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Water pump switch issue

Hi,

New to all this.  Our first week "real" camping.  But, I need help already.

My water pump switches will not turn on the pump.  The switches and pump were working perfectly up until this afternoon when I filled our water tank.

I turned off the pump, opened the valve and filled the tank as usual.  But after shutting the valve, I tried to turn the pump on and it would not work.

Apparently when I toggled off the pump to fill the tank, the switch had physically stuck.  To turn on the pump, I had to free the switch to move.  It did and seems to move freely now.  But the pump will not turn on from that switch or either of the other two.

I checked for a fuse by the bed but did not see one marked for the pump.  I checked them all anyway and they were good. 

First question, is there a separate fuse for the pump?  If so, where?

I check the pump for power.  None.  But again, the switches do not appear to be turning on.  You know...that satisfying "clunk" sound you get with the toggle switches normally?  Not happening.

Any help would be appreciated!
Doug & Meyka Paddock
1996 U295

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #1 –
Doug,
Our coach is a couple years newer, so I don't know if the setup is the same. Ours has a temporary on to start switch. When you press it in, it turns on the pump circuit. That powers the pump until the pressure sensor in the pump reaches it's preset pressure.
It then turns off until pressure drops below its low set point.

Is that how your unit works?

Len
Len and Deb Speiser
1999 U270 36'
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus!--Ken Kesey
If you're lucky enough to live in a bus, you're lucky enough!

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #2 –
I beleive all the switches go to a relay/ solenoid. You need to find it not too sure where it is on your coach.
Toby a 94 u280
Cummins 8.3
6 speed Allison
Exhaust brake


Adopted by Derek and Annabelle

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #3 –
This has happened to me a couple of times.  The switch sticks and overheats the relay.  On mine, the relay works again after it cools down.  If it burned up the relay, you can temporarily bypass it to get your water working again.  The relay is probably behind a white fiberglass panel in your aft storage bay on the drivers side.  Even if your relay is not ruined, it's a good idea to carry a spare because it will eventually fail.

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #4 –
Ours is a 1996 U295.  I'll look for that relay.  Cooling off hasn't fixed it. Still not working.

Would it be in the aft compartment where the water fill and tank dumps are?  Or the storage compartment.

What does it look like?

How would I bypass?

Can I replace the relay locally?  If so who would carry the part.

Thanks for the help. 

Our coach's water doesn't work without the pump...no pressure with City water.  I was going to try to fix that.  Previous owner always ran the pump.
Doug & Meyka Paddock
1996 U295

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #5 –
I believe mine is located somewhere around the closet / rear TV cabinet.  At least that is where it sounds to me where the click is coming from.

I seem to remember in the past there was a discussion on the relay along with a picture of it.  I just did a search for "water pump relay" with the quotations and got a lot of hits.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #6 –
Doug,

On a '96 the water pump relay should be hid in the big bay of your basement behind the white fiberglass cover.  This is the cover that is on the rear wall drivers side. It is held on by a couple of 1/4" nuts.  The relay may be just hanging on the wires as some were not securely mounted back during production.  I will try to post pics. later unless someone else post one before we get a better bars as our internet is limited where we are.
Yes it is an off the shelf item and an easy DIY.
You can get the relay off the net or an electrical supply house (they will get it off the same net though)

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #7 –
Our 99 coach has two identical relays - one for the water pump, the other for the water fill valve. They look like this:

Mike & Joanne
'99  U320  40' build 5479
'06 Lexus GX470
Club #17378
(former '93 U225 36')

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #8 –
On our coach ('93 model), the 12V panel is in the center bay, driver side, under a white fiberglass cover.

The water pump circuit breaker is bottom one in right stack.  The relay is just below it, not a standard Bosch relay - looks different.

The circuit breaker should be manual reset, IIRC.  Look for a tiny black button on the side that can be pushed back in.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #9 –
Doug,

If you have the relay like Mike shows it may just be hung. It is worth a try to push the manual button on and off a few times.  This sometimes will cause it to "get back in time"  If you have  a relay like Chuck the coil is most likely went kaput and a new one is in order.

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #10 –
Here is the water pump relay in our 99'. It was under the white fiberglass panel, before I did the inverter upgrade. It says "Radio Switch Monoplex" on it. Not a great picture as this is a crop from a picture taken while while doing the inverter install.
Don
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #11 –
Thanks oh so much!  The circuit breaker is fine. Relay is not.

I bypassed the relay and have full time pump on.  That's great because we have no water pressure without it...City water gives us no pressure.  (Another problem).

My relay is exactly like Chuck's so I'm assuming I need to replace it.  I'm in taccoa, GA at a campground... I'll look for an electrical supply place.

Can't tell you how much I appreciate your help!
Doug & Meyka Paddock
1996 U295

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #12 –
Here is some info on replacing the water pump relay.  Seems the original style relay is hard to find?

Water Pump Relay Replacement
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
Doug,

If you have the relay like Mike shows it may just be hung. It is worth a try to push the manual button on and off a few times.  This sometimes will cause it to "get back in time"  If you have  a relay like Chuck the coil is most likely went kaput and a new one is in order.

Pamela & Mike


I had to do that on my 2003 a few years ago, just manually switched it on and off a couple of times, been good ever since.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Dougpad –
Thanks oh so much!  The circuit breaker is fine. Relay is not.

I bypassed the relay and have full time pump on.  That's great because we have no water pressure without it...City water gives us no pressure.  (Another problem).

My relay is exactly like Chuck's so I'm assuming I need to replace it.  I'm in taccoa, GA at a campground... I'll look for an electrical supply place.

Can't tell you how much I appreciate your help!
If you can't find it locally, you have time to order it online now that you've bypassed your relay.


This should be a direct replacement for your OEM relay:

Amazon.com: Standard Motor Products LR35 Relay: Automotive


However, many of us have switched to the Finder relay shown above by Mike.  It seems to be built better and adds a manual switch/breaker reset.  It is also a direct replacement...no re-wiring req'd.  I believe this is the right version:

Amazon.com: FINDER 20.21.9.012.0000 CONTACTOR, SPST-NO, 12VDC, DIN-RAIL:...

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #15 –
Call City Electrical Supply in Eastanolle just south of Toccoa. Also Black Electrical in Seneca, SC.
Alan & Gerri Ortiz
1996 U295 36 ft.
"Rocinante"
Hartwell, Georgia
1999 Subaru Forester
Build No. 4957 Motorcader 17399

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #16 –
We had a pump problem on our U300 on the last trip to Charleston, SC. Turned out to be a bad ground wire on the pump. While we were visiting Bill and Jo at had our coach in Bill's super shop, I moved the ground wire to one of the fasteners by the door so it's easy to see when you open the door from the outside. Cured the intermittent problem.

The OEM Volkswagen relay can be found on ebay but frequently is expensive. There are Asian clones with just a different part number available at lots of parts stores as well as ebay. I think Autozone has it. Just make sure it's a LATCHING relay.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)
 

Re: Water pump switch issue

Reply #18 –
Thanks all.  The Amazon links are amazingly helpful as all the photos.

I feel loved!

I'll check the shops here.  If not I'll order and have shipped where I can get it.

BTW may have found my low pressure on City water.  I think a defective built in pressure regulator.  I took it out of the loop and used one at the faucet.  So far...so good.
Doug & Meyka Paddock
1996 U295