Waste water valve won't open

[Hils and Glenns]

Hi I can't open the waste valve on our Hymer. It's an electric switch. I've just put in new leisure batteries if that's significant. Could it just be stuck? It did stick once before but just righted itself or is it going to be an electrical fault? If it's a fuse where would I find it? Any help appreciated.

 

[daveclare]

If you are desperate to open it and it looks like this. Some are fitted to German,French and UK vans.

You can turn the small blue wheel, which is the manual override. Turning it one way, then the other will open and close the valve. Ours jammed with a piece of plastic which somehow went down the plughole.

 

[Hils and Glenns]

If you are desperate to open it and it looks like this. Some are fitted to German,French and UK vans.
View attachment 761567
You can turn the small blue wheel, which is the manual override. Turning it one way, then the other will open and close the valve. Ours jammed with a piece of plastic which somehow went down the plughole.

Thanks I'll have a look later. The tank isn't full so not desperate yet.

 

[Hils and Glenns]

daveclare We can't find anything like a valve underneath. I think it may be a fuse gone. Have you any idea where the fuse might be?

 

[daveclare]

No, sorry. Can't you try and trace the outlet pipe, to see if it's inside the body somewhere. I appreciate it might mean getting on your hands and knees and having a rummage underneath. I'm surprised somebody hasn't got a similar motorhome to assist. But good luck.

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[MisterB]

if all else fails, you could remove the electric motor that turns the open/closed valve. its the big orange bit with a wire to it.
its probably secured by a brass screw thread knob to the valve itself. if you remove the motor, you can physically turn the shaft of the valve into the open position, using pliers or a spanner

be careful of spills and try to do it so that youre away from the outlet - wouldnt want wet pants would we ...!

 

[Hils and Glenns]

if all else fails, you could remove the electric motor that turns the open/closed valve. its the big orange bit with a wire to it.
its probably secured by a brass screw thread knob to the valve itself. if you remove the motor, you can physically turn the shaft of the valve into the open position, using pliers or a spanner

be careful of spills and try to do it so that youre away from the outlet - wouldnt want wet pants would we ...!

Actually I think the switch is working. You can hear it when you have your head inside the waste tank. We've tried putting an arm down but we haven't got long enough arms. I can't see anything that might be a valve on the outside just the waste pipe.

 

[The Wino]

Actually I think the switch is working. You can hear it when you have your head inside the waste tank. We've tried putting an arm down but we haven't got long enough arms. I can't see anything that might be a valve on the outside just the waste pipe.

How do you get access to get your head in the waste tank?

 

[Hils and Glenns]

How do you get access to get your head in the waste tank?

Well it was a bit of an exaggeration just an arm in actually

 

[The Wino]

Well it was a bit of an exaggeration just an arm in actually

Even so you couldn't with ours. You could get your arm in the fresh tank pretty easily as it has a screw on lid but not the waste.

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[MisterB]

Actually I think the switch is working. You can hear it when you have your head inside the waste tank. We've tried putting an arm down but we haven't got long enough arms. I can't see anything that might be a valve on the outside just the waste pipe.

if it sounds like the switch is working and activating the motor, then why do you think its an issue to do with the fuse?

it could be that the shaft on the motor has snapped or worn to such an extent that it doesnt engage the spindle, so the motor turns but doesnt turn the open/close spindle

 

[Hils and Glenns]

if it sounds like the switch is working and activating the motor, then why do you think its an issue to do with the fuse?

it could be that the shaft on the motor has snapped or worn to such an extent that it doesnt engage the spindle, so the motor turns but doesnt turn the open/close spindle

Yes I think that's the problem. We've just found the manual override and trying to empty it with that.

 

[pappajohn]

Get something thin, blunt and flexible and poke it up the waste pipe.
Something like a net curtain wire would be ideal.
If the motors working it could be crap and gunge blocking the pipe or inside the tank outlet hole.

 

[Hils and Glenns]

Thanks for the suggestion. We tried that but it didn't work. We've managed to empty using the manual valve.