Toilet Flush Pump not working

[kev54]

Hi font-of-all-knowledge funsters. Toilet flush has decided not to work. 2013 Fiat Ducato-base Bessacarr E412.
Just embarking on first trip of the year to northern France and resting at Canterbury P+R before channel crossing tomorrow.
In the grand scheme of things, this is not disastrous in any way - a bottle of SolBio/water will do the biz.

However, I would be grateful for some experience/suggestions about the failure and possible resolution of this issue. It was working fine last October.

 

[Landy Andy]

Are you sure you have a “toilet flush”. Or are you just operating the vans water pump. If you are check the fuse that is on the locker where your toilet cassette is. Are you getting any lights on the toilet flush panel?

 

[kev54]

Thanks Landy Andy. No idea about that differentiation. Not aware of a fuse in the locker. No lights on the flush panel, but I don’t think I ever did. This is the situation. The only lights happen when the cassette is full - and we removed that mechanism 3 years ago because it kept getting disconnected during cleaning. The flush kept working until now. The lights in the bathroom dip slightly (we’re on leisure battery) when I press the button, but no action.
Have removed and re-set the cassette - no change

 

[royandsharont]

On my 2012 Bessacarr E640G I had a separate toilet water tank and therefore a separate flush pump. It was a transverse fixed toilet with a filled tank from outside just above the cassette. If this sounds like yours I’m sure it will be the same. To the left of the toilet seat as you look at it, by the flush button I seem to recall, there’s an oval flap which can be gingerly removed giving access to the actual flush tank. The small blue thetford pump is visible inside of there and connected with waterproof connection leads. You can reach inside and pull the pump up if you have a small hand.

Mine used to seize every winter when not used. I used to run it every month to try and avoid that but in the end it just seized and I’d have to release the impeller manually and lubricate it. It worked like this for 9 years then I couldn’t get it to go.

Also if I tried to get it working when seized I would sometimes blow the fuse which was inside the cassette compartment up the top so I’d have to change the fuse too. In the end I had to replace the pump before I sold the van.

If this sounds like yours I hope this info helps kev54

PS just seen your photo, the handle needs pulling off and then you can lift that flap

 

[kev54]

On my 2012 Bessacarr E640G I had a separate toilet water tank and therefore a separate flush pump. It was a transverse fixed toilet with a filled tank from outside just above the cassette. If this sounds like yours I’m sure it will be the same. To the left of the toilet seat as you look at it, by the flush button I seem to recall, there’s an oval flap which can be gingerly removed giving access to the actual flush tank. The small blue thetford pump is visible inside of there and connected with waterproof connection leads. You can reach inside and pull the pump up if you have a small hand.

Mine used to seize every winter when not used. I used to run it every month to try and avoid that but in the end it just seized and I’d have to release the impeller manually and lubricate it. It worked like this for 9 years then I couldn’t get it to go.

Also if I tried to get it working when seized I would sometimes blow the fuse which was inside the cassette compartment up the top so I’d have to change the fuse too. In the end I had to replace the pump before I sold the van.

If this sounds like yours I hope this info helps kev54

Thanks royandsharont that sounds very much likely! Yes transverse fixed toilet. Yes the flush is filled from outside above the cassette. Will have a poke about tomorrow - but your comments sound spot-on! Thank you

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[royandsharont]

kev54 Did you see the PS re the handle.

 

[kev54]

PS just seen your photo, the handle needs pulling off and then you can lift that flap

Wonderful! Thank you very much for that. Lots of fun ahead!

 

[kev54]

Thanks royandsharont that sounds very much likely! Yes transverse fixed toilet. Yes the flush is filled from outside above the cassette. Will have a poke about tomorrow - but your comments sound spot-on! Thank you

No fuse blown. I guess it’s under here??

 

[whisky walker]

Just looking at the picture I would check the red crimped connector they do have an habit of corroding or coming adrift.

Cheers

 

[royandsharont]

No fuse blown. I guess it’s under here??



View attachment 1044608

kev54 No the fuse isn’t in that water tank. From memory if I reached into the cassette cavity from the door & on the right hand side a spade fuse pushed vertically upwards. You would not have noticed it if you were not told where it was. I think it may have been a pink one, it’s only very small at 2/5 amp I seem to recall. You are fast seeing it using a mirror inside the cassette space.

That white dish shown in your photo with the electric wires going through it sepearates the handle from the tank. Carefully lift it out by pressure to each side whilst pulling up. It then reveals the tank below that is filled from the outside and the pump. You can hopefully just get your hand through to get the pump which sits it the bottom.

This is doing my memory good, last did this around March 2021, surprising what I can recall really

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[kev54]

kev54 No the fuse isn’t in that water tank. From memory if I reached into the cassette cavity from the door & on the right hand side a spade fuse pushed vertically upwards. You would not have noticed it if you were not told where it was. I think it may have been a pink one, it’s only very small at 2/5 amp I seem to recall. You are fast seeing it using a mirror inside the cassette space.

That white dish shown in your photo with the electric wires going through it sepearates the handle from the tank. Carefully lift it out by pressure to each side whilst pulling up. It then reveals the tank below that is filled from the outside and the pump. You can hopefully just get your hand through to get the pump which sits it the bottom.

This is doing my memory good, last did this around March 2021, surprising what I can recall really

Thanks so much royandsharont really good info. Job for tomorrow…

 

[Riverbankannie]

Our fuse has blown and I have never managed to get a finger on it to get it out. By chance, I watched a tip yesterday to use the prongs of a second fuse sideways to get a hold under the end of the fuse stuck in the holder.
I just use a spray bottle with pink in now and saves the bother of filling the separate toilet flush.

 

[kev54]

kev54 No the fuse isn’t in that water tank. From memory if I reached into the cassette cavity from the door & on the right hand side a spade fuse pushed vertically upwards. You would not have noticed it if you were not told where it was. I think it may have been a pink one, it’s only very small at 2/5 amp I seem to recall. You are fast seeing it using a mirror inside the cassette space.

That white dish shown in your photo with the electric wires going through it sepearates the handle from the tank. Carefully lift it out by pressure to each side whilst pulling up. It then reveals the tank below that is filled from the outside and the pump. You can hopefully just get your hand through to get the pump which sits it the bottom.

This is doing my memory good, last did this around March 2021, surprising what I can recall really

Thanks royandsharont Found the fuse and it is fine. Cables all appear uncorroded. Got the dish out and I reckon the only hand that could get at the pump would belong to someone too young to understand what’s needed!
The amount of external dismantling to get into that space looks far to serious to be tackled.
Like Riverbankannie we have a spray with SolBio and water and that will do until we sell the van.

 

[Jeff B]

I have just changed my Pump as it had seized you can get your hand in to grab the hose and it will pull out the pump if you watch you tube there are few on there showing how its done

 

[kev54]

I have just changed my Pump as it had seized you can get your hand in to grab the hose and it will pull out the pump if you watch you tube there are few on there showing how its done

Thanks Jeff B it feels like it is in a closed-off space and I was afraid to hoik too hard. I’ll have a trawl through YouTube and see if I can understand how to do it

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Riverbankannie]

When an IH fitter changed our pump at Malvern Show, he just pulled out the old one by the wires. He also easily checked the fuse in the cassette compartment but of course with his arm filling the hole I couldn’t see - so I know it’s there somewhere