Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Jason on August 14, 2022, 03:37:46 pm

Title: Water pump not working
Post by: Jason on August 14, 2022, 03:37:46 pm
It worked fine earlier today, but once parked, I went to turn it on and nothing. I do have water in the tank, and the green pump lights are shown on all three pump switches when turned on. I have checked the fuses under the bed the 4 in the engine bay,  1 in the passenger panel and cycled the 120 breakers, all to no success. Looking at the schematic, it shows a water pump relay. Where is this located? Is there any other place where I should look? It could be the pump, I have not jumpered it to test it.
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: Jason on August 14, 2022, 04:02:20 pm
Found the relay and the Finder relay. For the Finder, I am not familiar with these. I pushed it it, it moved then pushed it again. Is there a reset on this?  Are both of these relays? Do both need to be replaced or one? Is there a way to test these?
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on August 14, 2022, 04:17:35 pm
Check your pump ground wire. That was the problem on ours.

Pierce
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: oldguy on August 14, 2022, 04:42:40 pm
First I would do what Piece said. To test first may sure you have power going to the relay those
are resettable relays, there is a little button you press to reset them. To check the relay see if you
have power at the pump when the relay is on'
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: Jason on August 14, 2022, 04:48:06 pm
Thanks, I did check ground, that's good. I also put a call into MOTs hotline and talked to Keith. The latching switch works, the 2 post relay was not tripped. It appears to be my pump, so I'm off to find a new one.
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on August 14, 2022, 04:53:44 pm
OK, if the ground is OK, you can take a 12V jumper to the pump and if no joy, it's time for a new one. Always good to isolate the pump (or any other device) and try to power it.

Pierce
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: Jason on August 14, 2022, 05:18:08 pm
Thanks Pierce, yes correct, I did confirm that there was 12v power at the pump. Odd that it would just die without warning.
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: Barry & Cindy on August 14, 2022, 06:39:41 pm
Power to the water pump when latching relay is closed does not in itself prove pump motor is bad...

Power goes to a small pressure switch on the head of the pump and it could be a problem with water pump being okay.

The pressure switch is usually adjustable and maybe cleanable and replaceable. At least examine the pump pressure switch.

Pressure switch is what turns motor off when pressure 'backs up' after closing a faucet. And turns motor on when faucet is opened.

Mis-adjusted accumulator can also affect when pump motor turns on and off.

Water pump motors seldom fail. In fact some have bypassed controls and use an old water pump as external pumps to move water from tubs into water tank, etc.
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on August 14, 2022, 08:28:50 pm
Barry makes a good point. The pump should be tested past the pressure switch and at the pump itself as the pumps don't normally just fail.

Pierce
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: Jason on August 14, 2022, 08:43:13 pm
I removed the assembly, so tank and pump. I tried to jumper the pump, nothing happened. Is there something else I need to do? I did remove the cover on the end, is this the switch? I'll get a pic. It's a 2840-100  Flowjet

It seems something always happens when we go out now. Last week I was towing my toad and the front tire blew. I had to get 5 new tires, they were 2014 date code, that's my fault, I didn't think they were that old, and only about 15k miles on them.  The same day, the generator wouldn't stay running, it couldn't handle the load of 2 ACs, it wasn't getting enough fuel. Replaced the filter/water separator in Sam's parking lot. Does this stuff happen to y'all ? My family is asking me why something always happens, I try my best to ensure things are in working order.
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: Jason on August 14, 2022, 08:58:07 pm
Barry, it worked!  Thank you!  I removed the little square, undid the + wire and then jumpered it, it started spewing water out in my face and carpet, I'm in the passengerseat. Next is to either adjust this  or get a new one. Thanks again for this technical info Barry!
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: Jason on August 14, 2022, 09:08:37 pm
I cleaned and adjusted, it works now. Is there a specific setting the adjustment should be?
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: oldguy on August 14, 2022, 09:18:53 pm
I believe 50 lbs. pressure is it.
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: Barry & Cindy on August 15, 2022, 07:59:52 pm
Not sure, but just so it turns off when faucet is closed and starts when faucet is opened. That is its only job and is probably not a critical setting.

So glad you fixed it and don't have to deal with new connections.
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: Jason on August 15, 2022, 11:06:43 pm
I suspect it was dirty, besides cleaning it out, I really did not do anything else. I managed to get the setting close to the same water pressure as before. I do have a new pressure switch coming tomorrow so I will have a backup should if fail again. I am glad they make them and it's not a throw-away.

This is just another example of the knowledge on this forum.
Title: Re: Water pump not working
Post by: John44 on August 16, 2022, 06:57:42 am
Reply to number 9,preventive maintenance,fuel filters are cheap,change more often,use some
Diesel clean products in your fuel to eliminate moisture and algae,you let the tires on too long,many
Of us carry spare water pumps,at some point you will need a new pump,get one now and you will have it.Many things you can easily do to prevent problems and make things easier.