I heard a scream from my wife in the shower, “No hot water! No hot water! What’s going on?!” Not good. This was 10pm two days ago. My first thought was that the water heater pilot light went out, based on my past experience. What else could it be? I checked that AO Smith Gas Water heater in the laundry room right away. The water heater comes with a sophisticated, advanced Honeywell Water Heater thermostat/valve that provides continuous monitoring of the water temperature and turning on and off the gas accordingly – all without battery. It uses a “thermopile” technology that converts thermal energy into electrical energy. It’s composed of serveral thermocouples connected in series to create roughly 350 mV of energy. What a nifty device!
Except when it’s not working.
I first tried resetting the module by turning it to off and re-start the pilot light by turning the dial to “Pilot”, holding down “Pilot” and push the spark igniter. The system kept coming back with 4 flashes. Based on the “Status Light Code,” it means “Temperature Exceeded.” It made sense as we had a heat wave recently. So I figured the system should reset itself once the over temperature condition goes away. I kept resetting the system without much success to get the gas burner to turn on again.
I googled around and came across this website by Tyler Tork. Wow, so many people had the same problem dating back to 2013. The problem is that the microcontroller inside the unit remembers the last “over-temp condition” and would not forget it. The recommended fix is to disconnect everything from the module for an hour and let the power dissipated to “flush” out the memory.
That sounded easy. I tried disconnecting it for 30 minutes. No go. 60 minutes: No go. I left it disconnected for overnight. Still no go. I even flushed some of water out to get the sediments out as it’s a source of heat barrier that contributes to overheating.
One of the people commented “shorting” everything on the little printed circuit board to really “short circuit” the memory cell, most likely the big capacitors. And that’s what I did, I figured I have nothing to lose as I would need to replace it if it didn’t work. So I removed the PCB (printed circuit board) from its housing by unscrewing the torx screw and snapping the PCB from the housing. Then I took a sheet of aluminum foil (an electricity conducting material) and touch all the various solder joints (silver-looking blobs) especially the big capacitors, which are the energy storage devices. See figures.
Then I put it back to its housing and put everything back to its original positions. Turn on the pilot and hit the spark lighter. I first saw the LED flashed 7 times, which means “Gas Controller Valve Failure.” Doesn’t sound good. Then I proceeded to dial it up to temperature setting A. Immediately, the burner turns on and we have a lift off! After a minute or so, the LED started blinking once and paused and blinking once again. This means “Normal Operation.” We’re back in business now. I just saved $110 (Walmart’s price) for the module and enduring days of suffering through cold showers and complaints from my family members. Viva DIY!
I just tried this tonight.
Unplugged the red & white wires, took the plastic cover off. in plugged the ribbon cable from the circuit board. I then rubbed and patted the printed circuit with aluminum foil. Put it back together and it lit, and fired right up. Yes, now it was blinking 7 times. I turned it off.
Unplugged the red & white wires until the indicator light went out. Plugged the wires back in, lite it, turned the temp diel up, it fired up and now its not blinking the 7 anymore just the one, flash, indicating ok.
Followed this steps and now it’s working. Thanks for the info!
did you short out at the bottom of the pcb or on top or both?
Tried it, but still getting four flashes. Guess I have to pay someone.
Try again.
Both.
I took the circuit board out. Then I dabbed / rubbed
A ball of aluminum foil over the entire circut board on the solder side. Making sure I hit every solder joint.
Put it back in and it fired up.
I didn’t get the 7 flashes. Actually, it started flashing 4 again! But, the pilot did light, I turned up the temp setting all the way and waited for about 1 or 2 minutes. Then, I heard the burner light up and the lift started to flash 1 for normal operation. Hopefully this fix will last! Thanks for the tip and making the video!
Tried this procedure. Still not working. I did get the correct flashing light temporarily. Guess I’ll try again and let it set longer
Quick Reset: I was getting the 7 flashes. Researched it and found that a common problem is someone doing painting in the vicinity of the water heater (yes that was us). Unpublished RESET: 1) Turn switches to off (blower switch, and controller switch). 2) Unplug from wall for 10 secs. 3) Plug back in. Turn blower switch on. 4) Turn controller switch on and immediately rotate temperature knob all the way to MAX LOW, then all the way to MAX HIGH, and repeat seven times (or maybe more). BLAMB!!!! Right before your own eyes the furnace mower kicks on and the water heater lights up a few seconds later! So nice 🙂 (Rheem 50 gallon with that Honeywell controller you have a photo above). 2017-10-23
Mmmmm, not sure if this is a proper reset method. But I’ll approve this comment and let other brave souls to confirm.
My problem is the pilot light switches off as soon as I let go of the switch. Will the shorting work in this case?
My WV8840B1110 has had the “4 Blinking Lights of Death” twice now. I discovered a reset that worked for 4 months the first time – just did it again today and worked the first time:
While the light is still blinking, turn the temperature dial to “Very Hot” and wait 10 seconds, move the dial to “Hot” and wait 10 seconds, then move the dial to “Pilot” (do not press in) and wait 10 seconds. The light should start blinking normally (1 blink). Turn the dial to the desired temp setting. That’s it!
Great write up! I got 7 flashes until I applied foil to the circuit board. Controller fired right up! This happened on a new controller that I just replaced! (The old controller would not turn on). Water heater company said I have terrible luck as 7 flashes is unheard of on a new unit so they sent me a new one as it’s still under warranty. Now I have a backup in case this one decides to fail.
Works, confirmed. Never set above “hot” setting unless you’re heating it up to try to kill bacteria and wash sediment before a flush/drain, then set back to hot or just under. Ours died twice. First time for a one day and night then let itself turn back on. Second time was two hours without so much as the pilot igniting with the button(s) on multiple attempts following instructions on the water heater. Disassembled, did the foil, reassembled, viola! Back to a happy family and spent a less than a penny’s worth in foil.
Relight water heater, turn it to very hot for ten seconds, hot for ten seconds then pilot for ten seconds. This will reset the valve.
as foe the comment about the pilot going off when you let go of button. Try holding down for longer…….. Be very patient as it can take a couple minutes which feels like forever while holding that button. If that doesn’t work than you probably need a new thermal generator.
David Paul’s way of doing this worked like a charm… no need to undo anything…
Thank you, David Paul. A quick, easy fix!! David’s post from January 16, 2018 worked perfectly.
Wyatt if tyre sensor light is flashing 5 times (has valve failure)? Will short circuiting the board with aluminum foil still work?
Sorry about that completely misspelled post. I meant to ask What if the sensor light is flashing 5 times (meaning ‘gas valve failure’)? Will short circuiting the board work for this as well, or will I need to replace the gas valve? I tried every other remedy on here besides that one and none of them worked.
If anyone knows the answer, please help. A hot shower would be wonderful this time if year.
This will fix and reset your Honeywell unit. Fix your four flashes.
1 Turn dial to off position.
2 Turn dial to pilot setting, and light as normal.
3 Turn control dial to Very Hot setting and wait 10 secs
4 Turn control dial to Hot and wait 10 secs
5 Turn control dial back to pilot and wait 10 secs
6 Now turn to desired setting.
** Burner should now ignite and flash only one time.