Filling Fresh water tank issue - Montana Owners Club

Biggjb · 08-07-2018, 08:24 AM

My wife and I just bought a new 2018 Montana 3920FB. It looks fabulous but we have had nothing but problems. At the convenience center when hooked to city water there is power fill valve for the fresh water tank. I wanted to fill the tank but the valve did not work. I called the dealership and they suggested that I look for a kink in the line...the trailer is brand new! I then went to the vent valve and filled the tank from there. Now the story gets better. I tried to use the onboard pump but it just ran and ran for several minutes with no water coming from the fresh water tank. this is just one of several small issues we have with our new trailer. Can anyone help us? We are camped about 2 hours from the dealership and they seem reluctant to send a repairman.

Hblick48 · 08-07-2018, 09:17 AM

I'm not familier with your model, but from what you described, I'll bet that some plumbing connections are wrong. I'd think that running the water pump with no water could cause harm to it.

rslopez65 · 08-07-2018, 09:20 AM

Did you turn the power fill valve back to city water before turning on the pump? If it remains in the fresh water fill position it will just suck air. We learned that the hard way.

dhuhn · 08-07-2018, 09:21 AM

Is your winterization valve on that might be your problem. Make sure it’s off.

BuilderBob · 08-07-2018, 09:48 AM

Make sure you turned the tank fill vale back to city water or the pump wont work and make sure all the other valve are in the right position (IE.) winterization valve! Make sure you were not hook up to the black tank flush valve witch is right under the city valve connection.

Montana Man · 08-07-2018, 11:26 AM

All good suggestions. Sometimes I crack a faucet just to let air escape out of the pump discharge to help it to prime easier.

Biggjb · 08-07-2018, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rslopez65

Did you turn the power fill valve back to city water before turning on the pump? If it remains in the fresh water fill position it will just suck air. We learned that the hard way.

yes I moved the valve position back to city water and the pump still does not grab the water from the fresh water tank.

Biggjb · 08-07-2018, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhuhn

Is your winterization valve on that might be your problem. Make sure it’s off.

When I picked up the trailer it was not de-winterized. I then proceeded to de-winterize and ensured the winterization valve was off.

Biggjb · 08-07-2018, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montana Man

All good suggestions. Sometimes I crack a faucet just to let air escape out of the pump discharge to help it to prime easier.

This is a very good suggestion. I will give it a try, but failing all this I am still at a loss why the pump wouldn't work.

**DQDick** · 08-07-2018, 03:08 PM

If you take the platic wall off the basement side of the convenience center (several screws) you will expose the connections and the water pump. First thing I would look for is loose connections, particularly the suction side to the pump.

Biggjb · 08-11-2018, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DQDick

If you take the platic wall off the basement side of the convenience center (several screws) you will expose the connections and the water pump. First thing I would look for is loose connections, particularly the suction side to the pump.

Thanks DQDick. I opened the back of the convenience center and found the line to the fresh water tank was not connected. Once connected everything was great...thanks.

paulinbaja · 08-19-2018, 01:45 PM

When you were trying to fill the tank with the line disconnected where did the water go?

Texan · 08-19-2018, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggjb

Thanks DQDick. I opened the back of the convenience center and found the line to the fresh water tank was not connected. Once connected everything was great...thanks.

Nothing like FINE craftsmanship.

Texan · 08-19-2018, 03:42 PM

What if this had been propane and you turned the valve on and it wasn't connected.

Bad Moon · 08-19-2018, 04:15 PM

Montana owners; doing the jobs Keystone didn’t do.

jeffba · 08-19-2018, 04:17 PM

Just ask any software engineer who the best testers are.

**Rondo** · 08-19-2018, 04:33 PM

Greg was the line just laying there next to the pump or was it a ways away when found it was disconnected. Not defending the Keystone but I have had the problem when I replaced my pump because it wasn't pumping that I didn't get the line pushed in far enough or had not pushed the lock up/down far enough and our terrific highways smoothness had caused the line to pop out of the pump and it was lying on the floor when I pulled the cover off the back of the convenient center. My error on that one, I guess.

cghsatx · 08-19-2018, 05:12 PM

After being away from RVs for a few years, I decided to get something nicer/bigger than my old 2007 Jayco 35 something. I got a Montana 3731 and was really excited about it but like others here, its been in the shop or needing to go ever since I got in it late June. Now that I have found out how much I overpaid the dealer and missing out on most of the summer due to stuff not working, I fully regret the whole process and loss of money. Its amazing to me that Keystone and the dealers can get away with this stuff. If I can ever get out of this money/trouble pit, I hope to find something that isnt a full time pain.

paulinbaja · 08-19-2018, 06:53 PM

If you are able many of the needed repairs can be done at home. I know it is warranted but fixing it yourself will give you more time in it. It is criminal that the dealers don't PDI properly and have the units ready for delivery. They should have taken you through the unit and demonstrated EVERY thing about it. They charged you for PDI but apparently failed to do it. I have an older unit and it has held up fine. I do many of the repairs myself, but frankly few are needed. We live in our unit and even with the last six years of a very active grandchild it is hanging in there. Get past the bad taste, eventually you'll be able to enjoy it.

Biggjb · 09-30-2018, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rondo

Greg was the line just laying there next to the pump or was it a ways away when found it was disconnected. Not defending the Keystone but I have had the problem when I replaced my pump because it wasn't pumping that I didn't get the line pushed in far enough or had not pushed the lock up/down far enough and our terrific highways smoothness had caused the line to pop out of the pump and it was lying on the floor when I pulled the cover off the back of the convenient center. My error on that one, I guess.

Rondo, sorry for taking so long to reply. The valve was capped off and the line was just a foot or so away just laying there. All I did was uncap the valve and connect the fresh water line. This should have been picked up by the quality assurance process, however, it was missed.

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