Can't get middle or forward bilge pump to cut on!

[jaywoodz]

This may be an easy post to reply to, but I cannot get the forward or middle bilge pump to cut on! I have standing water under the cabin, and can't find the switch for the life of me! I know there is one at the helm for the engine room bilge pump and that works great. If anyone can help, I'd greatly appreciate it! The boat is a 99 310 DA

 

[dev6315]

I may be wrong, so don't hold me to this, but I believe they are operated via water level switches. Meaning, there is an arm close to the bilge pump that when water reaches a certain level, the arm raises and triggers the pump to cycle. It should be an automatic process. I would start checking for power to those pumps.

 

[Wylie_Tunes]

If you can see the pumps, do they have 2 or 3 wires?

A 2 wire pump would be a manual pump wired to a switch or made automatic by running the brown B+ through a float. If its a 3 wire, then it will be automatic with a float (could be internal) and have a manual overide switch somewhere, which I would guess would be on the helm.

 

[jaywoodz]

I may be wrong, so don't hold me to this, but I believe they are operated via water level switches. Meaning, there is an arm close to the bilge pump that when water reaches a certain level, the arm raises and triggers the pump to cycle. It should be an automatic process. I would start checking for power to those pumps.

I've verified all breakers are not tripped, and are set to "On". I just didn't know if there was a manual process, and yes I do believe they have arms that will raise and cut it on automatically, but are not doing so.

 

[Ruff Life]

On my boat there is a breaker for the front sump that is near the battery switches. I found mine tripped this summer from a pump going bad. After cleaning out the pump impeller the pump ran after resetting it. It again tripped at a later time and I replaced the pump. The breaker looks like a red switch that can not be turned off but only turned back on after tripping out.

 

[Lazy Daze]

If you manually lift the "arms", you get nothing?

Check for small gauge wires coming off the positive posts of the batteries. You might have a inline fuses. They would be located in the engine compartment, so you wouldn't have to start tearing the boat apart to find them.

 

[GrandMaster]

I have standing water under the cabin, and can't find the switch for the life of me!

Not to chnage the subject, but where's the water coming from?

 

[jaywoodz]

If you manually lift the "arms", you get nothing?

Check for small gauge wires coming off the positive posts of the batteries. You might have a inline fuses. They would be located in the engine compartment, so you wouldn't have to start tearing the boat apart to find them.

I wonder.. there's a large box in the middle of the cabin directly underneath (next to the dinette salon), and it has hoses running to it from the port side. Shower maybe? I'm actually looking for the pump itself, and can't find it. I could be dumb, but maybe it's missing. I have 4 inches of standing water, and it spans across 6 feet of space.

 

[jaywoodz]

Not to chnage the subject, but where's the water coming from?

That's a good question, maybe the shower? or sink? I need to investigate that!

 

[Lazy Daze]

I wonder.. there's a large box in the middle of the cabin directly underneath (next to the dinette salon), and it has hoses running to it from the port side. Shower maybe? I'm actually looking for the pump itself, and can't find it.

Yes. Anything that has a drain that is too low to go directly overboard, will drain to the sump box, then get pumped out.

Check the diagrams that are in your manual - they give a layout for everything, including bilge pumps. That might help you to at least locate it.

 

[jaywoodz]

Yes. Anything that has a drain that is too low to go directly overboard, will drain to the sump box, then get pumped out.

Check the diagrams that are in your manual - they give a layout for everything, including bilge pumps. That might help you to at least locate it.

I assume that's the sump box? There's water surrounding it, no bilge pump seen.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I assume that's the sump box? There's water surrounding it, no bilge pump seen.

I've been on 310's of your era many times, but honestly not enough to remember exactly where everything is.

Just to clear up a possibility, run the shower and watch your sump box - see if it (or the hose) is leaking. Also to see that it is working (pumping out) as it should.

If you're feeling adventurous, give that surround water a quick taste - is it salty (salt water)?

 

[jaywoodz]

I've been on 310's of your era many times, but honestly not enough to remember exactly where everything is.

Just to clear up a possibility, run the shower and watch your sump box - see if it (or the hose) is leaking. Also to see that it is working (pumping out) as it should.

If you're feeling adventurous, give that surround water a quick taste - is it salty (salt water)?

I'll try that - and I'm in fresh water, so I doubt that will help.. haha

 

[Lazy Daze]

I'll try that - and I'm in fresh water, so I doubt that will help.. haha

I just saw Virginia and took a guess. But, no, I guess you're right - if it tastes salty, you've got bigger problems!