Normally the red light stays on for hydro operation, so within 1/2 hr or so you should have hot water. Red light on gas means problem lighting. A few things to check. Make sure switch at back of water heater is on as well as breaker in panel, for hydro operation.
As far as gas side goes, try going outside and drop cover down, and pull the connectors of and on a couple of times at the spark module, just to make sure you have clean contact, and have someone try switch after, and let me know if it's at least trying to spark. If still not working, there should be a thermal cut-off switch in the brown wire running to center area of water heater to the thermostat, and ECO. ( where square piece of black foam covers them) That thermal cut-off has a clear plastic sleeve over it. Take that out of the circuit. Simply pull it apart at both ends, and then connect wire from spark module directly to THERM/ECO, where it was before.( your just eliminating that piece, and going direct.) See if it lights now, and let me know. Do you have a 12 volt test light, or multimeter? Also, with it turned off, take your finger and push in between spade connectors on the THERM, and ECO, and make sure there isn't a little reset in center that has tripped.
Try shutting water heater off, and clean ends of electrodes real good with a piece of steel wool, or emery cloth, but be careful not to crack porcelain while doing it. Also make sure that the electrode is in front of the flame enough to sense the flame. Gap between electrodes should only be about 1/8". Your electrode acts as an ignition source, as well as a sense source. meaning after it ignites the gas, it senses for the flame, and if it doesn't sense that flame, it shuts gas off. Also, try removing connector on ignition board, and clean contacts on board with the eraser on a pencil, to make sure they are good and clean.
As far as electric side goes, if you've checked breaker at panel, and switch at back of water heater and made sure they are in proper position, then the cover will have to come off at back of water heater, to check power to element. Please be careful to make sure power is off when removing that cover. One other thing I'd like you to check, is put your hand on pressure relief valve on water heater, and see if it feels warm,hot, or cold.
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I had this same Problem but i was lazy and just took my water heater to All Seasons RV Appliance Parts & Service at 1150 Mitchell Jellison Dr in Elkhart, IN 46516. I was in and out of there pretty quick too!
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The camper is five years old. Yes the bypass is in the correct position.
The red light has never come on before for electric or gas operation. The unit does spark and egnite the gas but it only stays on for a few seconds. It will do this for three times, then the red light comes on and stays on until I try to start it again. Then the unit goes through the same progress. Then the electric does not heat the water up at all. Yes I have a multimeter. I tried going direct through removing the thermal cut off switch it still does the same thing. I will check to see if there is a reset button as mentioned above. Could this have something to do maybe with the power supply? Thank you for the info. Maybe this will fix the problem.
Couple of questions, sorry. Is this a new RV for you? Are you sure by-pass is in proper position?
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