Question for HVAC folks, NOT Valk Related

[Dave Ritsema]

Getting a little cool here in northern Indiana and started using the furnace a few weeks ago. I noticed one day that the furnace wasn't running but the blower was. Went downstairs and turned off the power to the furnace, and then turned it back on. Blower motor shut off. (Furnace should not have been running, temp was well above thermostat set point.) This happend several times in the last week.
This morning I heard a thumping noise from the basement and the furnace is kicking on and off, wont stay fired. After some troubleshooting I found that I could keep it running properly if I applied pressure to a black box that appeared to be a relay that was attached to the furnace control board. I took it off and the solder joints appear intact. Put it back in place and the same problem. Hold onto the relay and apply some side pressure and it works, take my hand off it and the furnace dies.
Would you guess that I need to replace the control board? (I am just taking the common sense approach, I am no furnace or electrical expert. Furnace in question is an Armrstrong Ultra SX90.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[Jess Tolbirt]

if you can push on the box that indicates to me that there is a bad solder joint on the board someplace,, not necessarily the relay but somewhere on the board,,,the board is bending and making contact when you push on it...

[Thunderbolt]

If you mean that it is a pluggable relay that you unplugged from the board, then replace the relay.  If it is not pluggable, then either replace the board, or check for cracks in the board as previously suggested.  You might also verify that all the connections to the board are tight.  If if has connectors that plug onto the board, clean all the connection surfaces up with a pencil eraser.
Not HVAC tech, just slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

[#2944]

You mentioned yu had a basement, damp cooler temps could cause some minor corrosion, agree with cleaning the contact points where the relay connects.....
Zots

[srbarclay]

The black box that is soldered onto your furnace control board is a fan control relay.
It is not designed to be replaced by itself. You will need to replace your board.
What brand of furnace, model & serial # and I'll give you some guidance.

[Dave Ritsema]

Thanks for the input, I will look for a furnace control board today.
It is a Armstrong Ultra SX90, model GUK100D14-3A. Hopefully I can find a board locally.

[Psycho]

Dave, you can use our furnace.  We don't need it.LOL 

Michael

[Jack]

Dave, does it look something like this?  Do you have a part number on the board?

[Dave Ritsema]

First of all, Psycho...that was just mean. 

Number on the board is 40403001. A local supply house is telling me that the new part number is R40403-003. Many of the supply houses around here don't sell to private individuals. I talked him into letting me use a past employers name and then let me pay cash. He quoted me $80. Sound about right?

[Jack]

dave, that isn't a bad price.  My supplier would charge my business $62.00.  Anything less than $100 is good.

[Dave Ritsema]

Yep Jack, that looks like the animal. Just shut off breaker and replace the leads one at a time and I am thinking I am ok. Are the little DIP switched pre-set or do I have to compare them to the old board? Any other hints or is it as straight forward as it appears? Thanks for your help!

[Jack]

Dave, the dips are for a delay.  60 seconds should be ok see attached for more info.
http://s3.pexsupply.com/manuals/1268426537743/27980_PROD_FILE.pdf

[Willow]

First of all, Psycho...that was just mean. 

No, David, this time it was just annoying.  When he says that to you in late December it will definitely be mean.    

[Dave Ritsema]

First of all, Psycho...that was just mean. 

No, David, this time it was just annoying.  When he says that to you in late December it will definitely be mean.    

I stand corrected, you are indeed correct. I have no doubt however that when the proper time exposes itself he will promptly move from annoying to mean.

Thanks for all your help Jack!

[Dragonryder2]

Sometimes if we have a power surge our furnace blower comes on and won't go off until I shut it down count 10 and turn it back on.  The thermostat controller computer chip isn't talking to the furnace or other way round. 

We have to replace the thermostat with one from Carrier and it is $400.  DAVE, you are getting off cheap.  Enjoy the winter.

See you down the road and keep the shiny side up.

[Dave Ritsema]

The new board worked like a charm. Just took my time, unplugged and re-connected one wire at a time and Viola! we have heat!  Thanks again for everyones help.

[Jess from VA]

I just went thru a similar problem with my 1987 Carrier furnace "igniter-flame sensor."  All the local parts places wanted $120.... once I knew the part and part number I needed, I got it on Amazon for $67.  Had no heat but the gas stove (for 30 minutes at a time) until 10 days ago.  Nippy mornings.

The days of me spending whatever it costs to have the experts come over to fix stuff are over.  Since I retired on a pauper's pension, I have been fixing everything (except that leaking hot water faucet in the kitchen sink... which I just turned off.   ) 

[Dave Ritsema]

I just went thru a similar problem with my 1987 Carrier furnace "igniter-flame sensor."  All the local parts places wanted $120.... once I knew the part and part number I needed, I got it on Amazon for $67.  Had no heat but the gas stove (for 30 minutes at a time) until 10 days ago.  Nippy mornings.

The days of me spending whatever it costs to have the experts come over to fix stuff are over.  Since I retired on a pauper's pension, I have been fixing everything (except that leaking hot water faucet in the kitchen sink... which I just turned off.   ) 

I know JUST where your at. Since my job loss and my current "underemployment" I pretty much have no disposable income and have to fix everything myself if at all possible to save $$. It is kind of depressing to be 50 years old and be more strapped for cash than I have ever been in my adult life. 

[Jess from VA]

It is kind of depressing to be 50 years old and be more strapped for cash than I have ever been in my adult life.

Sorry to hear it Dave.  I'm sure it will get better for you.

I have a different point of view.  One day this Spring, at 57, at a job I had hated like the plague for years, I decided I was going to retire so I didn't have to do it ever again.  Lost about a third of my pension.... the third that would constitute spending money.  I have savings, but whatever I spend out of that will never be replaced, so while I have tried to be careful with money in my life, I am now officially a tight ass.  I do not want to work again..... so my point of view is a challenge to live cheap or I will have to work.  I am trying to turn the word "tightwad" into an art form.  I am still eating OK and riding my bike, and fixing up my house to sell with sweat equity and little to no money.  Course, I am on my own now with no one to please but myself... and forever after. 

[art]

look at it this way .Now you have a part time job working around the house fixing it an the valk an not having to put up with your boss an his BS.I've been retired for5 yrs. an do all my own upgrades to my house an take care of my valk an love it.I built a picket fense around my house an wanted to buy the post caps at the supply house . they wanted $8 each no way I said so I got a 2x6 an made my own with my table saw for $2 for eight of them.The whole fense cost around $175. I'm in the same boat with SS an a small pension from the Ge co. I have a small house pmyt an I'm going to keep it that way.Just bought a ford explorer for $1800 an it looks an runs great.My valk has 115000 miles on it an at 68 years old I figger I can double that before I quit riding[ I hope]

[Jess from VA]

Pretty cool Art. 

I have a pretty good equity in my house.  In three years the market will come back some (where I live), I'll sell and should get enough to buy a small place outright in Eastern TN to get out of this DC rat race nightmare.  Then no house payment ever again, just tax and insurance... much less than what it is now. 

I just wish I had learned more about carpentry, wiring, auto electric and mechanics, plumbing, etc in my lifetime. Too busy going to school and working in an office.  Most of my latest projects, I am just winging it.... the internet is usually helpful.   

[Willow]

The new board worked like a charm. Just took my time, unplugged and re-connected one wire at a time and Viola! we have heat!  Thanks again for everyones help.

I'm glad it worked for you, Dave.

It's great to have you posting if for no other reason than to see someone spoell viola correctly.   

[Dave Ritsema]

The new board worked like a charm. Just took my time, unplugged and re-connected one wire at a time and Viola! we have heat!  Thanks again for everyones help.

I'm glad it worked for you, Dave.

It's great to have you posting if for no other reason than to see someone spoell viola correctly.   

Mom always said I was a good spoeller. 

[fudgie]

The new board worked like a charm. Just took my time, unplugged and re-connected one wire at a time and Viola! we have heat!  Thanks again for everyones help.

I'm glad it worked for you, Dave.

It's great to have you posting if for no other reason than to see someone spoell viola correctly.   

Ah yes but it may have been impropperly used, as 'viola' is French for 'here'.