Belly Ballast not filling on 08 SANTE 230

[perry386]

Ok, my belly ballast tank on my SANTE 230 wont fill. When you hit the button to fill it..nothing, but when you hold it to drain it..there is the sound of it working. I'm really confused by this because if it were the pump then it wouldn't drain, and if it were the connections then, again, it wouldn't drain. Could this be the fuse or am I missing something?

[NautiqueJeff]

Pull the pump apart and look at the impeller. Maybe it has failed in such a way that it will only allow it to spin in one direction. Super easy to open up the pump. Three screws.

[MLA]

I second Jeff's recommendation, inspect the impeller. If all looks good, then run the pump in both directions with the impeller out just to see what it does. If the pump tries to run one direction and not the reverse, then we know the switch has B+ and GND, but could be a faulty switch. If the pumps are left in the drain direction from the last trip out, then the impellers can stick to the pump housing. This will prevent the impeller from rolling over/flipping to the fill direction on the next outing. With the impeller pumps, its a good trick to flip it to fill for a bout 5 seconds when you are done draining at the end of the day. This allows the impeller to flip.

[perry386]

Pull the pump apart and look at the impeller. Maybe it has failed in such a way that it will only allow it to spin in one direction. Super easy to open up the pump. Three screws.

Thanks Jeff, but where is the pump located and how do I get to it?

[Miljack]

The pumps are under the battery bracket in front of the engine. You can remove the center fiberglass panel by removing a couple of screws. To see the screws, remove the center step/pad (same level as seat cushions), raise engine hatch, and you'll see a screw there, and then one down by the floor in front of the center fiberglass step/cover. This is also where you access the drain plug.
I'll try to find a pic, but you will see the pumps if you look in front of the engine (closer to bow). The pumps have a cover which have three screws holding it on. Hope that helps.

[perry386]

Pull the pump apart and look at the impeller. Maybe it has failed in such a way that it will only allow it to spin in one direction. Super easy to open up the pump. Three screws.

Ok, looked inside the pump and twisted the impeller to the fill position but it still did nothing, the pump didnt even try to work. I heard a click come from underneath the steering wheel and that was all. I also dropped a screw in the hull guess I have to go to Lowe's now.

Any other suggestions?

[perry386]

I second Jeff's recommendation, inspect the impeller. If all looks good, then run the pump in both directions with the impeller out just to see what it does. If the pump tries to run one direction and not the reverse, then we know the switch has B+ and GND, but could be a faulty switch. If the pumps are left in the drain direction from the last trip out, then the impellers can stick to the pump housing. This will prevent the impeller from rolling over/flipping to the fill direction on the next outing. With the impeller pumps, its a good trick to flip it to fill for a bout 5 seconds when you are done draining at the end of the day. This allows the impeller to flip.

Ok, im getting out in the boat today to try and fix it. Could you explain to me what the B+ and GND thing is?

[Woody_tobius_jr]

A click from under your steering wheel sounds like its kicking a breaker. Can you pull the pump and hook it to your port or starboard pump wiring and see if it works on a different circuit. If it doesn't then you'll probably need to replace your pump, if it does then maybe a wiring issue? My .02

[Miljack]

I would pull the impeller out of the pump and check to see if it will run (make sure you are getting power to the pump first). I'll agree with Woody on the circuit breaker diagnosis.
If the pump won't run with the impeller out, then you'll need to pull the pump and check the motor. If it runs, then the impeller was jammed up in the pump housing and you'll need to replace it. What color is the current impeller? If it's not a green one, you'll want to replace it anyway...

[perry386]

I would pull the impeller out of the pump and check to see if it will run (make sure you are getting power to the pump first). I'll agree with Woody on the circuit breaker diagnosis.
If the pump won't run with the impeller out, then you'll need to pull the pump and check the motor. If it runs, then the impeller was jammed up in the pump housing and you'll need to replace it. What color is the current impeller? If it's not a green one, you'll want to replace it anyway...

It is a green one and when I hooked the Starboard to Belly connector it behaved the same way which led me to believe it was the circuit breaker but I checked up under there and the little black button had been kicked out.

[perry386]

It is a green one and when I hooked the Starboard to Belly connector it behaved the same way which led me to believe it was the circuit breaker but I checked up under there and the little black button had been kicked out.

sorry, i meant to say the black button hadn't been kicked out

[Miljack]

Perry, did you switch the Starboard to belly connector at the pump, or at the dash switch? If at the pump, and the starboard pump was working, then you'll need to pull the pump and bench test it. If at the switch, you'll need to check the wiring run to the belly pump to make sure no breaks in the wire.

[perry386]

Perry, did you switch the Starboard to belly connector at the pump, or at the dash switch? If at the pump, and the starboard pump was working, then you'll need to pull the pump and bench test it. If at the switch, you'll need to check the wiring run to the belly pump to make sure no breaks in the wire.

I attached it at the pump and it did the same thing the belly one was doing: drain but no fill