Bilge Pump Problem - HELP!

[knoxchief]

I just bought a 1979 Sea Ray 269 Sundancer. There is a bilge pump under the deck in the cabin. The old pump didn't work so I bought a new one but it won't work either. There are two wires coming from behind the bulkhead from the head area (black wire and black/blue wire). I have used a multi-meter and determined there is no power to it. Am I correct that this pump operates from the switch on the driver console? If so, does the engine have to be running in order for it to work? The boat is not in the water yet. I am trying to get the boat ready to launch this weekend so any help would be greatly appreciated.:huh::huh:

 

[andyr]

first check the float switch by connecting the mulit meter to the two wires to the float. I should show 0 resistance when the float is raised. That being good, the bilge pump may be wired directly to the battery and there is some times an inline fuse. It should operate when the key is off. Some have a switch on the console. One position is automatic i.e. the float operates it, the other position is manual on. If you have this type of switch, then you may have a 3rd wire on your pump. Black blue sounds like an alternate ground for the panel switch. Black for the float switch. I'm thinking you are missing a positive wire. May have broken off and you can't see where it was.

 

[knoxchief]

The old bilge pump had only two wires connected to it. Is it possible that the switch could have gone bad? I have checked the fuse in the dash and it is okay. The wires appear to run behind the bulkhead but I can't trace where they go without removing the entire bulkhead. Any idea if these wires go directly to the switch or through the hull somewhere to the engine/battery?

 

[sdrevik]

You could start the boat and check the two wires with the meter again- I suspect you'll still see 0V, which means either a broken wire somewhere, or some inline fuse that you just have not found yet.

What 'fuse in the dash' did you find? One labelled for bilge pumps? Without a third wire, I agree, I think this one would be wired to the battery with an inline fuse.

 

[tacconelli7]

Be sure that all of your fuses are getting good contact. Maybe clean the fuses or spin them in there contacts to ensure good contact.

Did you check the contacts on the switch? they could be a bit corroded and need to be cleaned. My boat sat a long time and I had to clean most all contacts.

I have the auto/ manual switch on the dash, but my pumps are also all wired direct.

Is there a way you can get some wire back to the battery to wire it direct for the weekend?

hope things work out for ya.

 

[andyr]

The old bilge pump had only two wires connected to it. Is it possible that the switch could have gone bad? I have checked the fuse in the dash and it is okay. The wires appear to run behind the bulkhead but I can't trace where they go without removing the entire bulkhead. Any idea if these wires go directly to the switch or through the hull somewhere to the engine/battery?

I think it is miswired, or the panel switch is miss connected. Even if the float switch is dead, the panel switch should operate it. Look at the following diagram. One of the wire goes to the pump from the float, one to the pump from the panel (they may join at the pump or elsewhere) and a ground from the pump. Float switches do fail. Just bypass it and connect directly to the pump. Do you have power going into the float?