2006 SANTE ballast problem!

[Ksmit011]

I have a starboard ballast pump that won't drain! I have searched the forum and I know this is apparently an issue with the 2006 but I need more details on how to troubleshoot it. I pulled the pump out checked the impeller, (will replace with a new green one) it is not jammed and looks fine. I took the impeller out and ran the pump in fill and drain modes,,,the motor shaft only spins in the fill mode. I can hear a click under the dash when I push the drain button but nothing happens except the light blinks as it should. I read somewhere that the relays were located in the battery box, opened that up and activated drain on the pump but did not hear any clicking. I don't think the pump is bad because it works fine on fill...Where is the relay that sends power to the pump for draining??? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[jkallen21]

My 06 SANTE has breakers for fill and breakers for drain under steering wheel at driver's feet. This is in addition to the main breakers at the battery switch. Might start there. Just push the breakers to reset them.

[jbarbee]

I have and 2006 SANTE that I recently purchased and it also will not drain on the starboard pump. I hear the same clicking as you describe here. I have replaced the ballast controller and the starboard ballast sending unit. I also think this is a relay issue as my pump will fill. Do you recall how you solved this issue?

[d_nodixon]

my experience: tripped breaker equals stuck impeller(black)

won't empty was level gauges reading empty because of loose connection

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[1955 classic]

could be relay or motor or sender unit or stuck(tight impellor) blowing the circuit breaker

if the sender in the tank is faulty, it will allow you to fill the tank, but not drain. had this happen to me. At least you have replaced yours

you can check the motor by unplugging it and reversing the polarity of the wires, if it runs in both directions , motor is okay.

to check to see if you have voltage when it should be running, unplug ballast pump, and see if you have 12v at the plug connection

Not sure on the type of relays, but if its a basic automotive unit, under $10 should have you fixed

anything else, i dont know sorry,

[mt92]

I am having the same problem with my 2006 SV211 the pump will fill but is very picky about when and how long it will drain sometimes. I have the se with the keyed ignition and only fuses I believe. LMK if you find what is causing your problem.

[1955 classic]

sounds like the issue i had with my sender, fills fine, but empty would be very eratic ( 4-10 minutes)_ and sometimes not at all. easy test, swap the senders in the two tanks and ifproblem goes to other tank, then replace the sender.

The magnet material which slides up and down the sender, seems to break on the inside giving eratic readings

also as the motor would stop and start, the gauge would flicker and give a reading, then nothing

[d_nodixon]

can also unplug and insert a jumper wire rather than swapping senders

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[jbarbee]

Thanks for all the ideas. I will try them and see what I can find out this coming weekend. I have not tried reversing the polarity on my starboard pump, but I will do that and check voltage to make sure it works in both directions. Has anyone ever had the impeller be the issue that would stop the pump from spinning one direction. FYI I have not had any breakers tripping, at least not yet.

[jbarbee]

Okay, I finally got to test things a little more. Here is my status. Port, Startboard, and Belly pumps will all fill the ballast tanks. Only the port and belly pumps will empty. As an experiment, I swapped plugs on the pumps and moved the belly pump connector to the starboard pump. After doing this, the starboard pump will fill and dump without issue. I also tried plugging the starboard pump connector into the belly pump. The belly pump would then fill, but not dump. Any other ideas?

One other piece that I think maybe related to my issues. When the power is off, all ballast gauges read empty. As soon as power is applied, my starboard pump gauge reads full. This is the same one that I replaced the sender on. The odd thing is it will let me fill the tank, it just will not dump it. More ideas welcome.