92DakotaHD
Indiana
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I've got a 2004 Pioneer 17T4. It's got a 50 gallon fresh tank, and the other two are 25. Does great on water pressure under two circumstances 1) On city water 2) VERY full tank and that's iffy.
SHORT VERSION BELOW LONG VERSION!
LONG VERSION:
When running off the pump I get 15 seconds of good water pressure. Then it starts to spit and sputter and water pressure eventually sucks. Yesterday when messing with it I would run the shower, indicator reading 1/3-2/3 full. Starts to sputter, I let it do it for a few. Turn off the water. It sounds like there is a washing machine on the wash cycle under the sink. Timed it, 1:40 later the pump sounded like it's loud hammer self and built up pressure. Nearly two minutes.
I've had this at the dealer like 3 times now, I took it in yesterday as well. A guy at Fleetwood hadn't heard of anything. The dealer has had me replace the pump, same effect. They also said due to the large, shallow tank (it's as wide as the camper basically) that it'll suck air with some water in the tank but I opened up the ball valve and 12 minutes later of driving it was still draining.
Any ideas? The hose coming up out of the tank into the pump is a bit crimped, but I would squeeze it to get it rounded out and it didn't help. I've got spots for the Indy 500, Brickyard 400 and MotoGP this year and the water has NEVER run right off the pump and I bought this because the tanks were big.
SHORT VERSION:Already replaced pump, sounds like a washer with no pressure and sputters when running on pump and anything less than about 35-40 gallons in 50 gallon tank. Any ideas?
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sch911
Rochester Hills, MI
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To me it sounds like the pump is sucking air. Perhaps a hole in the line between the fresh tank and the pump. Or, the tank vent could be plugged causing a vacuum in the tank, which would be easy to diagnose by taking off the fill cap and seeing if the problem persists.
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javaseuf
Southern Cal
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Or someone screwed-up and reversed the water-pump fitting with the overflow fitting on the tank and the pump is actually drawing water from the overflow?
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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Yeah sure sounds like it's sucking air... Take the inlet hose off the pump and replace it with a longer flexible hose and put that hose in a 5 gallon bucket of water... If that works then your sucking air somewhere in the intake system and you'll have to find it...
And check the inlet think like javaseuf says and even make sure the pump inlet/outlet is not reversed...
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92DakotaHD
Indiana
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When I winterized last fall it took a few seconds but pumped the anti-freeze very well.
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PaulJ2
Northwest Oregon
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Sounds like the water inlet to the pump is above the water level inside the tank. Does the pipe to pump connection come out the bottom, or the top of the tank? Make sure you don't have a water pump bypass valve left open somewhere. Some have a valve that will allow the pump to draw RV antifreez from a jug to winterize.
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92DakotaHD
Indiana
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I have that valve but removed it when messing with it yesterday. I'll see about the hose. What's really frustrating is I've towed it to the dealer a few times now and they've never figured it out but instead of saying that have just gave me excuses that I have no idea what I'm talking about.
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nbounder
Arizona mountains
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My bet is that the H2O tank is being sucked down due to no venting. This was mentioned above by 911. If the pump works OK then starts laboring, an airlocked tank is indicated. If you had full success pulling antifreeze in to the system last fall, that's further support. hey - you didn't cover the H2O vent pipe last year, did you?
As an aside, I think you need a new repair facility - your 'dealer' isn't doing you any justice.
Joe
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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The key phrase is "It starts to spit and sputter"
This means you are sucking air on the suction side of the pump.
You have one, or more of the following problems
One: A pinhole leak, perhaps it's not big enough to pass water but it's letting air in, Could be a bad seal on the pump pre-strainer, could be a valve issue, could be a poorly coupled fitting somewhere, but it's letting air into the system. NOTE: may just be a seal operating under vacuum that is not designed to operate that way and thus letting air in.
Two: Clogged tank outlet strainer (Thus creating the vacuum mentioned in One)
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
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92DakotaHD
Indiana
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OK, I broke down and took it into the shop last Tuesday. 1 week later I pick it up. They say they NEVER got it to do anything wrong. I take it to the CG it's parked in most of the time. I don't level it, it's going to Indy 500 next week and will come home for the clean-up. But as normal they don't leave any water in the tank. I put 6 gallons in. (50 gallon tank) and the pump sputters, 3 more gallons, the same. 6 more the same sputtering. I finally just run the hose for 10 minutes and it works like a charm with a lot of water. The camper was leaning to the door side, opposite of the pick-up/fill. Would this be enough to cause this. I'm just frustrated that I'm sure I'll get to the 500 next week and on Friday morning will have sputtering water.
Anyone have experience with Pioneer's with the big tanks? How much is left when the pump starts having problems.
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