Maintenance & Restoration

Mel P · 08-18-2019, 07:13 PM

Our battery has never worked in our 76 Trillium. Finally got a new battery, hooked it up and there is a VERY loud running noise from behind the heater. Turned off the breaker, tried messing with the pilot/on/off toggle for heater, nothing. Posted on Facebook group. Someone said it sounds like the water pump. How do I disconnect this so that we can hook up the battery and go camping tomorrow? I have yet to mess with water in the camper and not sure I want to deal with it quite yet. Any thoughts greatly appreciated. Don't think I can post a video on here of the noise. Sorry

thrifty bill · 08-18-2019, 07:47 PM

Do you have a power control center? If so, what model?

Do you even have a water pump? Standard Trillium was vacuum faucet, no pump.

Mel P · 08-18-2019, 09:16 PM

So it is the water pump. Looked under the seat and that was the culprit. It is OLD! We have never used water in it, so it has never been an issue. One person on Facebook mentioned that it could be a vacuum seal problem causing it to run continuously. I am just trying to figure out where the power control center would be and where a fuse might be. It is a 1976 1300.

And thank you for your assistance!

John in Santa Cruz · 08-19-2019, 12:04 AM

every camper Ive ever had with a water pump had a water pump switch somewhere, the pump only runs when its switched on...

thrifty bill · 08-19-2019, 08:19 AM

Sure looks like someone just put the pump there. It should have a switch, but maybe the person doing the work didn't do it right. Pump running continuously just drains the battery and ruins the pump. Time to start tracing your wiring. Certainly what I see in your picture is not inspiring.

Trailer has had 43 years for various owners to change stuff.

ZachO · 08-19-2019, 09:03 AM

Yeah if there's no water in the lines and the pump is on, it will run continuously. It hasn't happened to me in a while, but if I completely run out of water, the pump will run until I shut it off.

If someone installed that pump themselves, they could have put the switch anywhere. You'd like to assume it's somewhere easy to access...but people do some crazy things. Search around for the switch.