Next problem... water leak?

[Brian Johnson]

I connected the water hose today to the freshwater intake and turned it on.  Fill and pump switches off.  Fresh water holding tank empty.  Gray water almost empty.  The faucets ran OK, but no water got to the shower.  Then i noticed water leaking out underneath the RV under the bathroom area.  There was a leak big time.  It was coming out from the base of the toilet bowl at the floor level and obviously running through the floor and out the bottom.  from the water stained wood under the tile, it doesn't look like it was the first time.  It was at that time I noticed the black water holding tank was full.  It should have been...we'd emptied it the last time we used it and it hadn't been used since.  Can't figure out if that and the lack of water in the shower are connected?  Anybody have any ideas?  I hate to start pulling tile up if I am missing something easy....  thanks.

1990 Beaver Contessa 37'
Brian Johnson

[Keith Moffett Co-Admin]

I dont mean to ask a stupid question but is there any chance that you hooked the fresh water up to the power rinse connection.  This is the feature that washes out the black water tank.  I used ours the first time and didnt open the dump right away.  In a few minutes we had a leak just as you describe.  Our tank also was empty at the start but full in minutes.
Solution:
Remove cover panel on the passenger side that is in the compartment just ahead of the rear wheels.  Shop vac out all the water you can and leave it open to dry.  Double check the connection.

Keith

[Butch Martin]

Keith's insight/answer would seem to me to the the obvious answer.

Butch

[Brian Johnson]

Certainly not a stupid question.  That would make sense, but is the power rinse connection on the outside of the left side of the RV?  I was positive that is the freshwater intake connection.  Is there a switch or something that diverts it from fill to flush or power rinse?  I am reading the manual, and don't see where I am going wrong but, I will double check.  I can take a quick photo, and post it in a bit.

[Ken Buck]

My fresh water intake and power rinse intakes are about 18" apart in the services bay. It would be easy to confuse them on my rig if it wasn't well marked.

Ken

[Mandy Canales]

From what I'm reading from both Ken and Brian is that both coaches have different make-ups as far as city water.  In the '90 model, if it is like mine, there is the city water connect and unless someone has added a grey water flush connect the coach only has a black water flush connect.  It's a very simple configuration, not like all those knobs in the '07.  The "fill" switch is in the kitchen so I don't think there are any by-pass valves...  There are some connectors under the sink in the bathroom; perhaps one of those T connectors is loose or broken.  There should be an access panel to the shower in one of your closets to see if there is a leak in the shower piping.  Have you taken off the shower head and line to see if water doesn't actually get through?  Don't know if this is any help to you; just my classic motorhome thinking.  There may be a very small access door outside so one can see the plumbing in the bathroom.
Much luck to you.  Others who own a coach as yours are Bill White, Wally Schmidt, Pete Bradish, and Fred Oehm and they may have some input for you.
Mandy

[Brian Johnson]

Thanks again Mandy.  i was over the Beaver today and hooked it up to city water again.  This time the fresh water holding tank filled up, not the black water, then it started over flowing.  The "fill" switch was no on inside at the kitchen.  Oh, and today the shower worked and the toilet only leaked a little.  I'd think someone was messing with me...  or that thing has a mind of its own...  or i'm really stupid.  anyway...  not sure what the heck is going on now.  didnt touch anything from last time...  just let it all dry out.  hmmmm.  

Brian
1990 Beaver Contessa 37'

[JimDyer]

I'm going from memory here since I sold my 90 Grand Marquis in 08, but if I recall correctly, there was a water connection which pressurized the main water system in the same bay as the tank drain valves. You filled the water tank by actuating a switch in the kitchen, and the water tank guage was on the mission control panel over the pilot's head, making it convenient to know when to shut it off. IIRC there was no automatic shutoff on the fill switch but there was an overflow pipe to avoid pressurizing the tank.

In the water bay there was a black tank rinse connector which was labelled with the name of the spray ball company. I can't remember the name, but the regular water connection wasn't labelled. An easy way to check would be to stand by the drain valves and drain the tanks, then turn on the water hose and see if one tank runs water out it. To confirm the source, close the water supply hose valve and see if the flow stops.

Another thing to consider is whether the low point drains are set right. My Grand Marquis had them in a small space under the bottom bathroom cabinet ....you lifted the cabinet floor to get at them. IIRC, there were both valves and caps to both hot and cold......connecting them backwards somehow could give you quite screwy results.