Just bought a used 2000 Roadtrek 2 months ago and the first trip I took with it, the water pump worked fine. It's a 12V SureFlo. I did try running it with a dry tank as I didn't realize I had run out of water, but it was at the end of my camping and I was leaving then anyway, so turned off the pump and drove home. Last weekend took it out again and when I got to campground, the water pump, when you turn it on, does this buzzing sound and that's it. Haven't tried troubleshooting it yet, just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and what was the fix for it. A new one cost around $69 on the Internet, so it doesn't seem too painful to have to replace it, but maybe it's just an easy fix. Any ideas?
Water pump buzzes but doesn't work
- Thread starter KathyG
- Start date
Popeye1959
New Member
Re: Water pump buzzes but doesn't work
Most Shurflo water pumps will run dry without damage to the impeller. Try priming the pump and if worse comes to worse a rebuld kit for those pumps is cheap and very easy to install. You need to be more mechanically inclined to remove and replace it than install the new rebuild kit.
Most Shurflo water pumps will run dry without damage to the impeller. Try priming the pump and if worse comes to worse a rebuld kit for those pumps is cheap and very easy to install. You need to be more mechanically inclined to remove and replace it than install the new rebuild kit.
Kirk
Senior Member
Re: Water pump buzzes but doesn't work
SureFlo pumps do not really have an impeller but use a diaphragm design. The vast majority of them that are replaced could have been repaired quite easily by installing a rebuild kit, which should be available from most RV supply stores. They are supposed to be self priming, but occasionally one can fail to prime. That usually means that it needs a rebuild.
One question before you go too far. Do you happen to have a tank fill valve that uses the city water connection to fill your water tank? If so, make sure that it is completely closed as leaving it open when using the water pump will allow the pump to run constantly, drawing water from the bottom of the tank and pumping it back into the top, via the open city water fill connection. I have had that experience myself more than once.
SureFlo pumps do not really have an impeller but use a diaphragm design. The vast majority of them that are replaced could have been repaired quite easily by installing a rebuild kit, which should be available from most RV supply stores. They are supposed to be self priming, but occasionally one can fail to prime. That usually means that it needs a rebuild.
One question before you go too far. Do you happen to have a tank fill valve that uses the city water connection to fill your water tank? If so, make sure that it is completely closed as leaving it open when using the water pump will allow the pump to run constantly, drawing water from the bottom of the tank and pumping it back into the top, via the open city water fill connection. I have had that experience myself more than once.