Flame comes on, then goes out, then comes on, etc...

Any ideas? We still have heating and hotish water.

I take it you've got a combi - what make?

Yes Ariston Eurocombi mate

does the boiler cycle when running the heating or when supplying hot water? or both ?

Both mate - had a pressure sensor (gas) swapped and the thermostat, and a water pressure switch over last two years.

Is it a fanned flue... is the fan working?

No and therefore erm... no

Funny, i'm having a similar problem, The boiler comes on for 50 seconds with banging and then goes out....then 2 mins later comes on for 20 secs and so on and so on. We did find that the emursion heater was switched off on the fuse box so we turned it on again and all seems ok

BUT!

Still only have luke warm rads in the livingroom

We do not get banging but sounds similar (we have hot rads though)

Tracking down problems with heating is quite difficult - bit like finding out why a car won't start. A logical approach is needed.

Cycling problems like you describe are usually caused by the boiler warming up, then getting too hot, so shutting down for a few minutes, then starting up again and so on.
On the Potterton Boiler I have this is normally caused by a faulty diverter valve. The operation of this diverter valve can be quite confusing. However, it is a wax capsule like a car thermostat. It causes the CH water to flow internally to the boiler. if this valve does not operate, the water flows round inside the boiler getting hot quickly, leading to the boiler shutting down for a few mins, ...

It is also possible that the temperature sensor is faulty, causing the boiler to think that it is too hot when it is not.

Or the controling electronics might be faulty.

Donut - if only one or two radiators are not getting hot when others are, then they probably need to be bled.

Sounds expensive!!!

Donut
The boiler sounds like its kettling i.e boiling the water in the heat exchanger and tripping off on the overheat stat.
Possible causes are Duff pump, airlock or low water content in system.
The immersion heater is not connected BTW.

Chunkie
if the flame is going on and off rapidly, it sounds like an air pressure problem.
It is fan flued btw and that could be connected to the problem.
u2u me if you kneed more help.



Al.




[Edited on 23/2/05 by Wadders]

Andy, give paul a call, he don't call him self GasGasGas for nowt !!

Jason

Sounds like yer pump donut.Undo the large screw at the top of the pump and underneath you'll see a screw slot give it a spin and see if you can get it going
Cheers,
Bob

[Edited on 23/2/05 by splitrivet]

Donut,bleed all rads,then turn all upstairs rads off on the rad valves,wait for living room rad to get hot then turn upstairs rads back on to half flow on the rad valves

An alternative approach http://www.grayfamily.org.uk/boiler/ sorry if its no help though!