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11-20-2008, 09:40 AM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 50
M.O.C. #1764
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water pump problem
When I was out dry camping I turned the switch on for the water pump and it sounded as if the pump was running. It was a vary faint humming sound. It would not stop. I checked the toilet, sinks shower/tub and outside shower to see if any were on, all were off. I turned the switch off and the noise stopped. I turned the swith on again and same thing happenend. The pump will not stop making this noise when the switch is on. I thought maybe even low voltage in battery but that was not the case either. The last thing I can thinkof is possibly a small hole in the diaphram. Any suggestions or ideas would be great.
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11-20-2008, 09:46 AM
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#2
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Kooskia
Posts: 116
M.O.C. #380
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If your pump loses prime it will sound like that.
Cause #1 may be your water tank is dry or too low.
Cause #2 is your pump probably lost prime due to air inleakage - turn it on and open a faucet to get the water to flow again. You should get a change in the sound from the pump as it starts to prime and pump water. Then turn off the faucet and see if the pump stops.
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11-20-2008, 10:25 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,750
M.O.C. #7560
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I think Jim hit the nail on the head! Sounds to me like it is the loss of prime OR possibly a loose clamp or connection pulling air into the line from the tank or shoreline water supply. Keep us informed on what you find!  What did I just say-- shoreline water supply wouldn't be using the pump dummy! 
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11-20-2008, 11:15 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Manhattan
Posts: 1,144
M.O.C. #1846
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Mine was doing the same thing and I found I was pumping water out the 'fresh water (city water) inlet'.. the stopper had sealed fully the last time I had it on city water. Was just enough to keep running very faintly.
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11-20-2008, 12:45 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Texas City
Posts: 5,736
M.O.C. #7673
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Had the same thing happen to my 3400RL when in storage for several weeks. Once it primed itself it stopped. Had me worried for a day or so, till I figured (it figured itself) it out.
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11-20-2008, 03:57 PM
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#6
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: St Johns
Posts: 434
M.O.C. #7691
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Did the same thing and got real worried until I saw I had turned my winterize valve to on. It was easy to do as the water heater bypass and winterize valve are identical. Still I am glad the DW didn't see it as she thinks I am infallible ......... Ya right!! LOL.
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11-21-2008, 03:43 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Pagosa Springs
Posts: 3,711
M.O.C. #3120
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party of 5,
Funny you should mention this problem. I had the very same problem last week. I finally found that the convenience center water valve was slightly turned on. Had me worried, I thought I had a leak somewhere. You might also check to make sure you don't have the fresh water valve set to "fill".
Good luck finding the problem, but I am confident you already have the answer in one of the above postings.
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11-21-2008, 08:01 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: South Shore
Posts: 6,009
M.O.C. #7110
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I’ve also noticed this from time to time. I usually check the water level if I catch it doing this. I’ve noticed it the most whenever the water level is low; which from the other postings sounds like it may have lost its prime. As mentioned already, let us know what you find out!
__________________
2011 GMC 4X4 dually CC, 6.6 Duramax with Allison Transmission. Formally 2001 Montana,2007 3400RL Montana, presently 2018 3401RS Alpine.
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11-24-2008, 06:34 AM
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#9
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 50
M.O.C. #1764
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I checked several items again. no leaks, tank is full, my trailer is not equipped with a fill valve, only has the city water hook up an inlet to put in a hose to fill the tank, no valve to operate. Still doing the same thing. Guess it is a perfect time to put in a new quiter pump.
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11-24-2008, 06:47 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: _
Posts: 5,238
M.O.C. #6337
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We find we have this trouble when we switch from city water to tank/pump water, sometimes! 
Our solution is to turn on pump, and run water, find best to run water furthest from the pump. You have to purge the air out of the lines, and it takes a while. The pump will get VERY quiet, in ours, so quiet we can barely hear it running (no kiddng) and then gradually, it will get louder and louder and finally LOUD. At that point, we can turn the water off, let the pump finish running and then it is usually fine till the next time we change the water supply choice.
It can take so long that you think it will never get loud. In this case, loud is mucho better than silent. We can really "hear" the difference when the lines are now purged of air.
By the way, Al calls this "lost the prime", I call it purging the air. No matter what we call it the quiet pump in this case is not good.
Good luck.
jimc description is right on!!
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11-24-2008, 07:42 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arroyo Grande
Posts: 504
M.O.C. #6460
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Party of 5, I once had a small piece of debri get caught in the city water connection, and it let the pump suck air. As a temp fix, I bought a plug to seal off the city water connection when we were boondocking. Later on, I removed the city connection, and replaced the o ring seal.( There is a check valve built into the city supply connection,that's where the o ring is located) That stopped it. Bill
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