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Difficulty priming water system.

JamesC
JamesC Member Posts: 62
in Heating/Plumbing & Winterizing
I’m not sure if anyone else has struggled with this but thought that there might be someone who could benefit from my difficulty. I have been having trouble getting the water pump to prime off and on since last year. I even changed the water pump out before our last trip of the year. I have also tried to be diligent in keeping the fresh water system clean and sanitized since getting my 400 in 2019 and regularly clean the filter attached to the pump. 
This week I began preparing the trailer for the season by flushing out the antifreeze and sanitizing the system but could not get it to prime even after running the pump for an extended time. My feeling was that it was sucking air from somewhere. When it finally did prime, there was a massive leak at the filter housing. Upon removal and examination I could , with the aid of bright light, see hairline cracks in the clear housing of the filter. A new one was purchased and installed and the system achieved prim in less than a minute. 
If your water system is slow to prime or won’t prime you might find almost invisible cracks in the clear housing for the filter. They didn’t leak until they were larger but they allowed air to enter the line preventing prime. 
2018 T@B 400, 2015 F150 tow vehicle. 
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Comments

  • Horigan
    Horigan Member Posts: 863
    Thanks.  That's a good reminder to remove the filter bowl and shake the water out when winterizing so retained water doesn't freeze and crack the housing.
    Rich
    2019 T@b 400
    2025 Toyota Highlander 2.4L Turbo
    Bellingham WA
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  • XenanMe
    XenanMe Member Posts: 85
    I had the same thing happen although the cover was no longer clear.  It turned an opaque white colour.  I wasn’t able to see any cracks but replacing it solved my problem also. Now I remove it and disconnect the pump as a final winterizing step.
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  • GregChris
    GregChris Member Posts: 204
    This seems to me to a good spare part to keep around. Is it readily available from rv parts store(camping world) or a Nu-camp specific item? I had a similar problem with my previous winnie. The filter cover just vibrated loose somehow, tightened it and no more problems.
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  • JamesC
    JamesC Member Posts: 62
    edited March 2023
    I was able to purchase the new one for twenty dollars at a local RV store. Interestingly the clear plastic on mine also turned opaque when it started leaking water. 
    2018 T@B 400, 2015 F150 tow vehicle. 
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  • WildBill442
    WildBill442 Member Posts: 2
    Hmmm.  Looks like I'm a victim as well.
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  • JuniperDog
    JuniperDog Member Posts: 13
    edited October 2024
    Thanks for all this info, and for posting a photo of the culprit piece.  I was having the same issue and I took it off, cleaned it and then tightened it back on (because I didn’t have a new one) and the priming seemed to take.  It may have actually been loose, allowing air to get in.  But if I didn’t know to check this little guy I would still be there.  I might try to pick up a new one because mine is also opaque.   Thanks for the tips!
    2022 T@B-S
    2023 RAV4 Prime
    Central BC
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  • RalphD
    RalphD Member Posts: 4
     James, I have to tell you how incredibly appreciative I am of your post. After dewinterizing I could not get the pump on my 2023 320 S to properly prime. I had previously had issue and replaced the pump while still under warranty. Since all systems worked fine with city water, i again assumed it was the pump since I could not get air out of the lines and could not draw water in the sanitizing mode. I obtained a new pump via Amazon and installed, same thing.

    After reading this post I looked at the filter housing, although there were no cracks, I could see that the interior rubber gasket in the top of the filter housing was slightly crimped and out of alignment. I carefully guided the gasket into the groove of the housing and reinstalled.
    The pump primed quickly and works great.

    So in addition to checking for cracks, make sure the filter gasket is properly seated. Problem solved. Thank you
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  • Cherokee
    Cherokee Member Posts: 346
    One drill we always do before every trip: 1) fill the tank, 2) With the hose connected to city water and the pump off, turn on the tap till water comes out and flush the toilet. Now the lines are pressurized - disconnect the hose, turn on the pump and all should work    
    TV:2019 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X With an Old Man Emu lift
    Trailer: 2019 T@B 320 Boondock with a Lock&Roll Coupler & Jack-e-up
    Custom fabricated metal bottom cladding
    California, USA
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  • Slackers
    Slackers Member Posts: 491
    We spent most of a camping season thinking we had a slow leak (or cracked filter cover) with the pump randomly turning on only to realize that the filter cover needed a fraction more tightening.
    2019 Tab 320 CSS, 2019 Ranger TV, OH
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  • Purpleheart15
    Purpleheart15 Member Posts: 5
    I never had any cracks in the filter housing, but found I had to add water under the filter housing first and then reinstall the housing before turning on the pump.
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