Community Forums

ricochet · 07-17-2009, 03:08 PM

I bought a used '96 Southwind Storm 2 weeks ago. When i went to sanitize the water system, I hooked up the "city water" hose and turned it on. it should have presurized and stoped flowing until I turned on a faucet. However the water continued to run until it filled up my freshwater holding tank and ran out the gravity fill for it.

I knew that somewhere there is a valve that must connect the two systems, however I could not find it. I sent off for a manual from fleetwood and it came in today. it says the valve is in the "utility compartment" but has no diagram or indication as to where that compartment is.

I know where the low point drains are, I have two valves near the door to the water pump and another, larger, valve further back near the water pump that seems to drain the fresh water tank.

It dosen't seem that either of these three valves is the one I am looking for, so I assume there is another compartment with a (hopefully) clearly labeled valve.

Either this or I have a stuck automatic valve somewhere. Any ideas????

Thanks in advance for any info you can share.

George Z · 07-17-2009, 03:30 PM

The check valve built into your water pump seems to have failed, allowing water pressure from the system back into the tank.

George

Elkhartjim · 07-17-2009, 03:32 PM

If I understand, you're only trying to sanitize the fresh water lines not the tank itself! I'm not sure why your only sanitizing the lines and how do you intend to accomplish this? There is a three way valve on my mh that either fills the fresh water tank or allows you to bypass the tank and go directly to a faucet.

If you sanitize the fresh water tank you will also sanitize the lines. I'm not sure how you could or would want to sanitize just the lines. Maybe I'm not understanding your question however.

The "utility compartment" FW is describing is the compartment where my fresh water inlet is as well as my dump valves are located in this compartment.

Please post back.

ricochet · 07-17-2009, 03:42 PM

Sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned sanitizing the system, the problem is the flow of city water into the freshwater holding tank and how to stop it.

all three valves I have located are in a compartment below the fresh water tank filler port. they are all positioned horizontaly and I cannot raise up high enough to see any labeling on top of them.

My water pump also stoped working when the freshwater tank overflowed. The manual I got tells me the fuse is located near the electrical converter unit and I'll try changing that when my wife brrings it back home tomorrow. If it is a stuck valve in the pump, will running it possibly unstick it? Or will I need to replace it? If replacing the fuse dosen't work, I guess a replacement pump would be in order, don't you think?

Thanks for your help.

George Z · 07-17-2009, 03:53 PM

Running the pump might clear dirt from the check valve, if not pump removal and possible replacement should be considered. If the pump works you might consider putting an aftermarket check valve in the line past the pump.

ricochet · 07-17-2009, 04:03 PM

Thanks George, now I have some direction. Still, I would like to locate the valve refered to in the manual that allows me to fill my fresh water holding tank with city water system OR gravity system.

ricochet · 07-21-2009, 06:15 PM

Well, my wife brought the motorhome back over the weekend. I replaced the fuse for the water pump and it seemed to run just fine when I turned it on. So I turned it off and hooked up the "city water" and turned it on. It still filled up the fresh water holding tank. I turned off the city water and disconnected the hose. I turned on the water pump and it started pumping water out of the city water fill tube.

So, If I put water in the city water connection, it comes out the fresh water fill pipe. If I disconnect the city water and close off the fresh water fill and turn on the onboard pump, water comes out the city water fill pipe.

I'm beginning to believe that I don't have a valve that allows me to switch between using the city water hook up to operate the system or to fill up the freshwater holding tank even though the manual says I do (remember the manual said the valve was in the "utility compartment"). I think a backflow valve somewhere is stuck, possibly in the water pump as was suggested earlier. I'm ready to take it to the shop unless anyone else has any ideas. Thanks for the help.

TXiceman · 07-21-2009, 06:45 PM

You have a valve open that is connected to the tank. Not familair with the specific model, I can't tell you where to look. Try tracing the water lines in the water bay and you will probably find it.

Ken

Rick Long · 07-21-2009, 08:32 PM

The valve is probably not by the tank.. it's going to be by the pump. Turn on the pump... and go to where it is.. you'll find the valve.

John90XJ · 07-21-2009, 11:18 PM

My '95 Pace Arrow has the valve right next to the outdoor shower faucet in the DS rearmost compartment which houses all of the utilities. The water pump is right behind the valve as mentioned above.

ricochet · 07-22-2009, 09:46 PM

Thanks, everyone, I am about to believe that I don't have the valve I have been looking for. It is only mentioned once in the owners manual. Another member has the same year and model as mine and has his fresh water fill on the other side of his MH from mine and didn't seem to have the valve I referenced at all. If he ordered the same manual I did from fleetwood (by year and model) it appears the manual would be wrong for him. I had a class C that seemed to be identical in structure but had no such valve. Think I'll let a qualified service technician (someone from a repair facility more than 50 miles from home) take a look at it.

Thanks again for all the help. I'll try to remember to come back later and let you all know what the solution was.

dickfrompasadena · 07-23-2009, 06:09 AM

My Bounder 2007, has a valve that allows me to fill my tank from city water. It's next to the outside shower in the compartment where the wateer and sewer connections. It sounds like that valve is open.

Triker56 · 07-25-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

water comes out the city water fill pipe.

Water should not come out there via the pump being on.
They should be a check valve where the city water hose connection is.

If there is a screen inside at the city connection. Take it out and they should be a plunger behind the screen that can be pushed in and out. Sometime a piece of something can hold it open and it can be cleared out that way.

ricochet · 08-03-2009, 07:56 PM

Stopped by Camping World in Myrtle Beach last week. They replaced the "city water" inlet due to a defective backflow valve. They also replaced the water pump. The service tec. said he had never seen a water pump like the one I had in my camper. He wasn't sure it was even supposed to be used on a motor home. After replaceing both items, all works perfectly.

Thanks to all who responded. I only hope I can be of some help to someone in the future. I have camped in a class C for the last 21 years, with a small trailer before that and a pop-up before that. Started out in a tent in 1975/76. So glad my wife liked it. Again, Thanks.