Automatic Bilge Pump Not Working

[roneagan@cfl.rr.com]

This is more of an FYI on the automatic bilge pump in the 98 Sportster, I am sure others have the same setup.. My automatic sensor would not turn the pump on when the bilge filled with water.. I read someplace else that the automatic sensors can get corrosion on them causing them not to work.. So
I took some break cleaner and a rag and cleaned the sensor, then for good measure opened up the plug in the sensor circut and put some dielectric grease into the plug.. The good news is it know works great, I almost bought a new sensor but figured a little time was worth the effort.. Another little problem solved....

 

[pickle8486]

where is the sensor? i got a 2004 xp di that i almost sank. water was filled up to the top of the battery and my pump never kicked on.

 

[justy_123]

pickle8486 check the bilge pump fuse. It is located in the front electrical box where the coils are. It is hard to find but its in there!

Your bilge pump itself if probably seized too. I have a 2004 xpdi as well, when I bought the jet ski the bilge pump was seized on it.

I replaced the bilge pump and it's fuse and it has been as good as gold ever since.

If you do get a new bilge pump. Be sure its an automatic one. There is no float as such. The pump automatically senses water by measuring resistance on the pump impeller.

Good Luck

 

[pickle8486]

the pump isnt froze, i took it out, bench tested it and it worked fine. i pulled the lid off of the electrical box, all i saw was the coils ill check again though, thanks

 

[scooper77515]

I had an issue with mine when I first got it. It would come on, but wouldn't turn off. Until the battery died.

So I had to do a little bending on the bracket that holds the sensor so that it would turn off after the water got below the the pump.

Swapped the pump out while I was in there, just for good measure. It was already over 10 years old.

 

[pickle8486]

but where is the sensor?? i am looking for the traditional float switch and i dont see it. the wires go straight to the mpem and nothing looks like a float switch in the bilge area.

 

[scooper77515]

Not sure what kind you have, but mine has a black carbon looking rod that sticks down from the pump mounting plate. It senses when it is wet, somehow. Not sure if it senses electrically, or if there is a float inside it. It is attached to the aluminum plate that the pump is attached to.

Do you see anything like that?