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Old 05-19-2016, 08:39 PM   #1
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Water pump makes whine noise but no water

We just arrived at camp, and the water pump is not pumping. It is making a whining noise so I think it is working. The water tank is full. I opened the drain valve and water came out, and the monitor panel shows all lights lit for the tank. I saw a prior post that suggested sucking on the sink to break a lock and I did that with the pump turned on but no luck. I removed the filter and found it was clean. Does anyone else have a suggestion what to try?

I recall this happening before when we switched from using city water to the pump and it just started working after a few hours but I hesitate to leave the pump whining away for hours.

I'll call ETI tomorrow when I can get to cell service. This campground in Mesa Verde NP has great wifi but no cell coverage.
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Old 05-19-2016, 09:02 PM   #2
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Bill - sometimes those pumps just don't want to prime. Some of them can be damaged by running for long periods of time dry I'm not sure about the one you have. If it were mine, I would keep trying to turn the pump on for a short time and then off again, and keep trying and see if it eventually primes itself.
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Old 05-19-2016, 09:06 PM   #3
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It might be an air lock in the pump, turn the pump on, turn on the kitchen tap and suck on it. Once the air is drawn out of the pump it should start working. Kind of reminds you of siphoning gas without the after taste LOL.
This happened the odd time with my 19.

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Old 05-19-2016, 09:37 PM   #4
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Now, I don't know about this, but if y'all are going to be sucking on the sink faucet we need some pics.

Might be the strainer at the pump is clogged. Pretty easy to unscrew the basket and clean it.
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Old 05-19-2016, 10:04 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by bdornbush View Post
We just arrived at camp, and the water pump is not pumping. It is making a whining noise so I think it is working. The water tank is full. I opened the drain valve and water came out, and the monitor panel shows all lights lit for the tank. I saw a prior post that suggested sucking on the sink to break a lock and I did that with the pump turned on but no luck. I removed the filter and found it was clean. Does anyone else have a suggestion what to try?

I recall this happening before when we switched from using city water to the pump and it just started working after a few hours but I hesitate to leave the pump whining away for hours.

I'll call ETI tomorrow when I can get to cell service. This campground in Mesa Verde NP has great wifi but no cell coverage.
Hi: bdornbush... If our pump would only turn water into whine... my wife would be thrilled!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
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Old 05-19-2016, 10:13 PM   #6
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Had a similar problem. The check valve in the pump head was jammed tight. I had to disassemble the head and push very hard to disengage the check valve. I talked to a Shurflo service rep at their office nearby. He gave me a new assembly and recommended installing an inline check valve (which I have not done yet).

Unfortunately, it took me a few days to get to the root of the problem and we were "showering" using a water container for a few days.

If desired, I can post a picture.
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Old 05-19-2016, 10:25 PM   #7
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I checked the strainer at the pump and it was clean.
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Old 05-19-2016, 10:27 PM   #8
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It would be great if you could post a picture.
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Old 05-19-2016, 11:22 PM   #9
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This is the valve that was stuck. It took quite some force to break loose. Even though I had a new head, the original seemed to function fine so I kept it as a spare.

(I stated "check valve" in my prior response, that is incorrect. It is the outlet valve. According to Shurflo, it is not a check valve.)
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Old 05-19-2016, 11:30 PM   #10
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I checked the strainer at the pump and it was clean.
Was the strainer at the pump wet? That will tell you if water is reaching the pump from the tank. If so, then you check the outlet side of the pump to see if water is passing through the pump head. If not Indian may have ur issue. If water is passing through the pump then move on down the line from there.
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Old 05-20-2016, 12:28 AM   #11
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Now, I don't know about this, but if y'all are going to be sucking on the sink faucet we need some pics.

Might be the strainer at the pump is clogged. Pretty easy to unscrew the basket and clean it.
Maybe could be what problem we had ,a cracked lid on the filter . Sometimes hard to see . We pulled it and then saw the crack . Pump will run without it . We replaced it with a better one with a high dome lid instead of flat which screen had cut . Pump couldn't prime . It was when trailer was few months old . Pat
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Old 05-20-2016, 04:26 AM   #12
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Is the hot water tank full? Mine does the same until it fills the HW tank.
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Old 05-20-2016, 01:46 PM   #13
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Stuck valves or internal leakage in the pump head, and air leaking into the suction side (such as the cracked filter housing) seem likely.

It shouldn't be a problem in air in the lines after the pump, because that wouldn't stop water from pushing through.
It shouldn't be a problem with priming the pump, because modern RV pumps self-prime over a substantial height - my motorhome's tank suction is a couple feet below the pump, and it has no problem even after (briefly) running dry, and this is a common situation of both motorhomes and trailers with underfloor water tanks.
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Old 05-20-2016, 09:11 PM   #14
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I called ETI and spoke with Reace today. He told me that they have had problems with Shurflo pumps check valves and are now using another brand. He told me he would send a new pump since it has happened twice to me. He also texted some photos and instructions to try to free up the check valve. However, the instructions assume that my pump head is above the motor rather than below the motor so that it can be accessed from above, and that is not the case so I will work on it when I can turn the pump upside down from its current orientation. I don't want to risk the pump parts falling out when I open the pump head and leaving me with a (more) broken water system. I will post my results when I have been able to try the instructions.
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Old 05-20-2016, 09:14 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by bdornbush View Post
I called ETI and spoke with Reace today. He told me that they have had problems with Shurflo pumps check valves and are now using another brand. He told me he would send a new pump since it has happened twice to me. He also texted some photos and instructions to try to free up the check valve. However, the instructions assume that my pump head is above the motor rather than below the motor so that it can be accessed from above, and that is not the case so I will work on it when I can turn the pump upside down from its current orientation. I don't want to risk the pump parts falling out when I open the pump head and leaving me with a (more) broken water system. I will post my results when I have been able to try the instructions.
Did he say which brand?
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Old 05-21-2016, 09:03 AM   #16
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He didn't. I will let you know when it arrives.
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Old 05-21-2016, 09:38 AM   #17
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I called ETI and spoke with Reace today. He told me that they have had problems with Shurflo pumps check valves and are now using another brand. He told me he would send a new pump since it has happened twice to me. He also texted some photos and instructions to try to free up the check valve. However, the instructions assume that my pump head is above the motor rather than below the motor so that it can be accessed from above, and that is not the case so I will work on it when I can turn the pump upside down from its current orientation. I don't want to risk the pump parts falling out when I open the pump head and leaving me with a (more) broken water system. I will post my results when I have been able to try the instructions.
My check valve failed after one year. Unfortunately, I've already ordered and received the new Shurflo replacement.
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Old 05-31-2016, 05:06 PM   #18
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I returned from my trip and was able to get the pump working again. I had to remove the pump head and push on the check valve to get it loose enough to function again. In my Escape 19, the pump was mounted with the head down. In newer Escapes (mine is exactly one year old but changes happen) the pump is mounted with the pump head up and with an access door so you can work on the pump without having to remove it. I had to remove it to be able to take the head off and free up the check valve. I remounted it with the head up. I am now waiting for the replacement pump, and oh joy, I get to take this one out and put a new one in!
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Old 05-31-2016, 05:22 PM   #19
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Timing is everything. About an hour after I remounted my old water pump, UPS arrived with the new one: An Artis PDS3B-230-1260E pump. I think I'll wait a day before replacing the old one....
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