Problems with Lennox G51

[fd3687]

Hi there everyone I work for a lennox dealer and I thought I would fill you in on some of the issues we've had with the Lennox G51.
Well let me start with propane aplications. Depending on the quality of propane, the pressure switch port on the bottom left hand side of the collector box seems to get pluged up with a white residue (maybe sulfur). It seems that you need to take of the colector box once a year and wash it out.

On the G51-1 series, any ventor motor that has a black wheel will more than likely crack in the first 5 years (material issue)

On the G51 with the updated white rodgers surelight board (either a dash 1 or dash 2 on the part number of the board not the model nuber of the furnace), we've had issues with the blower relays not closing and the pressure switch relays not closing.

Lennox has adressed the issue with the ventor motors by issuing a voluntary recall (good for one year), however they havent adressed the issue with their newer (cheaper) surelight boards.

I havent had any recuring issues with their G61mp or G61mpv models other than the pressure switch port being pluged in some cases when being used with propane.

Their new G71 units in my opinion are too advanced and the end consumer will never see the true benifit of thier aplication when compared to the operation of the G61.

[pacnw]

I believe that there is a bulletin on propane applications for collector boxes that replaces the collector boxes and the ports are "lined" with something to keep this from happening.

[iraqveteran]

I believe that there is a bulletin on propane applications for collector boxes that replaces the collector boxes and the ports are "lined" with something to keep this from happening.

way to take away his glory run......

Just couldn't let em have his moment could ya????:D

[t527ed]

if you work for a Lennox dealer you should know about the inserts for the collector box problem.............:rolleyes:

the blower problem has been corrected .

surelight board has been the most reliable ignition i have seen in my 30+ years ofworking on electronic ignitions.......:cool:

[Jay 41]

Have you been to a class on the G71? I found it very interesting.

[beenthere]

I believe that there is a bulletin on propane applications for collector boxes that replaces the collector boxes and the ports are "lined" with something to keep this from happening.
Service bulletins are like install instructions. Worthless if you don't read them. :(

[fd3687]

1

[fd3687]

Ya I attended the G71 seminar about two months ago and its was really intresting. Question is, will this new system really offer that much more benifit compared to the G61.

About the lining in the collector box, thats news to me. Thanks. I spoke to the counter guys and our TM about this issue 6 months ago and no one could offer me any advise.

The new surelight boards for the g51 are junk. They are using really cheap chinese made reallys on these boards and they have a failure rate of 80% (80% of our boards of failed within the first two years). However the surelight boards for the G61 doesnt have this problem. I think Lennox is trying to use cheaper components on their base line to try and compete with cheaper products.

[heatingairman]

I think Lennox is trying to use cheaper components on their base line to try and compete with cheaper products.

What manufacurers aren't? Everyone has to compete with Goodmana. Thanks Goodman! You're taking the quality out of everyones product.

I think all of the new G51 boards are back to the way they used to be, and the furnace is probably one of the most reliable out there.

[Airmechanical]

Thanks Goodman! You're taking the quality out of everyones product.



so you think its all goodman's fault, come on you can think of a better answer than that!:mad:



.

[smittyii]

i haven't had any reliability issues with the amana's or goodman's iv'e sold. maybe lennox is trying to be too cutting edge.

[Jay 41]

i haven't had any reliability issues with the amana's or goodman's iv'e sold. maybe lennox is trying to be too cutting edge.

Cutting edge, or cutting cost?:D:D

[ductdoc]

I've seen it the other way around. Haven't had trouble with our lennox boards.
Replaced several of goodman boards last year though mainly DF models most only a year old. It seemed they always gave a high temp limit dioagnostic code. One customer had another company come out and from this code they told the homeowner it was a cracked heat exchanger??? Just one year old! Needless to say it was a warranty part but the replacements look like an all around better board. Which seems like goodman puts the cheap boards on and save the good ones for warr. claims.

[m kilgore]

We havn't had any G-51 board failures. We have alot of them out there and they seem to be very reliable. What are they doing for you?

[ductdoc]

We havn't had any G-51 board failures. We have alot of them out there and they seem to be very reliable. What are they doing for you?

Working great:D

[fd3687]

I've changed so many of the newer G51 surelight boards its not funny. Everytime I go to the lennox warehouse there's a huge pile of returned boards. Hopefully their new-04 series has corrected all the other issues the previous 3 series have had.

[badboyheel]

i've installed plenty of g51 and have not seen any board failures.

[fd3687]

Ya our installer have put in tons of G51 as well and never seen a board failure. The reason they've never seen one is because us service guys are the ones going buy finding the problems. I have easily changed over 30 boards within the last 3 years. The 51 is not a quality product, the 61 and 71 are.

[Therm76]

I also work for a lennox dealer, never changed a board. I have changed a few cold headers, recommended by lennox rep. I could not tell the difference between the old and new design. I own a G71 and the end user will defintly benefit with the variable capacity. I notice the floor by the supply vents is so much warmer, its like a radiant heat. The furnace is so quiet. I work service.

[fd3687]

There biggest failure we have with these boards is that they will indicate that the pressure switch is closed b4 start up or that there is an issue with the ignitor. There are no issues with the pressure switch or the ignitor. Replace the board and the unit works. Im suprised that no one else has these issues. The other techs I talk to locally run in to this problem as well.

[fd3687]

Hey therm76, the cold headers you're talking about, look at the diameter of the tap that comes out. The new ones are wider at the back of the tap and have a rolled connection, thats the only difference I can see.

[littlecars]

I have a G51 with a intermintent problen and I think it is the surelight board! please help me conferm.

The LED's would fast flash alternatly. I would shut the power off and then turn it back on and it would work. I had a furnace tech come out to my house it check it out. The Tech told me that it was probably one of the cards to he was not sure and the only way to trouble shoot it was to replace the cards and see if it fixed the problem. He told me that he could not do this under warrenty so I figured that I would just keep turning the power off and on when it quite working. This was about 2 years ago.

Now the problem is becomeing more fequent and sometime have to turn the power on and off, on and off, on and off or a long time sometimes half an hour, to get it to work. Sometime I hear a relay clicking on and off(sounds like a bad connection) The Board has a sticker on it with this information:

50A62-121-06
97L4801
150 0704
Made in mexico
156-5703

Does this sound like I need a new board or could it be something else? If It is the board Where do I get one? is there and different manufacture that made a comperable board that isnt a P.O.S..

If you dont think it is the board what else do you think it could be. I dont know a lot about gas furnaces but I believe the tach that told me he thinks it is the card was compitent?

Any idea what the cards cost?

Thanks
Brent

It is warm now and I would like to get it fixed befor fall is hear and it is cold again. My heater is model number: G5IMP-36B-045-01 and Serial number is: 5803G37210.

[beenthere]

Call the service company to come out when its not working.
Its easier to find the problem when it is in a non functional state.

This is not a DIY site. So we can't help you trouble shoot it.
Nor are we allowed to talk prices.

Please read site rules.