12V DC power supply to your RV furnace by removing the negative battery cable or switching off the dedicated furnace breaker. After disconnecting power, turn off the propane supply at the main tank valve and wait 5 minutes to allow any residual gas to dissipate, then use your Propane/CO combo detector to confirm the furnace area reads 0 ppm CO and no propane is present.
Step 2: Remove Furnace Access Panel and Components
You’ll access your Arctic Wolf furnace by removing the exterior compartment door or interior access panel, typically secured with 4-6 Phillips head screws. Once opened, carefully disconnect the wire harness from the control board and note the wire positions using a photo or diagram, then remove the board’s mounting bracket bolts to extract it from the furnace housing.
Step 3: Test and Isolate Igniter Electrode Failure
Using your digital multimeter set to resistance mode (ohms), test the furnace igniter electrode assembly by measuring between the two electrode terminals—a reading above 10,000 ohms or infinite resistance indicates a failed igniter. If the igniter tests bad, you can disconnect its two-wire connector from the control board harness and set it aside for replacement.
Step 4: Install New Furnace Control Board
Position your new furnace circuit board into the mounting bracket, ensuring the connector socket faces toward the wire harness entrance, and secure it with the original bolts torqued to 8-12 inch-pounds. Reconnect the wire harness to the board’s multi-pin connector, matching the wire colors and positions exactly as documented in your reference photo or the manufacturer’s wiring diagram provided with the new board.
Step 5: Replace Igniter Electrode Assembly
Remove the two mounting screws (typically M3 or #6) that secure the old furnace igniter electrode assembly to the burner tube, noting that the electrode sits approximately 3/16 inch from the burner flame area. Install the new igniter electrode assembly in the same position and reconnect its two-wire connector to the control board’s designated igniter terminal, ensuring a click-fit connection.
Step 6: Verify Sail Switch and High-Limit Function
Check that your furnace sail switch (the safety switch activated by air flow) moves freely and hasn’t accumulated dust or debris by gently moving it by hand—clean with compressed air if necessary. Test the high-limit switch by using your multimeter’s continuity function across its terminals; it should show continuity at room temperature and open at approximately 185-195°F as specified in your Arctic Wolf manual.
Step 7: Restore Power and Perform Cold-Start Test
Reconnect the 12V DC power supply and turn on the propane supply, then set your thermostat to heat mode at 75°F to trigger a furnace ignition cycle—you should hear the blower motor (12V DC) start within 30 seconds followed by the igniter clicking and burner flame igniting. Allow the furnace to run for 5 minutes, verify the Propane/CO combo detector reads 0 ppm, then confirm warm air flows from the vents before closing the access panel and returning to normal operation.
Recommended Parts & Affiliate Links
| Part | Link |
|---|---|
| Suburban/Atwood RV furnace replacement unit | View on Amazon |
| Furnace igniter electrode assembly | View on Amazon |
| Furnace sail switch | View on Amazon |
| Furnace circuit board / control board | View on Amazon |
| Furnace high-limit switch | View on Amazon |
| Furnace blower motor (12V DC) | View on Amazon |
| Propane/CO combo detector alarm | View on Amazon |
| Digital multimeter (auto-ranging) | View on Amazon |