Narrative:

Climbing out about FL200 to FL340 we received the left rarv status message. We completed the non-normal checklist; which it just stated left ram air regulating valve has failed. I understand that it is just a status message; but I also felt that the systems knowledge I had was conflicting with what the checklist was saying. Meaning; I didn't know what state the position of valve was in. Was it fully open; closed or partially open. I wasn't sure. I looked at the ecs page and the left pack was still showing green. But even if the rarv was fully closed the pack should still maintain a green status because the pack is still receiving air from the bleeds off engine. So I was concerned with a possible overheat situation or a possibility of another event that I wasn't aware of. So I'm thinking ok; are we limited to 25;000 ft? I wasn't sure and first officer wasn't sure. So I tried to gather all my resources and looked at MEL book; because to me that can give an understanding of systems as well. Well the MEL stated with the left rarv failed consider the pack to be inop. I'm thinking ok; I'm headed in right direction but still am conflicted on whether to continue to FL340 or maintain below FL250. I'm thinking I don't want to be in a worse position than I am now later down the road. So I asked dispatch and mx if they agree. They asked if I could make [our destination] at FL240. I said no; will need a fuel stop. They called the divert; and so I thought ok well I guess they are concerned as well. So we diverted.do not base the current situation inflight off the MEL book as that had influenced some of the concerns I had with the situation. The non normal checklist will direct you as to what you should do next. My previous company didn't have that guidance in our checklist when it came to some of the non-normal events; and that also influenced my concern. Learning that the CRJ900 checklist will direct you as to what will take place next.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ-900 Captain received an L RARV status message while climbing to FL340. The QRH indicated that the Left Ram Air Regulating Valve had failed; but the reporter was not sure what that means precisely and elected to divert.

Narrative: Climbing out about FL200 to FL340 we received the L RARV status message. We completed the Non-Normal checklist; which it just stated Left Ram Air Regulating Valve has failed. I understand that it is just a status message; but I also felt that the systems knowledge I had was conflicting with what the checklist was saying. Meaning; I didn't know what state the position of valve was in. Was it fully open; closed or partially open. I wasn't sure. I looked at the ECS page and the Left Pack was still showing green. But even if the RARV was fully closed the pack should still maintain a green status because the pack is still receiving air from the bleeds off engine. So I was concerned with a possible overheat situation or a possibility of another event that I wasn't aware of. So I'm thinking ok; are we limited to 25;000 ft? I wasn't sure and FO wasn't sure. So I tried to gather all my resources and looked at MEL book; because to me that can give an understanding of systems as well. Well the MEL stated with the L RARV failed consider the PACK to be inop. I'm thinking ok; I'm headed in right direction but still am conflicted on whether to continue to FL340 or maintain below FL250. I'm thinking I don't want to be in a worse position than I am now later down the road. So I asked dispatch and mx if they agree. They asked if I could make [our destination] at FL240. I said no; will need a fuel stop. They called the divert; and so I thought ok well I guess they are concerned as well. So we diverted.Do not base the current situation inflight off the MEL book as that had influenced some of the concerns I had with the situation. The Non Normal checklist will direct you as to what you should do next. My previous company didn't have that guidance in our checklist when it came to some of the non-normal events; and that also influenced my concern. Learning that the CRJ900 checklist will direct you as to what will take place next.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.