Strangeness heppening with my ballast pumps not draining....help

[Daytomann]

2004 216TE
So I took the boat out tonight. First time out since July 2016. I filled the ballasts tanks just fine but when I went to empty them nothing happened on either side. I tried multiple times and durations. Out on the lake, I could not hear if the drain pumps were working due to the wind and other noises. So I gave up.
Once I trailered the boat back to the storage, I thought I would try again since it was quiet enough to hear if the pumps were working. I hit the port side empty first and BAM it worked immediately. Was pumping out strong. I hit the Starboard side pump and nothing, No noise from the pump at all. The Starboard fill pump purrs away and works fine. I checked the breakers and they were not tripped. Any ideas as to what's going on here?
I wonder why the port ballast drain pump wouldnt drain on the lake but did immediately when I got back to the storage?

Key pad light blinks for starboard drain pump activation but pump doesnt work.
Ballast gauges both worked properly.
Keep in mind that all pumps worked last time I used them but it has been quite a while.

Thanks!

[ski4evr]

impellers in pumps dried out maybe? I think they are replaceable, I'm assuming you still have original pumps.

[Daytomann]

Thanks for the reply. No, the 216 has 4 pumps. 2 for fill, 2 for drain. They all have hard plastic impellers so they cant dry out. Gotta be electrical or a failed pump but Im just looking for some direction. I did find one thread describing the same issue. One guy said it was a loose plug but it was fixed at a dealer and he could not be specific as to where the plug was located.

Again, the issue is:
Press and hold the starboard key pad button.. the light blinks, drain pump does not activate. No noise at all coming from the pump.

I have a "spare" pump that I can splice in and see if it will activate. If it doesn't them Im back to square one.

[homer12]

Check voltage on the wires when you turn on. You should be able to disconnect them easily at a connector if it's still OEM wiring. If you have voltage I'd say bad pump


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[Daytomann]

Well...I tore into it and found that the pump just went bad. I had a spare pump that I spliced in, then plugged in and it worked. Issue solved.

Thanks!

[charlesml3]

Well...I tore into it and found that the pump just went bad. I had a spare pump that I spliced in, then plugged in and it worked. Issue solved.

Thanks!

Any chance the pump froze over the winter? When they winterize the boat, they don't do the pumps unless you tell them to. Don't ask me how I know...

-Charles

[swatguy]

It's about the lifetime of those cartridge pumps. They just freeze up.

Keep a spare on hand, they're pretty inexpensive.

[Daytomann]

Any chance the pump froze over the winter? When they winterize the boat, they don't do the pumps unless you tell them to. Don't ask me how I know...

-Charles

Ive had that happen to me once. It still worked but the casing just split open. I dont think that was the case here. Im going to crack it open just for giggles and take a look at it.

[Daytomann]

It's about the lifetime of those cartridge pumps. They just freeze up.

Keep a spare on hand, they're pretty inexpensive.

Yup, Im glad I had a spare.
They cost around $42.50