water pump not priming UPDATED PROBLEM FIXED

BTPO1 wrote:
Thank you for posting your solution. In it you mentioned that the installer tightened the fitting too tight. There is a possibility that not all of the water was drained from the system when winterizing and that fitting froze and broke. Just something to think about next winter when winterizing. It only takes a little water in a line to break something. JMO

You are correct and I thought about last Sunday when I was working on it. One thing I learned this year that I didn't know, when a camper is shipped new from the factory there is no antifreeze in them at all. According to the service manager there tested with air pressure and not water from the factory and unless the dealers check them with water they DO NOT winterize a trailer from the factory.

I too delivery in mid Feb. and my dealer who is also a personal friend of mine checked all the water system's and then winterized the system for me. It is something to keep in mind when I winterize next winter.

Thank you for posting your solution. In it you mentioned that the installer tightened the fitting too tight. There is a possibility that not all of the water was drained from the system when winterizing and that fitting froze and broke. Just something to think about next winter when winterizing. It only takes a little water in a line to break something. JMO

dspencer wrote:
Thank You all for responded to my post and I'm so sorry for the delay in responding but I just got the problem fixed at the dealer this morning. There is a small filter at the pump and when the techs at the factory screwed it on they screwed it on too tight and put a small hairline crack in the fitting which was causing it to suck air. The dealer replaced the fitting and put a new hose on that was a source of concern as well and its all good now. I looked at this but missed the hairline crack. Thank You all and happy camping.

Doug

Thank you for posting the solution to the problem.

Thank You all for responded to my post and I'm so sorry for the delay in responding but I just got the problem fixed at the dealer this morning. There is a small filter at the pump and when the techs at the factory screwed it on they screwed it on too tight and put a small hairline crack in the fitting which was causing it to suck air. The dealer replaced the fitting and put a new hose on that was a source of concern as well and its all good now. I looked at this but missed the hairline crack. Thank You all and happy camping.

Doug

I'm sorry i haven't posted an update on my water pump problem as another member pointed out to me in a new post. After trying all the suggestions nothing worked. I am taking it by the dealer tomorrow morning at 8:00a.m. to let them check it out. After all it is a brand new trailer under warranty. I just wanted to save that hassle if possible. Thanks for all your suggestions.

xPIXx wrote:
Mine also has its own hookup for drawing antifreeze from the jug, there should be a rubber gasket behind the cap, if not it will suck air there.

My city water connection has a small sprung valve behind it, if the valve isn't seated properly the system won't pressurize.

Some set-ups introduce a filter at the exit of the fresh water tank at the point that water feeds the plumbing to the water pump. This filter sometimes gets clogged with a fine film that establishes itself within the tank over the years. This film is not harmful but somtimes floats rather than staying attached to the sides of the fresh water tank. When you drain the tank at the end of the season, tiny portions of this film will settle on the bottom of the tank then refloat back when refilling the tank. But eventually it WILL find it's way to that filter and cause the symtom you describe. SOLUTION... disconnect the outlet plumbing going to the water pump. Remove the fitting on the water tank that the plumbing to the water pump connects. When removing the fitting there will probably be the filter I described as part of the fitting and most likely will have some of that white film I described earlier, wrapped around the filter. That film is restricting the water flow and the pump will churn up air bubbles as it tries to prime the system. This film WILL build up even with regular draining and desinfecting every season at start-up.

I usually drain the water system completely after each trip. When I fill the tank back up the pump will just sit there and run until I go down and open the low point drains until water shoots out of them. After that we are all good. There could still be air trapped in the system and you just think you got it out.

Is your water tank below the pump? Mine is and the pump won't prime easily unless the tank is filled right up it the overflow hole beside the fill hole, which is a little above the pump. Similarly, it is hard to start the pump pulling antifreeze out of a jug. I keep a dish detergent squirt bottle handy to fill the hose and pump with water or antifreeze to make it start easily. I guess my water pump just doesn't pump air well. I don't know if it is worn or just the nature of the beast. No problem once it is primed. I will try to remember to look for an inlet screen to clean.

Just remembered, when winterizing I loosen the pump fitting on the inlet tube, letting air in to allow the water in the hose to drain down into the tank. If I forget to tighten it up again, the pump sucks air.

I took the access cover to get to the pump and I checked all the fittings going to the pump and every fitting that I could access and made sure everything was tight which it was. I think I have figured out the problem but can't figure out the cause for the life of me. It appears to be sucking air every time I get all the air out of the lines it comes back. That tells me that I'm sucking air but I have no ideal where. :h I'm sure it's a simple thing but it is stumping me, but then again that doesn't take much. :B