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Author Topic:   Fresh Water Pump Failure

dmeswi posted 03-11-2009 07:48 PM ET (US)
The fresh water pump on my 220 Dauntless quit yesterday after running about 15 seconds. It seems to be dead as a door nail. There are no sounds whatsoever when the button is pushed for water, and of course no water either.
Could someone please advise how to trouble shoot this problem?
Dennis
seabob4 posted 03-12-2009 09:53 PM ET (US)
Dennis,
Is your pump fed through a breaker or a fuse? Have you checked either? How old is your pump, and how old is your boat? Older boats can have corrosion in the wiring which can cause the breaker to trip or the fuse to blow because of heat buildup.
Did you check your connections as well? Wire come loose?
These are obvious TS items to start with.
dmeswi posted 03-15-2009 03:17 PM ET (US)
Bob,
My boat is a 2006 220 Dauntless. I check the wiring from time to time and it is in good condition throughout the boat. I guess I'll have check my owners manual to see where a fuse or breaker might be.
Another thought, and maybe an easer way to start, would be to see if I am getting power to the pump, which I think is inside the console near the fresh water tank.
Thanks for getting me thinking about how to find the problem and fix it.
Dennis
handn posted 03-20-2009 09:20 AM ET (US)
I had a fresh water pump fail on my 2004 Conquest. Cause was a drip of salt water from the hatch onto the pump.
Problem was easy to diagnose. Take the water pump off, take the pump unit off the motor and try to rotate the shaft. If the pump unit is corroded to the motor or if the shaft won't rotate, you know if you have a problem.
You can test current supply to the pump with a multimeter. If the motor in the pump runs but no water flows, you can get a replacement pump head, but you may have to order it and it may be a lot faster just to buy a new pump.
There is a circuit breaker panel somewhere on you boat. If your water pump pops the breaker you have a problem because it will happen again.
Shurflo water pumps are about 80 dollars, My new one was much better sealed against corrosion than the one that shorted out. Even I, who has very limited ability to spin a wrench installed the new one without difficulty.
dmeswi posted 03-22-2009 02:53 PM ET (US)
You're right. I do have a circuit breaker which I reset. The pump worked for about 30 seconds and quit again. I guess I'll have to check to see if there is a problem with the wiring or if there is a clog in the water pump or tubing. If all of that looks ok, I guess I am looking at a new pump.
My next thought is since the boat is only 2 1/2 years old, maybe it is covered under warranty.
Dennis
dmeswi posted 03-23-2009 07:25 PM ET (US)
I took the pump off today and the wires to it showed 12 volts were getting to the pump.
I then took the pump up to my car battery and connected the wires to it and the pump did not work.
I took the pressure switch assembly off the bottom of the pump and there is a little red button there. I pushed it and then and put the wires on the car battery and it worked. The pump would run and when I pressed down on the red button, it would stop. My guess is that when the pump is on and the water is off, pressure builds up and as long as there is pressure, the pump stays off. When the button on the sprayer is pushed and water is released, the pump turns on.
There is a screw at the bottom of the pump on the pressure switch assembly which is used to adjust the pressure pump shut off. I turned the screw a few times, reinstalled the pump and ran it for about five minutes while turning the water on and off. It seems to be fine now but I am not sure what fixed it or if it will stay fixed.
I wish I would have found the adjustment screw earlier. I would have given it a turn or two before taking out the pump and testing it.
Dennis
handn posted 03-30-2009 09:30 AM ET (US)
You have an intermittant short somewhere in your pump. An adjustment of the pump pressure screw won't fix it, merely mask the problem. Your pump will bite you again sometime, guaranteed, probably when you most need it like on a camping trip when someone really needs the facilities. Pumps nowdays are throwaway items, rarely fixable.
I would replace the pump.
dmeswi posted 04-01-2009 07:17 PM ET (US)
Handn,
Thanks for the information. If the thing fails again, I will replace it.
Dennis

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Author	Topic: Fresh Water Pump Failure
dmeswi	posted 03-11-2009 07:48 PM ET (US) The fresh water pump on my 220 Dauntless quit yesterday after running about 15 seconds. It seems to be dead as a door nail. There are no sounds whatsoever when the button is pushed for water, and of course no water either. Could someone please advise how to trouble shoot this problem? Dennis
seabob4	posted 03-12-2009 09:53 PM ET (US) Dennis, Is your pump fed through a breaker or a fuse? Have you checked either? How old is your pump, and how old is your boat? Older boats can have corrosion in the wiring which can cause the breaker to trip or the fuse to blow because of heat buildup. Did you check your connections as well? Wire come loose? These are obvious TS items to start with.
dmeswi	posted 03-15-2009 03:17 PM ET (US) Bob, My boat is a 2006 220 Dauntless. I check the wiring from time to time and it is in good condition throughout the boat. I guess I'll have check my owners manual to see where a fuse or breaker might be. Another thought, and maybe an easer way to start, would be to see if I am getting power to the pump, which I think is inside the console near the fresh water tank. Thanks for getting me thinking about how to find the problem and fix it. Dennis
handn	posted 03-20-2009 09:20 AM ET (US) I had a fresh water pump fail on my 2004 Conquest. Cause was a drip of salt water from the hatch onto the pump. Problem was easy to diagnose. Take the water pump off, take the pump unit off the motor and try to rotate the shaft. If the pump unit is corroded to the motor or if the shaft won't rotate, you know if you have a problem. You can test current supply to the pump with a multimeter. If the motor in the pump runs but no water flows, you can get a replacement pump head, but you may have to order it and it may be a lot faster just to buy a new pump. There is a circuit breaker panel somewhere on you boat. If your water pump pops the breaker you have a problem because it will happen again. Shurflo water pumps are about 80 dollars, My new one was much better sealed against corrosion than the one that shorted out. Even I, who has very limited ability to spin a wrench installed the new one without difficulty.
dmeswi	posted 03-22-2009 02:53 PM ET (US) You're right. I do have a circuit breaker which I reset. The pump worked for about 30 seconds and quit again. I guess I'll have to check to see if there is a problem with the wiring or if there is a clog in the water pump or tubing. If all of that looks ok, I guess I am looking at a new pump. My next thought is since the boat is only 2 1/2 years old, maybe it is covered under warranty. Dennis
dmeswi	posted 03-23-2009 07:25 PM ET (US) I took the pump off today and the wires to it showed 12 volts were getting to the pump. I then took the pump up to my car battery and connected the wires to it and the pump did not work. I took the pressure switch assembly off the bottom of the pump and there is a little red button there. I pushed it and then and put the wires on the car battery and it worked. The pump would run and when I pressed down on the red button, it would stop. My guess is that when the pump is on and the water is off, pressure builds up and as long as there is pressure, the pump stays off. When the button on the sprayer is pushed and water is released, the pump turns on. There is a screw at the bottom of the pump on the pressure switch assembly which is used to adjust the pressure pump shut off. I turned the screw a few times, reinstalled the pump and ran it for about five minutes while turning the water on and off. It seems to be fine now but I am not sure what fixed it or if it will stay fixed. I wish I would have found the adjustment screw earlier. I would have given it a turn or two before taking out the pump and testing it. Dennis
handn	posted 03-30-2009 09:30 AM ET (US) You have an intermittant short somewhere in your pump. An adjustment of the pump pressure screw won't fix it, merely mask the problem. Your pump will bite you again sometime, guaranteed, probably when you most need it like on a camping trip when someone really needs the facilities. Pumps nowdays are throwaway items, rarely fixable. I would replace the pump.
dmeswi	posted 04-01-2009 07:17 PM ET (US) Handn, Thanks for the information. If the thing fails again, I will replace it. Dennis