I have a ShurFlo water pump in my RV that quit working suddenly with no warning. It's 8 years old. The fuse is OK and the light on the switches light up but no pumping activity or even a sound. Any ideas other than replacing the unit? I'm away from home for a few more days and looking for a fix while on the road. Thanks.

Use a volt meter or diagnostic volt meter to see that there is power at the pump. Then try to reverse the wires powering the pump (swap - with +) and see if that makes it run. Sometimes a foreign object lodges in the pumps impeller/diaphram. If that all fails...shop for a new one. Good luck. In my 25 yers of RVing and several new RV's...I've never had a pump fail...and only had to get and install a rebuild pump kit from Shur-Flo once.

Check that you not only have power but you have a ground path. A 12V test light is all it takes to do that. Check the power wire at the pump for a hot while referenced to a known ground, and if you have power there, then check for power referenced to the pump's ground. An open ground can certainly be the issue.If the power and ground check out, check for continuity through the pump using a multimeter. It's entirely possible that it simply gave up the ghost. I wouldn't be surprised, and wouldn't hesitate to replace it. The basic model ShurFlo pump is not expensive...

Are you sure there is no sound. If it is still getting power it might just need to be primed. This happened to me. Somehow the water pump became unprimed and I had to gravity prime it. This happened to me two months in a row.

For the time being, try whacking it with a hard object like a hammer. It's a PM (permanent magnet) motor and sometimes that will jar it into submission.

APRSRVer wrote:...and sometimes that will jar it into submissionYeah, or break the magnets:)

Water Pump Quit Suddenly | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

exportman
Explorer
Sep 21, 2013
Thanks for the input guys. Took it to the dealer when I got home and the dealer found a defective pump after a series of tests. Used my Camping World extended warranty and got a new filter installed for deductible cost of $100.
1775
Explorer
Sep 15, 2013
The Shurflo pump will run dry - no water and it just runs on sucking air. The OP found an electric problem at one of the leads and is looking at correcting that.
renoman69
Explorer
Sep 15, 2013
APRSRVer wrote:
For the time being, try whacking it with a hard object like a hammer. It's a PM (permanent magnet) motor and sometimes that will jar it into submission.

YES! This is the answer! Get your son or daughter to toss it to you and WHACK it with your baseball bat to smarten it up big time. This is an RV NET simple solution that will not fail. Get your fielders in place.....
wnjj
Explorer II
Sep 15, 2013
exportman wrote:
Seems to be electrical Disconnected the red and am getting power but seems the connection of the red to the pump is the problem; maybe even inside the housing. Working on that now. Thanks everyone.

One the wires get to the pump they still go through the pressure cutoff switch. It may just be stuck. You can take a few screws out of the end to find it.
Wayne_Dohnal
Explorer
Sep 14, 2013
RichieC wrote:
Before you go whacking the pump with anything. . .

Remove the pump.
The pump, from the factory, has push-on electrical connectors.
Sometimes the electrical connector's metal degrades over time, either from micro arcing or dissimilar metals.

Inspect the pump push-on electrical connectors - both sides, female and male terminals.

If you see any blackened areas on the connectors you will have found the problem.
This is exactly the problem I had with mine, where the water pump plugged into the motorhome wiring harness. Didn't have to remove the pump to work on the connector.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Sep 14, 2013
And if all that doesn't work, smack it with your hand.
tomkaren13
Explorer
Sep 14, 2013
chiefward wrote:
Are you sure you have water in the tank? Mine cuts off when i'm oout of water

X 2
chiefward
Explorer
Sep 14, 2013
Are you sure you have water in the tank? Mine cuts off when i'm oout of water
mlts22
Explorer II
Sep 12, 2013
I'd use it as an excuse to replace with a variable speed pump, perhaps toss in an accumulator tank. That way, it doesn't have to short cycle.
exportman
Explorer
Sep 12, 2013
Seems to be electrical Disconnected the red and am getting power but seems the connection of the red to the pump is the problem; maybe even inside the housing. Working on that now. Thanks everyone.

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Water Pump Quit Suddenly

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