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Belgique

Cedar Island NC (Outer Banks)

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Posted: 09/21/08 04:41pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Winnie '08 35J with a fairly new Surflo Smart Senor pump.

I asked this on the Winnie forum and got one suggestion that the "spool" might be bad in the valve and another that a defective pump can do this. Posting here to get some other opinions before I tear things apart or some ideas on how to diagnose the problem.

The problem: Yesterday, after being hooked up to city water for about 18 hours I happened to look at the monitor and noted I had a full tank of water when I should have been almost empty. Went outside and it was overflowing. Turned city water off and it overflowed for a long time! BTW, I do have a Watts pressure reducer. The coach fill valve was not in the fill position...hasn't been touched for a month.

I kept city water off to use the pump and draw down the tank. The dagone thing acts weird! Open a valve and no pressure even though the pump light is on. However, if you leave a valve open and flip the pump switch it will work! I have checked the connection to the switch and they seem ok.

Questions:

How in the devil can the tank all of a sudden fill itself? Again, the fill switch was not in the fill position.

What would cause the water pump to act this way (it is a new pump but we've used it for a month or more with no problem).

Can these two incidents be connected? I don't see how, but maybe I'm missing something.

Thanks in advance! Steve


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Darrell

Somewhere in the US

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Posted: 09/21/08 04:53pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Not having had your problem I'd think maybe your diverter valve is leaking a little, if possible. I work it back & forth a few times and see if may it'll straighten out.
Darrell


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Geozzz

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Posted: 09/21/08 05:02pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Check valve on the pump is leaking. Cycle pump on and off several times to try and clear.


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racefan1965

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Posted: 09/21/08 05:29pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I had the over fill problem with a previous pump but it was a easy fix. Since my trailer is a 84 and not knowing how old the pump was I just replaced the pump. $80.00 later all is well. But I don't have the same set up as yours. My fill connection is separate from my city water connection so i don't have a valve to open or close. But the problem mimicked yours by allowing city water to flow through the pump and back into the tank. My pump at the time didn't work right. it sputtered small pulses of water instead of flowing water. It was another reason I just replaced it.


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john b

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Posted: 09/21/08 05:44pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Sounds like the pumps check valve is not working...


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Belgique

Cedar Island NC (Outer Banks)

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Posted: 09/21/08 05:46pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Ok. Consensus is check valve. Luckily I'm at Lazydays so I can get one tomorrow. I'll report back. Thanks all.

wa8yxm

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Posted: 09/21/08 05:59pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Two possible answers

1: Check valve in pump is damaged, "Blocked" or failed.. Please do not ask me if it can be fixed without replacing the pump. I do not know (Feel free to ask others who do know) HINT, If you know, POST!!!

2: "Quick Fill Valve" has failed.. Yes, this can happen

To test.....

Well, to test there different ways depending on your hookup My rig makes it easy. (I just twist two valves, put a bucket under the rig and turn on the city water, if the bucket fills (it has to be in a specific spot) pump check valve, if the tank fills, quick valve, it's that simple)

Two ways, one fast, one slow

If there is a valve between the pump and the tank, close it

Fast way: Open the pump inlet screen housing (this is a quarter turn thing) and place a pan under the housing to catch any leaking water. Turn on city water, if the pan fills, pump check valve is bad.

Slow way,, Forget playing with the pump, Turn off the valve between pump and tank so water an not flow that way, turn on water, if tank again fills and overflows Quick-Fill valve is bad

Method 3: Disconnect hose from Quick Fill Valve and apply city water.. If it shoots out of connection You got it.

NOTE: you may have multiple failures (pump and quick fill)


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old guy

Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)

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Posted: 09/21/08 07:30pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

strange as it might be, sometimes when they drill into the water tanks they don't clean them out, and water will carry the plastic remnants into the pump and the valve and they just don't work or seal like they should. Happened to me on one of my TT's. made factory redo mine.

Merlin44

We are in Tucson, AZ this year

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Posted: 09/21/08 07:48pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

We had a similar problem. I hooked up to city water and didn't know that the pump was on. The fresh water filled up because it formed a loop to the fresh water tank. I don't know how this works but it did fill the tank.


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Belgique

Cedar Island NC (Outer Banks)

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Posted: 09/23/08 05:51am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

UPDATE: Yep, the pump. Camping World at Lazydays was very accommodating. I bought the pump on line in June...they brought up my account, saw the purchase and exchanged the pump in minutes. Been installed about 15 hours and all is well. I didn't attempt to decide what failed since I was able to switch the pump. Thanks all for the counsel. Steve

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