Water pump issue on 2016 FR TH

[AMG]

I am under warranty, but wanted to know if anyone has any ideas on this issue and perhaps if I can fix it on my own because it may be a stupid problem.

2016 FR Stealth WA2916. When I am dry camping, I turn on the faucet in the kitchen for example and it barely trickles out (both hot and cold). I hear the water pump kick on but it is a light hum. I can let the sink run for 30 seconds and nothing changes. I then turn the sink off and the water pump continues to just lightly hum and still no water pressure. If I go to the bathroom, turn on the sink there, turn on the kitchen sink, and then hold the flush on the toilet down, you hear the pitch of the water pump deepen and work hard, then I turn the bathroom sink off and stop the toilet (via the foot depressor) and the kitchen sink then has nice pressure. I turn the sink off and the water pump within a couple seconds get deep tone and stops. At some point later, yes the problem reoccurs.

I also noticed that the water pump will just run, hour after hour with the light hum, not stop. It's hard to realize it if you have the stereo on, or watching a movie and someone turns the sink on quickly, but that issue above occurs, and the pump just never stops and never gets that deep ticking before turning off.

Sorry if that's difficult to convey in words.

[Witch Doctor]

It sounds like your water pump is not holding it's prime. They are self priming. And the hum is probably trying to prime. You might have to pull off the front part of the pump off and make sure the rubber diaphragm are seating or not cracked.

[youroo]

Issue with the (Input/Suction) side of the Pump. Loose connection anywhere from the Pump back to the F/W tank! Kink in the Hose or Pre filter screen full of Crap! Just a WAG! Youroo!!

[TURBS]

Air in the system.

[AMG]

Originally Posted by TURBS

Air in the system.

I've wondered the same thing actually. I have ran all the faucets and the toilet multiple times on trips, for countless gallons. I could bring the trailer home, and just fill up 160g and then turn them all on and let it move all the water through it? Then ensure that I never, ever release any water out of the system, for fear that some air could get in? Never undo the low-point hot/cold drain, etc.

But maybe the air is coming in some other way then? Even though water pressure is crazy low and the pump often just runs, there isnt burping air coming out of any of the fixtures.

[fonzie]

If you have an anti-freeze inlet valve, make sure it is set properly to fresh water tank....

[5picker]

Originally Posted by youroo

Issue with the (Input/Suction) side of the Pump. Loose connection anywhere from the Pump back to the F/W tank! Kink in the Hose or Pre filter screen full of Crap! Just a WAG! Youroo!!

I agree.
I've had two units where the suction filter simply unscrewed far enough out of the pump (from vibration I presume) to where they sucked enough air at the threads to loose prime but didn't leak. I'd check there first.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by fonzie

If you have an anti-freeze inlet valve, make sure it is set properly to fresh water tank....

And make sure you hose isn't kinked like the one in this picture!

[mustardjim]

I had a problem like that it turned out that the water filter ring had a small crack and pump could not get up to pressure.

[Avan]

I also had the same problem, turns out the diaphragm was stuck.

[MNtraveler]

Agree on checking water pump inlet valve. Also make sure you don't have a leak somewhere so that you are pumping water out (should be visible on the ground somewhere) or even an open low point drain, or slightly open shower valve, or outside shower or sprayer valve. The pump should NOT run on and on after faucets are closed. It's not designed for that kind of duty cycle.


Land of 10,000 Lakes
2016 Forester MBS 2401R

[jsalty]

What did you do to resolve the porblem?
I have same issue now.
Strainer was tight and clean with some water in it.
I disassembled the pump looking for a smoking gun and nothing. Some discoloration on the white rubber attached to the pump plate but all other diaphragms were supple, wet and looked to be seated.
I am replacing the pump today
4008-101-A65 is the model of the pump.

[youroo]

jsalty,after you replace your pump will you please come back and tell us? It is Nice when people Return with a solution when the issue is over,like yourself found out,Dead End! Youroo!!

[mustardjim]

I took my filter right off the pump and no longer use a filter, pump has been working fine from them on. I do believe they should use a much strong type of casing around those filters.

[jsalty]

The replacement pump works great. Seems the original pump would not prime.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by jsalty

The replacement pump works great. Seems the original pump would not prime.

Thanks for the update! Youroo!!

[AMG]

I'm in Cancun Mexico but have an appt on Wed to bring it in. I'll let u know what they say the resolution is.

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[AMG]

I dropped the TH off yesterday, TBD what they can find. It is not an issue I can reproduce quickly as the service advisor is sitting there. I however have taken the TH out 3x and on each weekend, it occurred 2-3x each weekend. So hopefully they can find the issue, or just replace the pump all together.

[AMG]

They called me and said my TH is ready. They said FR denied the work on the water pump because all it was, was air in the lines. They said they bled them for me. My refrigerator wouldnt start a lot of the time and they said it was wood chips in the pilot area (I have to assume from assembly).

So I wonder.
A) they couldnt reproduce MY problem
B) it truly was air and my method of bleeding it in the past was wrong. Turn one faucet on, let it run fro a minute or two until its solid stream. Then the next... Then the next...
C) it is air in the system, but you can bleed it and all is OK, then somehow slowly air gets in somewhere? Hmm?

The only way I will know is take it out again and see if the issue occurs again, but I still wonder if there is some special way to bleed it and once it is bled if the system is sealed and you dont drain the water out (if you are using it a few weeks later or something) shouldnt it not need bleeding again?

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by AMG

They called me and said my TH is ready. They said FR denied the work on the water pump because all it was, was air in the lines. They said they bled them for me. My refrigerator wouldnt start a lot of the time and they said it was wood chips in the pilot area (I have to assume from assembly).

So I wonder.
A) they couldnt reproduce MY problem
B) it truly was air and my method of bleeding it in the past was wrong. Turn one faucet on, let it run fro a minute or two until its solid stream. Then the next... Then the next...
C) it is air in the system, but you can bleed it and all is OK, then somehow slowly air gets in somewhere? Hmm?

The only way I will know is take it out again and see if the issue occurs again, but I still wonder if there is some special way to bleed it and once it is bled if the system is sealed and you dont drain the water out (if you are using it a few weeks later or something) shouldnt it not need bleeding again?

You are correct, you are bleeding it the right way, If you are still loosing your prime it can only be the pump. even if you had a water leak you shouldn't lose prime just water until you ran out. Your pump just won't hold prime. Make sure you also bleed your hot water tank. IMO I don't think your letting air in the system. It sounds more like a bad hit or miss pump not letting it self prime. Once it's bled you shouldn't have to do it again until you suck air from the tank. If your tank is full and it sat for a couple of weeks all you should here is it repressurization itself for a sec or two when you turn it back on.