Mk3 Water Pump Working Not Working

[Ben89]

Hi Folks, - I edited the post after posting to add an image.

I need help with an evolving problem. While I've had my TVan for a while I've not used the kitchen, various reasons. This week I did a lot of repairs and maintenance and I decided to try the water in the kitchen sink thinking the supply was activated by a pressure switch on the pump. When I tried it the pump didn't kick in. I previously been replied to by another forum member on another issue who has the same TVan model as me, and I asked them about this problem, but I feel I should ask the wider community for some help.

I had a look at that crappy LED panel for the water, and it seemed dead, so I took the cover off and the battery dropped out. I got a new one and installed it but the panel didn't come on. When I pressed the 'water' button I got a red light on the bottom of the panel for a spilt second, and then nothing.  After trying a few different options including taping the battery in place and putting pressure on the PCB the LEDs were coming on intermittently, but were flickering very dim.

I eventually got the panel to accept the battery so that when I pressed the 'water' button the LEDs lit green. It's far from a satisfactory solution because whatever I did to get the LEDs to light is unknown, and I expect it'll stop working once some travelling is done.

So to be clear, with the A23 battery installed in the panel I get no lights until I push the "Water" button, and then 3 lights come on (as per the image below), if I hold the 'water' button the top LED seems to slowly pulses on and off, but sometimes it only pulses once.

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I've had the panel powered (but the face off the mount) and the water button pressed with the tap in the on position, no water came out and the pump didn't turn on.

I've had the Panel powered with the face mounted and with the tap in the on position, no water and no pump activated.

I've turned the tap off and on again a minute later, checked the panel power and then turned the tap on, no water and no pump activated.

I added this bit after the initial post becasue I though it might be important: On the switch side I've taken an image of the panel (below). There is a swicth labelled 'Rear Pump' on teh top right that doesn't light when it's in the on position. I was told this is for a second pump. I suppose if you'd a second pump in a second tank it'd be for that, but it kind of doesn't make sense either.

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The panel is only showing power when the 'water' button is pressed, and think this is probably normal, but I am still wondering if anybody has any advice?


Thanks

Ben

[Ben89]

After reading another post about the pump's location I removed the panel covering it because I decided to see if it was working.

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I connected it to a battery and it powered up. I had the kitchen tap on and water started running. So I've no blocked pipes, and the pump works like it should. I turned off the tap and after a couple of spurts the pump switched off like it should.

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So, I have a pump that's working, a terrible LED panel that seems to be working, and a switch with "rear Pump" on it that doesn't seem to come on when it's in the powered on position. I'm thinking that I should short the switch so it acts as if it was in the on position, and see if the pump works, then I'd know it is a faulty switch, but if anybody has any other suggestions please let me know. Everything I am doing is 100% guess work prompted by members suggestions and kind of trying to guess the thing to do.

I was kind of wondering what the green hose was for. It may be a mod (of sorts) done by the previous owner, but it could be original from Track Trailer. I can't think what it's for so if anybody know it'd help because it doesn't look right.

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Thanks

Ben

[Ben89]

So I was finally able to contact the previous owner after many failed attempts, and he clued me in on what I had missed.

I thought the pump worked (only) on a pressure switch, so that when the nozzle on the tap is turned/opened the water comes on, but that's not exactly how it works on the Mk 3, there's a push button switch on the left side of the sink that activates the pump, so I tried it, and it works. I completely missed this swicth.

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I also got to ask the previous owner about the green hose, he said couldn't remember why he'd done it. I can't figure what benefit it'd have, or to what use you might put it, but I'd be interested if anybody has a sense of why this would be done?

Thanks

Ben

[obeeone]

Hi
Can't help with the green hose but the flickering Top LED is most likely just the water moving around in the tank.
The sender fitted to the tank relies on the water level to light the LEDs so if it's flickering then the water level is at about that point on the sender.  If you rock the van you will see the LED go off and indicating the tank is about 3/4 full.
Carl

[Ray]

Hi
Can't help with the green hose but the flickering Top LED is most likely just the water moving around in the tank.
The sender fitted to the tank relies on the water level to light the LEDs so if it's flickering then the water level is at about that point on the sender.  If you rock the van you will see the LED go off and indicating the tank is about 3/4 full.
Carl

And the battery falling out certainly happens to us, I have now soldered the battery in. One day I will connect the level meter directly to tvan 12 volt supply.
Ray

[peter_mcc]

I was reading your first post and thinking "I wonder if he knows about the sink switch"... turns out you do now!

Two faults that I encountered over the years with our Mk3 water system:
- the pressure switch can get jammed up with dust, meaning the pump never turns on because it thinks it is overpressure. It's not hard to pull it apart and clean it out (take photos as you go if you're not very good at that sort of thing)
- the switch near the sink dies. it starts off becoming harder to press and eventually stops working

I'd recommend carrying a spare sink switch with you - I found a Narva part that fitted but it was a few years ago and I have no idea what the part number was. It's a bit fiddley to replace but, from memory, you access it with the sink pushed in part of the way.