2008 Speedster Jet Boat - Bilge Pump Staying on (No water in Engine Compartment)

[ShaunMcD]

My Bilge Pump is staying on even though there is NO water in the engine compartment (and the engine is off)
It is a RULE-MATE 500 GPH/1890 LPH, Automated Bilge Pump
Other:
- The Main Power Switch is in OFF Position
- The Manual Dash Board Bilge Pump Switch is in the OFF Position
This was causing the battery to drain, so I disconnected the wiring assembly so that the Bilge would shut off
I removed the Bilge Pump and there does NOT seem to be anything obstructing the Float Switch
There also do NOT appear to be any blockage around the Bilge Pump
I also reconnected the wiring while I was holding the Bilge Pump in my hand (no water) and it continued to run ... even though the Main Power Switch was OFF and the Bilge Pump Manual Switch (on the dash board) was in the OFF position

Question:
1) Is there a separate fuse (or) wire that can be disconnected so that the Bilge "only" works when you flip the manual bilge pump switch on the dash board?, ie.) over-ride the "auto-on"
- I keep my Jet Boat on a ramp with the plugs out & was thinking that "IF" I need the bilge, I could just "switch" it
2) Is the Bilge Pump pooched ? and needs to be replaced? If so should I consider replacing with the same make/model [Rule-Mate 500 GPH - Automated Bilge Pump]
Other:
Coming out of the Rule-Mate the "3" Wire Colours are Brown/White, Brown and Black
Attaching to the to the Rule-Mate Wiring Harness [perhaps coming from the fuse panel (or) battery ... not sure which] are 3 other wires coloured Red/Brown, Brown & Black
I have attached 3 pics (1) Rule-Mate 500 (2) Wiring FROM Rule-Mate 500 and (3) Wiring FROM Rule-Mate 500

Additional Query: Re- Auto-Run Override Wiring
Can I just disconnect (cut & terminate) the BROWN Wire, which I understand is the wire that powers the "Auto-Run"
- Hoping that this will then default to allowing me to just throw/turn-on the Bilge Switch on the Console ... To Turn on and shut-off the Bilge Pump "manually" by the switch on the console (disengaging the "auto-on") ?? ... Or will this not work?

 

[10forty2]

The previous owner of my boat had the same problem and I bought the boat with the bilge pump unplugged. Apparently the float switch is notorious for getting stuck on these automatic pumps. And no, the automatic side of it does not go through the main battery switch. My proposed fix for it is to purchase a new pump (direct replacement) and make it a manually activated pump by disconnecting the power to the automatic side....haven't quite gotten into the "HOW" I'm going to do that, but I can't imagine it would be very difficult to do. My reasoning for replacing it with a direct replacement part is so that I won't have to figure out a new mounting bracket since the original one is already riveted to the floor of the boat bilge. Should be just a snap-out, snap-in replacement. The only thing left to figure out is which wire controls the power to the auto run.

 

[OG1]

Fix or replace the pump. I would NOT wire the auto function into your battery cutoff switch unless you want to risk a sunk boat during an overnight/extended moorage.

 

[gb387]

I agree... Get a new pump and hook it up as intended. You never know what might happen!! No need to play with fire!

 

[go_panthers]

Your boat becomes a big bowl in a rain storm. You need the automatic function.