Water pump - help!

[D_5117495]

Hello

I am about to spend a couple of weeks in France and am wondering whether it is wise to take a spare water pump with me (van and pump only 1 year old). If I buy a complete new water pump with hose, it will cost about £44 but a pump will just cost about half.

Is this a good idea, and if so, is it easy to just replace the pump? Or with 2 kids is it just wise to bite the bullet and take a whole spare pump and hose?

Thanks

 

[laurieW]

Hello D. If I was you, I would take a complete pump. We have just returned from Spain. Our pump packed up(2 year old) whilst we were there. I had a spare, bought new in 2000 and never used. This also packed up and blew the fuses on van. Pump not available in Spain(although a pump was available).It wasn't too bad, as we have an onboard tank with its own pump.We had some friends coming out so they brought me a new one. On our return home I managed to get another under warranty.Ironically, two other Brits had there pumps fail, all similar aged vans.

 

[ThePlotter]

If it was me I would buy just the pump,which is all I carry,there is no point in paying all that extra when to change the pump is not more than changing a three pin plug.Think how much sngria you could buy with all that cash!

 

[PC_5119929]

We've had a few vans with pumps that have suffered failure and blown pump fuses.

Every time taking the pump out as soon (I mean AS SOON )as there was a problem and freeing the impellor has solved the problem.

Normaly the fuse blows as the impellor does not turn VERY freely. Take the pump and umclip the intake grid. Spin the impellor with the end of a small screwdriver or the like and when it turns freely you should find it works fine and has not burnt out at all..

 

[D_5117495]

If it was me I would buy just the pump,which is all I carry,there is no point in paying all that extra when to change the pump is not more than changing a three pin plug.Think how much sngria you could buy with all that cash!

Thanks for advice, just needed to know how easy it was to change, without first trying to take it apart - and probably breaking it! Vino certainly a more fun investment than a bit of tube and a connector!

 

[D_5117495]

We've had a few vans with pumps that have suffered failure and blown pump fuses.

Every time taking the pump out as soon (I mean AS SOON )as there was a problem and freeing the impellor has solved the problem.

Normaly the fuse blows as the impellor does not turn VERY freely. Take the pump and umclip the intake grid. Spin the impellor with the end of a small screwdriver or the like and when it turns freely you should find it works fine and has not burnt out at all..

Much appreciated advice, that could only be learned by experience. As a novice I am very grateful

 

[PC_5119929]

ps.

From expeience I would say inactivity is the main problem with water pumps. They stand still for weeks and months on end and then the impellor will not spin freely. We alway have a small sealed 12 volt lead acide battery with us with wires to run a light or test the pump!

Have also found that some pumps need a realy good shake around to get water into them before they "self prime". I'm sure the empty pipes cause an air lock so the water does not get into the pump to seld prime in the first place. I've found pumps spinning but no water pumping. Connecting the pump to the feed pipe under water or a good shake around has always solved the problem and. Having a small sttand by battery you can feed power to the pump without the need to have taps open and check you have water flowing throughthe in place pumpe before connecting it back to the power and feed pump.

Also beware of diapram on whale flow switch. If that is stretched it will never work properly and you need a new inline switch!