Fresh water Pump

[KezandPhil]

Morning All

Hope everyone is well. I have an issue with the domestic water pump not working. When you switch that tap on to call for water you can see the leisure battery v drops but nothing , no water, no noise, nothing. The converter has suggested the next step would be to check the pipes are connected to the tank and pump, tank was easy to find but where is the pump normally ?

Also, completely unrelated I think but just in case. It’s been a while since the van was used and found what looks like a strange substance under the van when I moved it yesterday, image below / attached. Any ideas what it is ? Lilkely to be anything to do with the van ?


Thanks

 

[Pete C]

What sort of fresh water container do you have - under slung or removable canister in the van ?

It is likely that the pump is seized for some reason.

Pete

 

[KezandPhil]

Hi Pete

It’s an underslung Tank.

 

[Pete C]

Your converter should be able to advise how to get access to the pump, or post some pictures, and others may be able to advise.

Did you drain it completely after you last used the van ?

It would also be worth checking the electrics to the pump. The voltage may drop, but a poor connection could also be the cause. If you can get 12v direct to the pump that could prove it is or isn’t the tap switch. Measuring the current that the pump is drawing would also help.

Pete

 

[KezandPhil]

Thanks Pete.

Have emailed the converter to ask and will post some pics in a while.

Did I fully drain it, TBH first van I have ever had and was not aware you needed to do that ? It sounds like that is something that is known to cause issues ? So anyway answer is no it was not fully drained, am racking my memory now but am sure the converter never mentioned this during handover ….

If only there was an Owners Handbook you got with your van, surely this is something your converter should supply to explain everything

 

[Pete C]

Yes, you need to drain the tank. Firstly because the water will go off and mould etc will form, and secondly because the water will freeze, and crack the tank or damage the pump.
There will be a drain hole somewhere. Open it up into a bowl, and see what comes out.

Pete

 

[Pete C]

Yes, you should get a manual, but a lot of people apparently don’t.

Pete

 

[KezandPhil]

Bit of an update, success on getting to know what the green stuff was….. washing up liquid, have cleared that from the drainage hose.

On the water tank question have found what I think is the water pump, picture below. Water was fairly clean to be honest so beginning to think the pump has failed. Does click when you switch the tap on.

 

[Pete C]

Looks like a pump to me. Not sure how you go about replacing it, once you have tested that it is getting the full 12 volts.

Pete

 

[Pete C]

Info on cleansing the tank here:

Fresh water system, maintenance advice

Hi, I'm hoping to get some advice/tips about using and maintaining the fresh water system in our van. I've searched this forum and used Google, but I could not find any related information for our setup. We have an onboard 10L removable plastic tank which is fed to the sink via an electric pump...

www.t6forum.com

 

[DXX]

If the pump had seized I would have expected the fuse to blow when the tap was operated (If correctly rated fuse is fitted).
You mention that you can see the leisure battery voltage drop when you operate the pump, are you sure the leisure battery is in good shape? It’s possible to show 12v but not be able to deal with the load.

 

[KezandPhil]

Info on cleansing the tank here:

Fresh water system, maintenance advice

Hi, I'm hoping to get some advice/tips about using and maintaining the fresh water system in our van. I've searched this forum and used Google, but I could not find any related information for our setup. We have an onboard 10L removable plastic tank which is fed to the sink via an electric pump...

www.t6forum.com

Thanks Peter very useful.

 

[KezandPhil]

If the pump had seized I would have expected the fuse to blow when the tap was operated (If correctly rated fuse is fitted).
You mention that you can see the leisure battery voltage drop when you operate the pump, are you sure the leisure battery is in good shape? It’s possible to show 12v but not be able to deal with the load.

Thanks DXX, I think the battery is ok but not sure how to check it.

 

[DXX]

Thanks DXX, I think the battery is ok but not sure how to check it.

With the charger disconnected connect a multimeter to the leisure battery terminals to measure DC voltage
The water pump probably draws about 3 to 5A max so you shouldn’t see a big drop in the battery voltage when the pump is operated.
If you are not sure a battery specialist can test it with a load tester and may even do it for free.
As you have access to the pump you can also remove it and test it on another battery such as the starter battery.

 

[KezandPhil]

Thanks DXX. If it is an issue with the battery can I cut this out of the equation by plugging in the Mains Electric to the van through the EHU ?

 

[DXX]

Thanks DXX. If it is an issue with the battery can I cut this out of the equation by plugging in the Mains Electric to the van through the EHU ?

I’m not sure what you have installed but the best solution is to replace the leisure battery if defective.