I need HELP!!!: Water Pump not working consistently

Water Pump not working consistently

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Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
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Topic: Water Pump not working consistently

Posted By: ruthalaska
Subject: Water Pump not working consistently
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2020 at 2:40pm

Hi folks,

I've got a 2015 RPod 179 and am having trouble with the water pump. Sometimes it works fine. Other times it does not work at all -- the switch light comes on, but there is no noise, no vibration, and no water. It will stop working for a couple hours, and then start again, seemingly at random, and then stop working again, for no reason I can figure out. The fuse is not blown (but at least once, pulling the fuse and putting it back in again got it working again for a little while).

Also have noted some water pump electrical weirdness -- the the battery indicator on the panel will show fewer lights when you turn the water pump on, then go back up when the pump is off. So for example, you'll see 4 battery lights, then turn the pump on, and you see 2 lights. Turn the pump off again, back up to 4 lights. I started seeing this shortly before the pump started acting up.

Sometimes, but not always, the DSI fault light will come on when the water pump and water heater are both turned on. The heater works properly, though.

Two weeks ago the RV place diagnosed the problem as corroded battery/electrical connections and cleaned everything up. This fixed the problem -- for 2 weeks. Now it's back to working intermittently again. Waiting on a callback for what the RV place recommends now -- but was also hoping for some advice/suggestions here as well.

Thanks so much!

Replies:

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2020 at 3:34pm

Sorry to hear about your issues with said water pump. The "weirdness" you describe on your panel indicator is quite normal. Mine shows the about the same, although only drops from 4 to 3 lights when running. Maybe there is something amiss causing it to drop 2 lights, although that whole panel is only a guideline to what is actually happening as you probably already know when it comes to checking the level of your black and gray water tank levels.

What you describe certainly sounds like an electrical wire/connection issue to me. Have you the ability to check wire connections from the battery to the pump? Does this also do the same thing when you are on house current? Do you have a simple voltmeter where you can check continuity/voltage on these wires? Please keep us updated and informed.

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2020 at 3:49pm

When the pump is trying to run there is obviously a current draw that is dragging down the voltage. What's not certain from your description is if the low voltage problem is because the pump itself is frozen up and drawing too much current or if there is high resistance in the circuit somewhere. The resistance could be corrosion, a poor connection, or internal to the battery itself.

If you had a dc current meter we could troubleshoot it easily.

Barring that you could exclude the battery by connecting to shore power, If it works then its the battery or its terminals. If not the I'd remove the pump, take it apart, clean any gunk out of it, reassemble and test it by connecting directly to a known good battery. If its still not running then I'd replace it.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2020 at 4:05pm

Also, check the tightness of the connections in your electrical panel (Safety First! Disconnect shore power before removing the cover). Make sure all of the wires on the 12V side are in and securely connected. I had one where the wire was making intermittent contact because it had broken off and was just leaning against the connection.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: ruthalaska
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2020 at 12:23pm

Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions! My update is not very satisfying but I wanted to post it anyway.

I took it back to the RV place and passed along all your suggestions. It worked perfectly while they had it and they could not find anything wrong. They traced all the wiring and examined the pump itself. The technician really tried -- he called me several times asking more questions about what I experienced while it wasn't working, and did everything we could think of, short of replacing the (apparently perfectly operational) pump itself, which we agreed did not seem like a good use of my money. Despite my protests, they didn't charge me anything, even though he obviously spent a while working on it.

Then we went camping and it did work just fine all weekend . . . so maybe something they did somehow fixed it, or it was just happy this weekend? No idea. We were camping somewhere with power hookups (unusual for us) so if it stops working again on a boondocking trip maybe that will provide a clue. But for now it seems to be working.

Intermittent problems are the worst! Thanks again to everyone who chimed in, really appreciate it.