www.iFourWinns.com

Hi to all
My fresh water pump comes on about every 4/5 min, it does not come on high like when a tap is opened it comes on at a very low setting, you can hardly hear it. noticed it most at night while quite, will comes on low and run until the system reaches pressure. I pulled the clothes draw out and looked and felt inside no leaks were found. I looked at all the lines I could see and found no leaks. Has anyone experienced this and does anyone know how to get access to this pump, it is buried beside the fresh water take in the bow of the boat under the bed.
Also my waste water pump comes on for about every hour. I also checked for leaks and found none.
Any help would be very much appreciated.
Thanks.

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Terry
2005 Vista 348
5.7 Volvo I/O

Terry, the only time our 348 does that is when the fresh water tank is very low. I am not sure if you are full on water but that may be something small to check. Good Luck...
Heath

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Heath - 348 Vista
Erie, PA

Thanks Heath.
Any idea how one gains access to the pump?

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Terry
2005 Vista 348
5.7 Volvo I/O

I'm not sure Terry, we are setup differently than you are. I believe the layout of the 348 changed in 2005. We have the galley to our port and the pump is right below the sink area and easily accessible.

I do have a quick quesiton on your camper canvas? Do you have a "track" system on the radar arch that helps to prevent water from running down the arch and into the boat? I am thinking of installing some type of track system and wondering how well it works on other Vista's radar arch.

Thanks Terry

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Heath - 348 Vista
Erie, PA

Heath I am not sure, I just bought the boat this spring, I never get any water coming around the snaps though. I will check this coming weekend and let you know next week.

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Terry
2005 Vista 348
5.7 Volvo I/O

By what do you mean waste water pump? The one in sump box, in the middle of the cabin deck floor? That's the shower/sink sump box. Or do you mean some other pump? I don't have a gray water system so I have no idea if there's a pump for it or not. Or do you mean the vacuum pump for the vacu-flush toilet?

I believe my fresh water pump has only one speed. If it's coming on and you don't have any faucets open then yours is probably leaking. Be *certain* that all spigots are completely turned off. Including the one back in the transom locker. Galley sink, head sink, shower, cockpit sink and transom shower are the standard spigots. The water lines run from the tank in the bow, along behind the starboard galley and head, back to the engine room and then around the swim platform to the port side cockpit sink. You'll want to get a look at all those places to see where you've got a leak.

And to bug hunt for strange pump noises it's sometimes helpful to disconnect various pumps. There are bilge pumps in the mid-cabin locker (with the strainers) and then back in the main engine room. There's another one inside the shower sump box. They all have a nearby disconnect fitting on their electrical line. Note how much water is near each of them and see if it gets any higher while you have the pump disconnected. Obviously you don't want to leave them disconnected. Too many boats sink each year because of faulty bilge pumps, so don't leave the boat without working pumps. The fresh water pump has it's own breaker, leave it off and see if that eliminates the noise.

At some you're likely to find a leak. Either that or there's a very small chance the wet end of the pump is broken and needs rebuilding. Most pumps have a kit for this purpose. Do not buy a whole new pump just for that.

I've commented elsewhere on this forum regarding access to the fresh water pump. Look through the threads I've posted. On the newer 348 series (2008+ I think) it's easier to get to it from the top (under the mattress). The older ones require removing the cabinet face under the bed.

So, can you better explain which devices are actually making the noises? That'll help point you in the right direction for troubleshooting.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Thanks Bill and sorry for not explaining it well, It is a two part question, one is my fresh water pump which you explained well and the other is my vacu-flush it comes on about every hr. I have checked all those fittings and they seem to be ok, the one on the bottom of the holding tank was a little loose. the seal around the vac tank seems tight as well. Where is the spigot at in the transom locker?
I will try and find your post on how to remove the cabinet facing the bed as that is where mine is.

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Terry
2005 Vista 348
5.7 Volvo I/O

Ok, that's better. Leave a little water in the toilet. And then check to see if it drops. If it does then you have a leak in the toilet. I have this and have yet to fix it. I don't generally leave the breaker for the toilet turned on. I keep it off. Mainly because the noise of the pump is loud enough to wake up the baby. But also now because the seal leaks and causes the pump to run, both noises loud enough to wake the boy. For me, the leak in the bowl seal is enough to drain the water out of it within a couple of minutes (and then hiss through the seal).

I really don't know much else about the vacu-flush system. And, truth be told, don't want to learn. I'm probably going to pay someone else to fix the seal on mine. I don't know if a leak at the waste tank would be an issue. I can't imagine that it would because the vent is open to the air (in effect one big leak itself). I believe the seal only has to be maintained between the toilet and the vacu-flush generator back in the engine compartment. So either you have a leak at the toilet (likely) or back at the vacuum generator.

The quick run-down on the cabinet is you remove the drawer and then reach in along the sides of that panel with a shorty philips screwdriver and remove the screws that hold the cabinet face onto the fiberglass. Yes, there are nasty rough fiberglass surfaces back there. Gloves are a problem because you need to be able to feel for where the screws are located. Oh, and have more than one shorty screwdriver handy... you will drop at least one... Once the screws are off the front of the cabinet you then need to remove the ones holding the top L-brackets up to the fiberglass above. For this I use my right-angle cordless screwdriver. If you don't have one it's tight with a shorty screwdriver but can be done. Then the cabinet face AND the drawer box will slide toward you and out. From there you can get to the pump, it's on the starboard side next to the tank. Yes, it's a hassle.

By spigot in the transom I meant the washdown shower. Be sure the hot/cold mixer handle is fully turned off and that the trigger on the sprayer isn't sticking. Mine tends to get bumped into the on position sometimes.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

My fresh water pump cycles for two seconds every 30 minutes, I think it's on of those fancy microprocessor controlled pumps and should do this.

The vacuflush is likely the bowl seal. Try the water test wkearney describes. If the water leasks out, first try to clean the seal, put on rubber gloves, step on the pedal, reach in and rub around the underside of the rubber seal there is usually paper or stuff stuck there.

If that doesn't stop it, order a new bowl seal. When it comes in, undo the huge hose clamp holding the bowl of the toilet to the base, you may need to remove some decorative plastic covers. Pull off the bowl, disconnect the watter hose if needed. There are two rubber pancakes with holes and two different colors. Replace with new ones in the same order and put it back together. It's an easy and quick job and not too messy.

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

As usual thanks guys..
The water stays in the bowl but I will look at all your advise thats interesting that your pump comes on a little as well. Just seems like a pull on the battery for nothing. I thought maybe there was a seal in the fresh water pump that may be bad allowing it to suck air, I will go through and make sure all ok.

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Terry
2005 Vista 348
5.7 Volvo I/O

I have an 05 348 and my fresh water pump only comes on when a tap is opened. It's totally silent otherwise. I don't recall the make/model of it (I think it's a Jabsco). It was replaced as the first one died (during the first season). Different water systems exist but I think most 348's are the kind with just a pump that operates on demand. There are some systems that have a pressure assist tank (of whatever it's called). I don't think FW uses that kind.

I generally keep the breaker turned off unless the water is needed. Especially at night. If we need to use the head then we just flip the water and vacuum breakers back on. Nothing worse than a recurring pump noise waking you up at night. I want to reserve my vigilance for when it's important, like a bilge pump running. THAT will get me up.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Once again good point Bill
Thanks

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Terry
2005 Vista 348
5.7 Volvo I/O

This is the pump in my boat

http://www.shurflo.com/files/Education- ... 1%2011.pdf

Anytime there is a microcontroller, there is software and software has bugs...

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2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

Hi Bill so last week we tackled the fresh water pump, all went as planned until we tried to slide the cabinet face forward. When we pulled it forward the two shelfs on either side got in the way, by the shelfs I mean the little shelf you step on to get into the bed, it has a lip that sticks out and stops the cabinet from being pulled forward.
We had 5 guys and could not figure it out, we did reach through the draw opening and we able to pull the pump, it looks like I had a fitting not push in proper, there was also some debre in the filter. Once we put it back together it seemed to work real good. Now it was late on Sunday so will know for sure next weekend.
Anyway I need to know how you got that cabinet past that step ( unless you don`t have that ) I may have to cut the lip of my shelf that will not be easy.
All this took over 5 hrs so I would like to believe Four Winn's had a better plan for this.
Thanks once again in advance.

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Terry
2005 Vista 348
5.7 Volvo I/O

Mine comes straight out. I recall it being close to the sides and the steps, but not THAT close. But then I also have the forward stateroom option (there's a wall and door separating the forward berth from the cabin). I know that changes the steps a little, but I don't think it's enough to matter. But because of that door I have to very carefully tilt that danged cabinet face and drawer box in order to get it out of the forward stateroom. Bit of a hassle and hard on the back.

Perhaps if you lifted the panel upward it would clear the steps? A picture of your setup would help. Most of the stuff is set up to be decently serviceable. I've had to reach in through the drawer opening to retrieve lost tools and close the tank valve. But there's no way I could reach the pump through there.

On my 348 the steps are carpeted. I'd think more along the lines of modifying the steps first. The cabinets are veneered. Altering them is a hassle and usually ends up looking bad. Whereas carpet can cover a multitude of mistakes. I would definitely pull the carpet and change the steps instead of the cabinet.

Bear in mind the newer 348/358 models have a removable panel up under the mattress (this was discussed here, wasn't it?). That lets you get to the pump from above. If your boat is like mine, and there's only a single molded liner across the whole space, then going through the facing panel is the only way.

There should also be a filter on the front of the water tank (way down low in the center). Along with a shut-off valve. You want to check that filter and make sure it's not clogged either. I tend to only check mine during winterizing and spring recommissioning.

I would much rather have a more accessible way to get to the tank plumbing and the pump. I'd thought about what it would take to alter the cabinet panel. But I keep coming back to the reality that it would probably never end up looking right.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista