No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

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No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

December 30, 2015, 08:49:21 am

Tried to top up our fresh water tank yesterday before leaving our camp spot......nothing. Neither fill switch worked, no light, no function. Never had a problem before.

DID have a problem the night before hooking up to campground pedestal. Dark when we plugged in, connector felt funny, realized after it was done that plug on pedestal was loose. Went inside coach, all normal, for a few seconds...then flashing lights, horrid sounds, voltage monitor dropped to zero, swung up, settled at 110, then jumped to 120.....all in so short a time that reacting to it was impossible. Nancy just happened to be looking at the monitor she had come in to check. Park maintenance put bolts into socket that were missing, and nothing more noted on coach at that time.

Pedestal issue could be unrelated to the water fill problem, but thought I'd mention it. Water pump works, but soon when the tank runs dry, harsh halt to trip looms. Don't know where to start looking to isolate source of issue. Where are the fuses, where might I track voltages, etc? Searched the forum, but different models don't look like what I am seeing in lower big bay or behind front panels.

Ideas where to start...please. Thanks.

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #1 – December 30, 2015, 08:56:38 am

Weather conditions in your location? Could something be frozen?

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #2 – December 30, 2015, 08:59:00 am

Give this a try---- turn off the water pressure pump, turn off the hose attaching to the coach. Press the water fill switch and see if you get a lite. If you do, then turn on the hose and away you go. If you don't get a lite, wait a few seconds and try the switch again. On my coach it sometimes takes a couple of tries to get the water fill solenoid to latch in.

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #3 – December 30, 2015, 09:07:24 am

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – December 30, 2015, 08:56:38 am

Weather conditions in your location? Could something be frozen?

Definitely COLD here in Phoenix area past few days, but had bay heat on with temp monitors in two basement locations, all good. Water system working fine, even taps in utility locker. Don't think that is an issue, did fills prior days when it was colder, so not likely even supply hose frozen. Switch in utility locker didn't light from first try after hooked up water.

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #4 – December 30, 2015, 09:11:29 am

Quote from: Kemahjohn – December 30, 2015, 08:59:00 am

Give this a try---- turn off the water pressure pump, turn off the hose attaching to the coach. Press the water fill switch and see if you get a lite. If you do, then turn on the hose and away you go. If you don't get a lite, wait a few seconds and try the switch again. On my coach it sometimes takes a couple of tries to get the water fill solenoid to latch in.

Not at a water supply since yesterday morning, but water pump was off (except briefly), tried several times, never got a light at the switches. Is the light powered off the solenoid? Thought it would be powered off the switch relay.

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #5 – December 30, 2015, 09:24:14 am

See if you have power to the electric switch at the valve. If not the fuse needs to be replaced. If you have power then the fill valve attached to the switch needs to be replaced. If it is the original it's due if it has been replaced the new version has a manual turn knob on top you can use till you replace it. The cave is located behind the pump and blue accumulator. I took the shelf and wall out to make it easy to reach when I had my is due a number of years ago.

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #6 – December 30, 2015, 09:55:29 am

Could be the relay that controls the fill switches. It's called a latching relay and its failure will cause this problem. I've attached two photos: One shows the original latching relays (fill and pump, both labelled "radio switch monoplex") on a 99 320 and the other shows the replacement latching relay on our present 95. If this is the problem you can pick up the replacement online for a reasonable price. There are a number of posts on this which you can find by searching for "latching relay."

You might consider modifying your tank for a direct fill. It would make for a great backup for this problem. Good luck.
for

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #7 – December 30, 2015, 10:14:29 am

Quote from: John S – December 30, 2015, 09:24:14 am

See if you have power to the electric switch at the valve. If not the fuse needs to be replaced. If you have power then the fill valve attached to the switch needs to be replaced. If it is the original it's due if it has been replaced the new version has a manual turn knob on top you can use till you replace it. The cave is located behind the pump and blue accumulator. I took the shelf and wall out to make it easy to reach when I had my is due a number of years ago.

Thanks John....complete newbie here, got coach at end of May & few issues. I'm guessing I have to pull panels in one or both of the rear lockers? Is that the shelf in the right (passenger) side locker in my 97? I'm assuming it is all 12 volt I'm checking? Are the fuses in there or elsewhere?

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #8 – December 30, 2015, 10:26:01 am

Quote from: jor – December 30, 2015, 09:55:29 am

Could be the relay that controls the fill switches. It's called a latching relay and its failure will cause this problem. I've attached two photos: One shows the original latching relays (fill and pump, both labelled "radio switch monoplex") on a 99 320 and the other shows the replacement latching relay on our present 95. If this is the problem you can pick up the replacement online for a reasonable price. There are a number of posts on this which you can find by searching for "latching relay."

Thanks jor,

If the basic electrical stuff doesn't solve the problem, I'll move on to your suggestions. I assume all this is behind one of the "walls" in the rear utility lockers near the water tank? Where exactly, and if not there, where?

I'm all for back-ups, so after I get a look at all this, I'll read the other posts and check things out. Likely get a replacement even if get things to working if the original is still in there. Not a matter of "if fails" but "when fails" after 18 years I guess.

Thanks, Jack

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #9 – December 30, 2015, 11:59:17 am

The latching relay is behind the white panel in the lower bay.

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #10 – December 30, 2015, 12:58:50 pm

Quote from: John S – December 30, 2015, 11:59:17 am

The latching relay is behind the white panel in the lower bay.

Can't access the coach right now, John, it's in a diesel shop service bay. Want to get info while I can.

Left or right side? Left on our coach is sewer, water, electrical locker. Right is various valve controls.
Thanks, Jack

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #11 – December 30, 2015, 06:13:34 pm

Quote

The latching relay is behind the white panel in the lower bay.

Here's where it is on a 99 36' 320.
jor

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #12 – December 30, 2015, 08:49:45 pm

mine is on the back side of the same side and bay and on my 99 270 it was in the location that was pictures. The valve I was talking about is on the passenger side behind the pump.

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #13 – December 30, 2015, 09:08:43 pm

jor and John S,
Thanks so much, work now done on Cummins, got a camp spot back at our original park (the one before the pedestal issue), and at first light (well maybe not exactly first light, but early) I will be climbing around the bays to find what you two have so kindly pointed me towards. Hopefully, with your directions, I get lucky early with finding something like a blown fuse, but if not, I sure appreciate the support on here. Thanks, Jack

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #14 – January 02, 2016, 10:45:22 am

Well, problem now diagnosed at least. The fill latching relay was "reluctant" but not completely dead yet, so I got it going for a fill. It can be persuaded to work by moving it, for now. We are back to Phoenix next week, when I will pick up a replacement and a spare (on the go too much right now to know where we'll be to order it online). THANKS for all the advice.

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No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

December 30, 2015, 08:49:21 am

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #1 – December 30, 2015, 08:56:38 am

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #2 – December 30, 2015, 08:59:00 am

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #3 – December 30, 2015, 09:07:24 am

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #4 – December 30, 2015, 09:11:29 am

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #5 – December 30, 2015, 09:24:14 am

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #6 – December 30, 2015, 09:55:29 am

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #7 – December 30, 2015, 10:14:29 am

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #8 – December 30, 2015, 10:26:01 am

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #9 – December 30, 2015, 11:59:17 am

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #10 – December 30, 2015, 12:58:50 pm

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #11 – December 30, 2015, 06:13:34 pm

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #12 – December 30, 2015, 08:49:45 pm

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #13 – December 30, 2015, 09:08:43 pm

Re: No Water Fill - 1997 FT U320

Reply #14 – January 02, 2016, 10:45:22 am

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