Fleetwood Motorhome Association, Inc. - Vacuum Flush pump runs constantly

11/13/2016 10:21 PM

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Message # 4383016

Deleted user

We own a 2007 Pace Arrow 36D. This motorhome has a half bath mid-coach and a full bath across the back. Both commodes use a vacuum flush system - sounds just like the commode in a commercial airliner. Whooooosh! The last time out, there was a continuous noise that I assume is the pump that creates the vacuum pressure. Could it be that there is an air leak and that the pump keeps on running trying to maintain that vacuum. I'm just guessing here. Both commodes work OK. There's a small panel next to each commode that has two lights, a red and a green. Normally, the green light is on until the commode is flushed and the red light comes on. When the vacuum is replenished, the red light goes out and the green light comes on, signaling that the commode is ready to be flushed again. Now, the red light is on continuously with no green light. That tells me that the vacuum is not being built up and that there's a leak somewhere.

Anyone have any ideas as to what I can do other than take it to a dealer. I really hate to do that if there's any way to do it myself. My problem is that this is a system that I've never had any contact with. Is CLUELESS a good description?

11/14/2016 7:12 AM

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Reply # 4383708 on 4383016

Gary & Jacki Hammond

Alan,

We have a 2008 Pace Arrow with same toilet. Have had a lot of problems with ours. If you are lucky the problem could be as simple as toilet paper stuck in the toilet seal where it won't hold water and pump will run continuously. Clean seal well and that fixes that problem. Other problem we encountered that I was able to 'fix' was the bolts holding the pump housing together had worked loose and two had come out completely! I could not get new bolts in but was able to wrap black electrical tape around housing to hold in place. Worked great until we got back home and took to dealer to fix. Not aware of anything else you can 'fix' on your own. Good luck, I prefer the old fashioned toilets, but I guess that isn't possible with two toilets.

11/14/2016 10:43 AM

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Reply # 4385740 on 4383016

Anonymous

Allen

We have a 2013 Bounder 35K. Had exactly the same problem you describe last year. Ended up replacing the pump. Not cheap, but it solved the problem. Check the toilet seals first but it sounds like the pump. Ours basically cracked open leaving a very messy stinky clean up. Not sure where your pump is but ours was located in a small area with a service passage. Very difficult to get to the pump. I left the area open for several days to air out. Good luck. Bob

11/15/2016 2:10 PM

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Reply # 4393875 on 4383016

Deleted user

Thanks, guys. I'll give the seals a once over. As for the vacuum thing, I have no problem closing the lids before flushing - I've been married to the same fine woman for 53 years. I'm pretty well trained by now. One of our problems has been whether or not guests would close before flushing, too. Now, the pump runs almost continuously as long as we're hooked up to shore power and, I suppose, on the road. I've tripped both battery disconnects and it stops, but, of course, so does everything else when we're off shore power. I guess, I'm going to have to go see a RV dealer. The nearest is a Jayco dealer (about 25 miles) where I took our Class C. The nearest Fleetwood dealer is over 200 miles away. Dang!

11/16/2016 5:39 AM

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Reply # 4395041 on 4383016

Gary & Jacki Hammond

Alan,

Our 2008 Pace Arrow has a switch in the 1/2 bath to turn the Vacu-Flush off. When we were having problems with ours we would turn it on for a minute or so to build up vacuum to flush toilet then shut system off. This worked fine until we could get to a repair facility.

11/22/2016 6:29 PM

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Reply # 4406614 on 4383016

Anonymous

We have a 2017 pace arrow 36 U . Our vacuum pump was coming on every 6 to 7 minutes We had to run it back into the shop,we had a couple bolts loose on the vacuum pump. We had a couple bolts loose on the base of the toilet too. Check the hose connections outside on the vacuum pump you can have a loose hose clamp. What we had to do inbetween using the toilet we ,just turned it on and off so it wouldn't run all night while we are sleeping . Like I said ours was a 2017

12/05/2016 11:39 AM

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Reply # 4440353 on 4383016

Deleted user

we had the same issue on our 2016 Excursion 33D....cycle was every 4-5 minutes....was a warranty item that they fixed with a new flange...the other one was cracked....has not been a problem for the last 7 weeks or so....it occassionally occurs when we clean the toilet, but being careful to not have any debris on the black rubber seal on the toilet flapper takes care of it...when it was a problem, we just turned the switch off at night to avoid hearing the cycle...while the system does not seem durable enough for RV use, the bathroom smells a lot better than our old system of flushing direct to the tank without the air flush....we have lived in the RV for 3 months now and have gotten used to the sound and really like the fresher smell

01/23/2017 4:03 PM

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Reply # 4564634 on 4383016

Anonymous

Alan, I see you have a 2007 unit. According to the manufacturer you should replace the "duckbill" valves every 3 years. They have to do with pulling the vacuum, I don't know how specifically, thus if you have not replaced them that could be part of the problem. I have a 2015 Bounder 35K and replaced mine last fall, found pictures on irv2.com under waste problems. It wasn't a bad job, just flush lines clear and run some Dawn though before disconnecting the vacuum generator. Other possibilities are as others stated; toilet seal, a line somewhere or loose bolts.

I have found the system to be rather efficient though we do not put TP in the commode, put in waste can. Secondly "school" your guests on how to use the system.