Bilge pump replacement

[geomaster]

So this weekend we took the Tige out and ended up taking on significan water (due to new drivers taking rollers over the bow).
I checked the bilge and noted the bilge pump was almost entireley submerged. However it was not automatically pumping. I switched the bilge pump on manually; however this did nothing as well. I could not see any water pump out at all. I also could not hear the pump working (however it may have been drowned out by the engine). Additionally I did not see the light on the switch turn on when I tried turning on the pump.

Does this mean there is an electrical connection issue? Or is the pump dead? What model is it exactly?

I remember manually using the bilge pump last summer however this was the last time I ever tried using it. It was left on manually for an hour before eing shut off. Would this have killed the pump (as it was running dry)?

This is in a 2001 tige 21i.

[skippabcool]

You may want to read through this thread:

http://www.tigeowners.com//forum/showthread.php?t=14571

[chpthril]

No light in the switch usually indicates there is no power to the switch. There is also a slight chance that your 01 doesn't have an automatic bilge. How many wires going to the bilge pump? Can someone with an 01 confirm?

[geomaster]

There are 3 wires. 1 is black. 2nd is brown. 3rd is brown with white stripe.
Shouldn't this have turned on automatically with water in the bilge. Would that point to a pump issue?

[Wickedcummins]

Three wire pump indeed should have come on automatic. Witch should be hard wires to the battery with a 7.5amp fuse!

[chpthril]

Blk = ground
brn = switched 12V
brn/wht = constant B+

Time to grab a test light and start testing.

[skippabcool]

Three wire pump indeed should have come on automatic. Witch should be hard wires to the battery with a 7.5amp fuse!

Mine had 10 amp's in them. When I replaced the bilge pump the manual on line said it should be 3 amp the information with the bilge said 2 amp. Which one should it be?

I went with the 2 amp figuring it was the safest.

[Wickedcummins]

just read what the pump wants and run that! That way if something gets in the pump it will pop teh fuse and not kill the pump!

[geomaster]

Thanks for the advice guys. It turned to be a simpler fix than I thought.
I took the pump off the bracket mounting it to the hull. The pump impeller was clogged with dirt and couldn't turn. It started pumping again once I finished cleaning it.

It was an Attwood 500 bilge pump

What do you guys do to avoid this problem? What do you do to clean the bilge out?

[Wickedcummins]

What kind of crap are you getting down there? And did it not pop the fuse on the Battery side of the wiring ? If not you should lower the fuse. NOrmally if something keeps the pump from spinning you want that amp draw to snap the fuse to keep from burning up the pump!

[ajholt7]

I pull my pump off of the base and clean it a couple times a year. I seem to always have carpet fuzz in mine.

[laserfish]

Replaced mine this spring as it squealed like a pig when I turned it on. Found the same one on ebay even though it was discontinued. Snapped right into the existing base saving me a lot of contortion putting in a new one.

[Fiveflat]

No light in the switch usually indicates there is no power to the switch. There is also a slight chance that your 01 doesn't have an automatic bilge. How many wires going to the bilge pump? Can someone with an 01 confirm?

My '99 has a float...