10/04/2026
A customer drove his travel trailer off a Camping World lot in New York and brought it to his campsite in Chester, Massachusetts—only to discover that the hot water heater did not work.
That raises a serious question about how thoroughly the water heater was tested during the pre-delivery inspection (PDI). Customers should leave the dealership with working systems and a demonstration that those systems operate.
I was called to diagnose the Suburban ST60 water heater, which repeatedly displayed an E5 code. Here’s what I found:
• 12.39 VDC at the power supply, with approximately 12 VDC entering the control board.
• The thermostat powered on.
• Gas inlet pressure measured 11 inches of water column.
• Water was entering the system.
• Approximately 24.24 VDC was measured at the fan output, with approximately 24 VDC still present at the board terminals when the fan was disconnected.
• Repeated attempts resulted in the same E5 code, and the heater would not operate.
My preliminary diagnosis is a suspected control board fan circuit fault and possible fan motor damage. The fan’s specified operating voltage must be confirmed with Suburban before determining whether that output is excessive.
The proposed repair is to confirm the manufacturer’s specifications, replace the control board if its output is incorrect, and replace the fan assembly if testing confirms failure. Afterward, the heater needs a complete operational test to verify fan operation, ignition, hot water delivery, and that the E5 fault is resolved.
This is why an independent RV inspection before taking delivery is so valuable. Ask to see the water heater produce hot water and the other major systems operate before leaving the lot.
Beaulieu Mobile RV Repairs LLC