Help needed - Thetford electric flush toilet. (1 Viewer)

[maison]

The pump on our toilet is constantly running, flooding the bowl.

The switch “clicks” when operated but doesn’t stop the pump. I can’t see how to get to the switch. The only way to stop the toilet running is to switch off the pump at the control panel losing all water pump activity.

The switch is not accessible from the cassette locker.

Any suggestions welcome to allow us to continue the holiday.

 

[Lenny HB]

Solenoid has probably failed/jammed or got some grit in it or build up of calcium stopping it closing.
Take the cassette out the solenoid it at the top on the left hand side.

 

[maison]

Thanks I will have a look.

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[autorouter]

I think it's more than just a solenoid stuck open. The pump is running and sending water to the toilet, and the solenoid valve is open allowing the water to come out. Sounds like a bit of a wiring problem maybe near the switch panel. I don't know how you get at the switch. If there's no access round the back anywhere, maybe the switch panel just prises out and clicks back in. Probably a mouse nesting in there

If you can isolate the toilet wiring, and leave the rest of the taps working, you can use a bottle/jug of water to flush the toilet until you get it fixed.

 

[maison]

I have checked all I can.

Having switched off the water pump I gave the solenoid a tap with a screwdriver handle. On switching on the water pump the toilet had stopped flushing. Pressing the flush button again resulted in the pump continuing to run again, so it does sound like a solenoid fault.

Hopefully, we have a mobile technician coming to look at it late this afternoon. If he arrives and fixes it I will post what the cause/remedy was in case anyone else suffers the same problem.

 

[WildBunch]

I have had a similar fault, the pump / flush did not stop thus flooding the bowl. We thought we managed to stop the problem by repeatedly operating the switch. A short while later we noticed that water was flowing all over the hab floor. We isolated the water pump switch to stop the flow. A bit of a panic to dry the floor before there was any damage. It seems that the pump was running un-commanded ?
We got in touch with Thetford technical dept. Their advise was to replace the solenoid and the switch panel. Which we are going to do shortly. We have been using the van quite a bit recently, and the problem has not repeated. We isolate the pump when not in use, a bit of a fag, but better safe than sorry. Imagine the damage if 120 liters of water is pumped on to the Hab floor.

Buy the way the switch panel is easy to remove by gently levering it out of the toilet wall panel.
Please see my previous thread on this matter.

Panic....Thetford Cassette flush floods habitation area. (1 Viewer)​

• Thread starterWildBunch
• Start dateMay 23, 2022

I am unsure at this time if the solenoid or the switch panel is at fault. Please let me know the outcome of your fault.

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[autorouter]

I am unsure at this time if the solenoid or the switch panel is at fault.

My money's on the switch panel...

 

[Badknee]

Wow! An interesting toilet thread, well done. Watching with interest for a cure

 

[sueandjohn]

Wow! An interesting toilet thread, well done. Watching with interest for a cure

So are we

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[maison]

The mobile technician attended and diagnosed a faulty solenoid. Unfortunately the only one he had with him had the water connections in a different place so wouldn’t fit.

He disconnected the power supply to the solenoid so that we can run the rest of the water system without the loo flooding. We will “flush” with a water bottle for the last two days of our holiday.

Fortunately the m/h is already booked in for its first hab check on 25th July so the dealer will check it then, under warranty.

It cost us a £20 turn out fee but, at least, we are usable again.

If, on the dealer carrying out the repair, it turns out to be anything other than the solenoid I will post the outcome.

Thanks to those who offered advice, great stuff.

 

[sueandjohn]

The mobile technician attended and diagnosed a faulty solenoid. Unfortunately the only one he had with him had the water connections in a different place so wouldn’t fit.

He disconnected the power supply to the solenoid so that we can run the rest of the water system without the loo flooding. We will “flush” with a water bottle for the last two days of our holiday.

Fortunately the m/h is already booked in for its first hab check on 25th July so the dealer will check it then, under warranty.

It cost us a £20 turn out fee but, at least, we are usable again.

If, on the dealer carrying out the repair, it turns out to be anything other than the solenoid I will post the outcome.

Thanks to those who offered advice, great stuff.

Thanks for the info - how did they get to the solenoid ?

 

[peterc10]

It cost us a £20 turn out fee but, at least, we are usable again.

WOW ... that is cheap! Got a name and contact details please for future reference?

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[Sue and Rick]

If the solenoid was stuck open with debris or fault the water would not stop running if disconnected electrically.
I suspect the switch or circuitry if the water stops running when the wiring is disconnected

 

[maison]

Thanks for the info - how did they get to the solenoid ?

It is easily available whenthe cassette is removed as described by Lenny HB in post #2.

 

[maison]

WOW ... that is cheap! Got a name and contact details please for future reference?

MJ Automarine Mobile Caravan Engineer. 07507 222600.

He covers West Wales so a long way from you. I would think his turn out charge to you could be considerably higher!

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[Littlewheels]

It is easily available whenthe cassette is removed as described by Lenny HB in post #2.

Lenny is such a talented guy, what would we do without him.

 

[tonyidle]

The water feed to the toilet is often seen at one side of the cassette door. If so it can be clamped or separated and plugged if the solenoid fails.

 

[tonyidle]

If the solenoid was stuck open with debris or fault the water would not stop running if disconnected electrically.
I suspect the switch or circuitry if the water stops running when the wiring is disconnected

That depends on whether the water supply is pressure- or micro- switched.

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[maison]

If the solenoid was stuck open with debris or fault the water would not stop running if disconnected electrically.
I suspect the switch or circuitry if the water stops running when the wiring is disconnected

I must admit I can see the logic in your argument.

As I said, if it turns out to be anything other than the solenoid i will post again after the dealer has looked at it on 25th July.

 

[racerdave]

I had the same thing happen a few weeks ago in Cornwall. Same panic.
I managed to disassemble the switch panel to find out the the micro switch was jammed on be the little blue rubber button. Probably caused by over eager pressing of said button. I reassembled the panel and hey presto problem solved

 

[PP Bear]

Lenny is such a talented guy, what would we do without him.

Reminds me of a certain movie clip…… Lenny HB that is called Lenny…

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[maison]

I had the same thing happen a few weeks ago in Cornwall. Same panic.
I managed to disassemble the switch panel to find out the the micro switch was jammed on be the little blue rubber button. Probably caused by over eager pressing of said button. I reassembled the panel and hey presto problem solved

Does the switch panel in my photo just pull off the wall?

If there is a knack please explain and I will check that out.

 

[Lenny HB]

Does the switch panel in my photo just pull off the wall?

If there is a knack please explain and I will check that out.

Yes plastic clips around the edge, behind it everything is mounted on a PCB.

 

[maison]

Yes plastic clips around the edge, behind it everything is mounted on a PCB.

Thanks Lenny. I have pulled the panel away but the switch is hidden by the PCB.

I can’t see how to remove the board to access the switch Without possible damage. Perhaps I am better just leaving things alone until the dealer sees it on the 25th. Electronics are a mystery to me and even a little knowledge is a dangerous thing in the wrong hands ie mine!

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[sueandjohn]

This has been a really useful toilet thread . Who would have thought you could use useful & toilet thread together

 

[maison]

For those of you who were interested in this thread the problem has now been resolved by the dealer we bought it from, during the first hab service.

The cause was a faulty PCB behind the “push button panel” in the toilet compartment. Ie the blue button for the electric flush.

Sue and Rick get the prize for correct diagnosi.

BTW West Country Motorhomes is the dealer concerned. They have always given us excellent service.

 

[WESTY66]

Lenny is such a talented guy, what would we do without him.

Yes he is, I keep asking him to adopt me

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