Evedave
Canada
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Joined: 05/22/2008
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Hi there,
Have a question about our water pump that seems to have stopped working. Our trailer is new, have had it out a total of 10 nights. We camped in it this weekend at an un-serviced spot and had filled up with water on the way out.
Everything was fine all weekend. Yesterday we brought it to the dumping station, dumped, and loaded up with more fresh water for this coming weekend.
Got it to the site and turned on the pump. Pump was priming, priming, priming, no water.....for a very long time. Truned off the pump and started the generator, thinking maybe we needed more power.
Tried the pump again and nothing-even the light on the switch that indicates the pump is working didn't come on.
I'm stumped! I would hate to have to bring it in for repair in the heart of camping season.
Am I missing something obvious here (am a newbie) or am I up the creek?
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amaze
Ohio, New Albany
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Have you tried it since? The pump needs the water to keep it cool. It might have overheated. Or it might have blown a fuse. The worst case scenario is it burned out the pump motor. If it was the last case scenario and you don't want to part from your camper for a week or two, you could replace the pump for $80 and an hour of your time. You could also try and work out a deal with the dealer you bought it from and they would exchange your old pump for a new one.
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2Rad4U
I'm to young to be a
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Joined: 03/09/2005
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Evedave wrote:
Tried the pump again and nothing-even the light on the switch that indicates the pump is working didn't come on.
If the light on the switch is not working, it's not a pump problem, it's a power problem. Check the fuses and/or breakers and wiring.
CB
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PSU1999
New Wilmington, PA
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Joined: 01/10/2006
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"Posted By: amaze on 07/02/08 03:20pm
Have you tried it since? The pump needs the water to keep it cool. It might have overheated. Or it might have blown a fuse. The worst case scenario is it burned out the pump motor. If it was the last case scenario and you don't want to part from your camper for a week or two, you could replace the pump for $80 and an hour of your time. You could also try and work out a deal with the dealer you bought it from and they would exchange your old pump for a new one."
I don't think the above is true. These pumps are made to run dry, you can hurt the water heater with no water but not the pump.
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dbbls
Missouri
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When you turn the pump on (after you get it working) open one or two faucets and it should prime. After it starts pumping water close the faucets.
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javaseuf
California's Gold Coast
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PSU1999 wrote:"Posted By: amaze on 07/02/08 03:20pm
Have you tried it since? The pump needs the water to keep it cool. It might have overheated. Or it might have blown a fuse. The worst case scenario is it burned out the pump motor. If it was the last case scenario and you don't want to part from your camper for a week or two, you could replace the pump for $80 and an hour of your time. You could also try and work out a deal with the dealer you bought it from and they would exchange your old pump for a new one."
I don't think the above is true. These pumps are made to run dry, you can hurt the water heater with no water but not the pump.
You are correct. It doesn't need water to keep it cool since the pump head that contains the diaphram is pretty much isolated from the motor by the plastic housing.
Steve
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Rosehill
Central West Texas
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If the pump is now totally dead and the indicator light isn't working, then you have a power problem. Check fuses and connections.
As for the original problem, I had this about a year ago. Never could get it to pump, pulled the pump, checked it out, it was fine. Pulled the freshwater tank and SOMEHOW a small piece of plastic bag (think wal*mart bag) had gotten in the tank and into the tank strainer that the pump pulls water from. Removed bag, pump worked fine. Since your TT is new, perhaps something is in the tank?
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khall34
CT
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Joined: 07/05/2008
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We ran our pump dry while flushing our tanks. Then it would not prime. We did all the normal things to get it to prime, but no luck. Turns out it was a vapor lock in the fitting that connects the pump to the intake/ outlet hoses. Try unscrewing the plastic nuts and breaking the vapor lock. Worked for us.
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MaddogBC
Kelowna BC
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khall34 wrote:We ran our pump dry while flushing our tanks. Then it would not prime. We did all the normal things to get it to prime, but no luck. Turns out it was a vapor lock in the fitting that connects the pump to the intake/ outlet hoses. Try unscrewing the plastic nuts and breaking the vapor lock. Worked for us.
Great advice there
Not knowing this cost me 108$ and a trip back to civilization last week.
But on the plus side I now have a good backup in case the new pump ever fails
Rob
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