Dodgy pump?

greylag
greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
Name Dropper
edited March 2018 in Motorhomes #1

Having posted on here about scratched windows and getting prepared to heed all of the advice, our 2 night annual shakedown trip to a local site and we appear to have water problems. 

The system appeared to struggle to purge the air out, spluttering and not the pressure I am sure we had last year.

We then became aware that the pump was running for no apparent reason, not the usual open tap noise which then runs for a few seconds and stops.  I turned the system off at the main point on the control panel and upon turning it back on the pump did not run, all was normal.  It did this once more before we called it a day and went home a night early.

The handbook is not much help, merely saying that there is a filter which should be cleaned regularly...in the attached picture is it the small thing to the left of the pump?

Not due to use the van until next week, so not desperate...just like things to work as they should.

cmc.jpg 188.7K

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2018 #2

    It looks like it to me, the clear plastic bit unscrews. The filter will be a separate removable part. You could always refit the filter cap without the filter just to test the system.

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited March 2018 #3

    Good idea!    Thanks.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2018 #4

    ok, the filter 'can' cause problems in extremely cold weather, where following a drain down, the filter hasn't been emptied....a small amount of water can reside in it....

    if this freezes, it's possible for it to crack the housing....this might mean that air is being sucked in via the crack and the pump is never being fully primed with water...

    i would check the filter housing...

    good luck.

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited March 2018 #5

    Bolero....many thanks, having oil change tomorrow, will attack water after.

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited March 2018 #6

    Cleaned the filter, re-bled the system and appears to be working as it should, next trip will see if all is ok.

    Thanks for your relies.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2018 #7

    good man....enjoysmile

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited March 2018 #8

    Spoke too soon, had a night away to test it and it soon played up.

    I thought I would try and contact Shurflo's tech team if they had one, but nothing comes up in my search.  I'm guessing they may be foreign and sold under another name.

    If anyone can point me in the correct direction I would appreciate it.

    If push comes to shove, I will only turn the water on when we want some and not as we usually do upon arrival.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2018 #9

    Try here

    http://shurflo.com/customer-support

  • ForestR
    ForestR Forum Participant Posts: 326
    100 Comments
    edited March 2018 #10

    Try downloading ' pump troubleshooting guide-shurflo' which gives solutions to a lot of problems.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2018 #11

    Manuals with troubleshooting advice here:

    http://shurflo.com/rv-products/rv-education-center/193-rv-product-manuals

  • ForestR
    ForestR Forum Participant Posts: 326
    100 Comments
    edited March 2018 #12

    Should have said we had similar problems but with a truma ultraflow system with a flowjet pump. First time it was a cracked filter which whilst it did not leak could let in air. Next time it was a crack in the ultraflow compact water inlet housing which again let in air but did not leak water. Problem solved by replacing them.

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited March 2018 #13

    Whoa!  I wasn't expecting this sort of help so soon.  I have no idea why I struggled with my search...I hate asking for help searching, but I do appreciate the help none the less.

     

    Message sent!

    American product via Belgium............

    Well done...EasyT and ForestR

    Thanks.

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited March 2018 #14

    Well, I had a very prompt email reply......

    'Thanks for your email.

    Unfortunately, we cannot deal with end-customers directly, please liaise with your supplier further about your claim.

    They can start the claim process with us, then. 

    I hope to have helped you with this information.'

    What claim process?

    As it will no doubt cost a tidy packet for the dealer to investigate and solve, for the sake of turning the pump on when we want water I will live with it.

    Many thanks for your help.

  • antirampman
    antirampman Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited March 2018 #15

    check the push fit connections on the input side of the pump and filter these are designed for pressure not suction really and can become loose I have just had the same problem and that was the cause

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited March 2018 #16

    Anti....thanks for that, I will  try that later.

  • TonyIshUK
    TonyIshUK Forum Participant Posts: 296
    100 Comments
    edited April 2018 #17

    It might pay to have a look under the heater area on the chassis to check there are no drips.  

    Some times the drain valve seats do not reseal properly if left open and then closed after a winter break. A slight leak can cause air to enter the system.

    if there is a leak, just opening and closing the valves usually does the trick. 

    Normally there are two valves that drain the system, one for the heater (drains the hot water cylinder) and one for the rest of the system.

    Rgds

     

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2018 #18

    good point from Tony, even a small drip will be enough to turn the pump over periodically...

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited April 2018 #19

    Again thanks...I will check.

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 585 ✭
    Name Dropper
    edited April 2018 #20

    Well, we put up with pump and went away and it failed again.  Knowing we are due away on the 24th for 15 days, I was getting a bit panicky at finding someone to help out.  Most of the people I tried were too busy or going away on courses?

    Then my wife found a mobile engineer based 6 miles away, who said he would try and give me a look next week....phew!

    5 hours later he phoned and said that he was close by and would call in and see what was doing.

    Result....40 minutes later and I have a reasonably priced new pump plus fitting.......he is confident that this will cure the problem.

    What a difference in attitudes of tradesmen.

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