Please can anyone help with a water pump?

[Hedgewitch]

Going away tomorrow morning. The water pump which worked perfectly three weeks ago when I was flushing out the system does not work today. But 'not working' I mean that the 'power' light does not come on when pump is switched on - there is water in the fresh tank.

Have changed fuse. Pump is powered from leisure battery which is charged. Lights and fridge (same battery) working fine. No difference whether I am on battery only or plugged into EHU.

Pump is in the bottom of the most inaccessible cupboard known to man (or woman) - VW campervan. These are the best photos I can manage without needing a physio or chiropractor.
It is a Shurflo pump, no idea of the model number (although what I would do with that knowledge is open to interpretation!) and does anyone please have any ideas what the heck could have gone wrong since I last used it?

Many thanks

 

[steve69]

One trick is to take the shower head off and suck the end to draw water into the pump to prime it - whilst running of course.
I did this the other day when my pump just would not prime itself. Worked a treat.

 

[pappajohn]

Does the pump run at all when switched on?
You may have to get your ear near it.

 

[MisterB]

Does the pump run at all when switched on?
You may have to get your ear near it.

If you can't get your ear near it, use a screwdriver (pointy end on the pump !) and you can hear/feel if the pump is turning. It's a truck I learnt during my plumbing apprenticeship almost 50 years ago to test central heating pumps.

 

[Hedgewitch]

Thank you steve69, pappajohn and MisterB

I am going to have a much needed lunch break and when the frustration level has dropped I will try the shower head thing for priming it. At present, the pump definitely does not run (I would hear it if it did).

Thanks for offering help so quickly.

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[MichaelT]

If you have a multi meter is there 12v at the pump?

 

[funflair]

If the power light isn't coming on it suggests no power is going to the pump so doubt that sucking to prime it will help, you should be able to hear it running as they are not the quietest.

 

[yorkiebar]

If a power light isn't coming on then you've an electrical issue, not an airlock issue. Where is the power light situated ? On a control panel ?

 

[Rollingwheels]

You can try taking a live off from somewhere else that you know is working, if the pump runs than definitely an electric supply problem, you can then perhaps temporarily connect a live to the switch to get you over the problem until someone can look at it

 

[Lenny HB]

It could be a faulty microswitch on the pump see if it runs if you short out the 2 red wires in your photo.

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[Hedgewitch]

Once again, THANK YOU to the amazing MHF community.

I now have running water - and I have no idea what was wrong or what has fixed it. After stepping away for an hour I went back to the van to try priming the pump (an airlock would have made sense, so steve69 's suggestion was a good starting point).

But before trying that I thought "let's just turn it on again and see if the switch on the panel lights up" - and the b*gger did, and immediately I could hear the pump running and there is now water coming out of the tap as it should . funflair is right - these pumps are not quiet things. Perhaps there was an airlock which just needed time to work through? Perhaps the pump has a (previously unknown) micro-switch that prevents activation until it is full of water?

I have no idea what is happening but this is not the only seemingly "OMG" problem I have had since 06.00 today which has, after a little while, been sorted with barely a whimper.
But this was the 3rd so that will do for one day, thank you very much.

And it is worth repeating - to everyone who replied - all support very much appreciated, x

 

[Spriddler]

But before trying that I thought "let's just turn it on again and see if the switch on the panel lights up" - and the b*gger did, and immediately I could hear the pump running and there is now water coming out of the tap as it should

I suspect it's a dodgy pump panel switch and operating it several times has cleaned up the internal contacts.

 

[L' Hobo]

I suspect it's a dodgy pump panel switch and operating it several times has cleaned up the internal contacts.

Perhaps a little spray of contact cleaner would not go amiss? +

If haven't already got one, a spare water pump.
If I have problems with mine, the first thing I do is connect the input water side (this gives me a chance to check the filter) and the power and see if the spare one works.

If it doesn't, at least you have eliminated the pump as the source of your problems in about 25mins.

 

[Hedgewitch]

I suspect it's a dodgy pump panel switch and operating it several times has cleaned up the internal contacts.

Next week when I don't have any deadlines there is a panel I can take off to access all the connections for the bank of switches which includes the water pump, and it will be worth doing so just to know that I can and see for myself what is in a part of the van I have never needed to explore.

 

[denisejoe]

Sounds like the pump is has gone why do converters put them in stupid places ours took all day to change only because of the position of it couldn’t be in a position to do anything for more than 3 minutes this looks like your one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35532973...pid=5339023013&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

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[L' Hobo]

Sounds like the pump is has gone why do converters put them in stupid places ours took all day to change only because of the position of it couldn’t be in a position to do anything for more than 3 minutes this looks like your one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35532973...pid=5339023013&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

Totally agree, why do they?
As stated above, my Shurflo pump, now takes me 25mins to change it (but only 10 minutes to check it) because, I moved it to just behind the rear door on my PVC, from the back/bottom of my wardrobe.

On a hot day like today, 27C, it would have taken me about 3 hours and a bucketful of sweat!
To be honest, it wouldn't have got done in that heat!