C28 Freshwater Pump Issue

[Headlee]

Hey All,

I have a 2015 C28. I visited the boat today and found that the freshwater pump does not run when faucets are turned on. I checked the 10 amp fuse and it was blown. I replaced it, but the pump still does not run and the fuse stays intact. The water tank gauge and freshwater pump switch located above the galley sink look fine. There is at least a third of a tank and the pump switch is on. I didn't have time to trouble shoot much else today. Have any of you experienced this? Do you have an idea of what would blow the fuse? All other electrical systems appear fine. Thanks.

Paul Headlee

 

[nboyer]

Paul - Probably no easy way to tell without pulling out a multimeter and start taking some voltage readings at the water pump to see if power is getting to it when you turn on the switch. If not, then you'll need to take a reading at the switch both the switched and unswitched side. Good luck. -Norm

Hey All,

I have a 2015 C28. I visited the boat today and found that the freshwater pump does not run when faucets are turned on. I checked the 10 amp fuse and it was blown. I replaced it, but the pump still does not run and the fuse stays intact. The water tank gauge and freshwater pump switch located above the galley sink look fine. There is at least a third of a tank and the pump switch is on. I didn't have time to trouble shoot much else today. Have any of you experienced this? Do you have an idea of what would blow the fuse? All other electrical systems appear fine. Thanks.

Paul Headlee

 

[knotflying]

Yes, Check to see that power is going to the pump by piercing the wire leads going to the pump. I suspect that if the fuse was blow that the pump my be shot and that is why the fuse blew.

 

[Headlee]

Thanks. I'll do some voltage testing today. If the pump is shot I'm not sure what would have caused it. It was working fine three weeks ago. I've have it in the slip and plugged in to shore power. Everything else is fine.

 

[SJI Sailor]

Not sure about the problem, but I can say that replacing the pump (at least on our boat) was quite easy, not very expensive, and a big improvement. I would personally just swap pumps -- and if that's not the problem, you still have an upgrade and a backup pump. We put in one of these and love it so far http://www.tugnuts.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16365&p=107731#p107731.

 

[Headlee]

Problem solved; but still a mystery. So, I went back to the boat today and turned on the faucet and the pump worked fine.
Then I turned off the faucet and tried it again and nothing. Very strange. So, I left the faucet in the on position, grabbed my multi-meter, crawled down into the cave and removed the wall and gained access to the pump. Before I put the multi-meter on it I tapped the side of the pump and it started running just fine. I turned the faucet off and on and it continues to work fine. Multi-meter was reading 13.34 at the pump.

I'll take it working for now, but it is still a mystery on what blew the 10 amp fuse in the first place. The pump is a Johnson 10-13406-101, 4.0 GPM. If it stops running I'll reach down in there and tap it again to see if I can get it going. Otherwise I'll consider the Johnson 5.0 GPM, 15 amp. Thanks.

 

[CAPTCRUNCH]

I would take a look at the pressure switch on the pump. When my raw water washdown pump acted this way a few years ago, I took the switch off the pump, fiddled with it, put it back on, and all good since. Wish I could remember the specifics. I do recall spending a good bit of time/effort retrieving the part that dropped into the bilge.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Another thing to check is to make sure the filter attached to the pump is not plugged up. You’d need to take it off to thoroughly inspect and or clean it out. Keep us posted.

Jim F

 

[JonR]

At minimum, sounds like the pump is right on the ragged edge of drawing too much ampere (since it has blown a fuss) - either because of a clogged filter or because the pump motor brushes/armature are worn. Since, when you tapped the pump it began to work, I'd suspect the latter. Same thing happens with starter motors. From previous posts sounds like it's pretty easy to change it out and, at the same time, do an upgrade. Since you're already there, that's the path I'd take... Either way, pump motor or filter, the problem is fixed.