Water Pump Question

I have a question about the water pump for the brain trust. I have a 2017 PC 2552 and have had problems with the water pump that began about a year ago. The problem was that the pump would work well for a period of time (days) while traveling and then would lose pressure and run continuously. After a few months this problem became more frequent until this earlier year on a long trip the pump would run continuously and not pump water. My first thought was the 4 way valve, which still may be part of the problem, but then thought it was the pump. After disassembling the water pump I found that the valves were loaded (about a teaspoon full) with fiberglass shavings presumably from the freshwater tank. I also noticed that there was no strainer at the pump. I called PC and was told that there is a strainer in the freshwater tank and that someone had just called with a similar problem. My question is does your PC have a strainer at the pump; did you install one if there wasn't a strainer; have you had a similar issue? Thanks for the feedback.

P.S. The pump seems to be working but my PC is is storage and I've drained most of the water out of the freshwater system before removing the pump.

John McMillan

My unit is also a 2017. No strainer on the pump, haven't installed one and haven't had any issues with the pump. (Other than noise since it is right by the grill on that side)

No filter on our pump either, which I found odd when I first discovered it.   

On the 2350, the water pump is located under the bed and to access it you have to take the mattress off the bed and remove a lot of screws holding two large and very heavy pieces of chip board  to the the bed framing.   You can also see the pump and use a winterizing hook up vinyl hose through an access panel at the back of the outside storage compartment.   I think (??) I reported on this forum that a couple of years ago my pump quit working while we were boondocking.  The reason was that the head of the pump was attached to the motor with some long 1/8th inch or so fine thread screws which screwed into the crummy metal covering for the pump end of the apparatus.  They had become loose and wallowed out the threads in the too soft metal of the pump. 

Luckily, in a town of about 500 people not too far away, I found a kind of general hardware/auto parts store that actually kept a few rv supplies.........including a small rv water pump.   It cost me exactly twice the price on Amazon, but I wasn't arguing, bought it, pulled the bed apart and replaced the original.   I think I posted on this forum back then advising folks to check the bolts on their pumps to make sure the same thing wasn't happening.   I have no idea what caused all those screws to wallow like that but they were beyond tightening.   

I noticed also that the water pump was hooked directly to hard (PEX) piping without using a flex hose.   That, of course, transmits vibration into the pipes and further stresses the system.   

So, again, we might want to keep an eye on our water pumps for loose screws and .....now....the reported plastic debris.    By the way, I drilled thru the wallowed out threads and used a larger diameter screws and nylon nuts and now carry the old pump for a spare.   

No idea if there's a screen in the fresh water tank, I have not seen one.   No, my water pump has no strainer on it either.  In other RV's I have owned, I have added strainers to the water pump, but honestly have never found any debris in one.

Usually, when the pump runs continuously, that means one of two things... No water in the fresh water tank or a big leak somewhere.    If there's a leak... You'd notice it so the presumption is no water in the tank.

Two things can cause that... Literally the fresh water tank is empty or, the 4 way valve not properly set.

Always turn the 4 way valve when there is NO pressure on the water lines.   Even if you have removed a shore water line, open a faucet before you turn the 4 way valve.   If you were on the 'normal' position... Same applies, open a faucet.   

Once water lines have no pressure, then turn the 4 way valve, in either direction till it is just past the position you want, then turn it back till it clicks.

The above has always worked for me.   Your mileage may vary.

My unit is also a 2017. No strainer on the pump, haven't installed one and haven't had any issues with the pump. (Other than noise since it is right by the grill on that side)

Thanks for the feedback, I've heard from others that evidently there is no strainer attached to the water pump in PCs