bilge pump

[mike brennen]

I have a 2002 searay176 and the bilge pump has stopped operating.
Fuse is ok and there is a light on the manual switch but pump does not operate manualy or automaticaly.
I am totally stuck because it is almost impossible to see never mind work on the pump, but perhaps there is something I need to do before replacing the pump.

all ideas would be gratefully appreciated

 

[JimG]

With the manual light on, measure for voltage on the pump wires as close to the pump as you can get... either with a test light or volt meter. Pierce the insulation to get to the bare wire. If voltage is present then the pump is likely bad. Some of them snap into the mount and will release while leaving the screwed down mount.

 

[JerryS]

I have a 2002 searay176 and the bilge pump has stopped operating.
Fuse is ok and there is a light on the manual switch but pump does not operate manualy or automaticaly.
I am totally stuck because it is almost impossible to see never mind work on the pump, but perhaps there is something I need to do before replacing the pump.

all ideas would be gratefully appreciated

Hello Mike Brennen, way over there in the UK. Welcome aboard!
Are you saying that you manually lifted the float switch and the pump still does not work? All that you have there is a switch, fuse, float switch and pump. It sounds like you have narrowed it down to the float switch or the pump.

 

[rcknecht]

Do you have an Atwood (sp)... My stoped working and they sent me a new one for free... It was a manufacturing defect...

 

[Skuza]

We had a wire break inside the insulation. Wire was for the float switch so the pump still ran manually by activating the dash switch. If you do pierce the wire to test for voltage make sure you seal the pierce back up. I feel this is how our wire broke. One little crack in the insulation will allow water to start corroding the wire eventually breaking it.

 

[Gunn]

Hello Mike Brennen, way over there in the UK. Welcome aboard!
Are you saying that you manually lifted the float switch and the pump still does not work? All that you have there is a switch, fuse, float switch and pump. It sounds like you have narrowed it down to the float switch or the pump.

In addition to the automatic float switch, he also has a helm switch to run it manually. My 175 is setup this way anyway.

I had to change mine also, and while it was hard to get to, it was pretty quick. It was an Attwood, and it disconnected from the base with a simple 1/4 turn or so of the pump. Then a couple screws hold it down in the bilge.