Bilge Mystery

[mattmaxwell877]

I recently acquired a used 2016 Nautique G23. The bilge pumps are not pumping water from the bilge. I have no faults and the bilge light blinks slow while Linc off and battery switch on. The bilge light is constant when Linc is powered on, but the bilge pumps never pump water out. The bilge pumps are clean and the impellers spin. I actually found advice on a Nautique Facebook group about touching the 3rd wire to the battery to test the pump. When I do this, the pump works. I also updated the Linc system via a download link Buxton Marine sent me. They also sent me a link to up the Polk PA4A, but I couldn't figure how to do that one. So... according to the lights, the bilge pumps should be working. I installed the bilge plug and ran some water into the bilge to test, but they never pumped the water out. I'm lost.

[NautiqueJeff]

If you turn the pumps off at the button on the dash, when you turn them back on, you should hear them run for a second or so to test for water. Do you hear that happen?

[mattmaxwell877]

No sir. I even held the pump in my hand while someone cycled the button and nothing.

[NautiqueJeff]

That's odd. It sounds like the button or the wiring is not functioning properly. Since neither pump is coming on, my GUESS is that the button pad might be acting up. You might try reseating the plug on the back of the button pad to see if that makes a difference.

Have you checked for circuit faults as described on page 53 of this manual? Normally you won't see the bilge pumps there since they are on their own circuit, but it would be interesting to see if any other faults exist.

Here's the bilge pump diagnostic guide, but it sounds like the lights are displaying normally.

[mattmaxwell877]

I’ve checked for faults, but there are none. I will try reseating the plug for the button pad. I’m baffled lol.

[vision]

I would suspect the pumps. Just run 12v to the connector on both circuits (should be 3 wires). Does the pump spin on both circuits?

[NautiqueJeff]

He said that he did that in the original post. I doubt it is the pumps, especially since both are doing the same thing.

[vision]

Thanks Jeff. I saw that but I was not sure he tested both circuits in the pumps. My 2020 G had the same issue. Both pumps would not come on regardless of Linc setting. One side of the pump's circuit worked fine. But other did not. Replaced both pumps and the problem was resolved.