Karsty
Well-known member
After almost 8 months of RV ownership I am beginning to lose my enthusiasm for RVing. Not that I don't enjoy the travelling or the RV lifestyle. But I am beginning to wonder if I don't have a "LEMON" . I purchased my Winnebago ERA last November. I was excited and delighted with my purchase. But ... I quickly discovered that my RV had a number of minor problems and issues that needed to be repaired/replaced. I accepted that as all part of the RV experience. Although for a new vehicle it was something of a surprise for me.
After my last trip to the RV and Mercedes dealers I really thought everything was taken care of ... until I went to empty my grey water tanks. I emptied the before with no problem. This time the macerator pump didn't pump. Nothing ... no noise, no pumping ... no nothing!!! OK ... check the manual ... Hmmm fuse?? Now why would a fuse blow?? No idea ... this is a new vehicle but I guess it can happen. So ... I go to the store and buy and set of fuses. Replace 20 AMP fuse for waste pump. Have friend turn on pump ... a large POP and FLASH and fuse blows immediately. I note in manual that you may have to remove the back of pump and using a screwdriver manually turn the macerator to see if it moves freely. Unfortunately I can't do that. I have no means to get underneath the RV and do these things. And there is no one in the area that has a lift strong enough to lift the RV to have it done!!
So ... make another appointment with the dumb ass RV dealer. July 30th is the earliest appointment. So here I sit with an almost full grey water tank and no means to empty it ... at least as far as I know.
My question is:
Is there a way to empty my grey water tank without having to use the macerator pump?? Is there some kind of drain valve on the tank?? Since it is only grey water I don't mind draining it in my back yard for now.
FYI ... I have not used the black water tank period. It doesn't need to be emptied. I also noticed that Winnebago has made a change on their 2013 model ERA and replaced the macerator pump system with a gravity flow system to empty the tanks on the ERA. Perhaps they have identified a problem with the macerator pump method that they haven't shared with us yet??????
Any help would be appreciated.
After my last trip to the RV and Mercedes dealers I really thought everything was taken care of ... until I went to empty my grey water tanks. I emptied the before with no problem. This time the macerator pump didn't pump. Nothing ... no noise, no pumping ... no nothing!!! OK ... check the manual ... Hmmm fuse?? Now why would a fuse blow?? No idea ... this is a new vehicle but I guess it can happen. So ... I go to the store and buy and set of fuses. Replace 20 AMP fuse for waste pump. Have friend turn on pump ... a large POP and FLASH and fuse blows immediately. I note in manual that you may have to remove the back of pump and using a screwdriver manually turn the macerator to see if it moves freely. Unfortunately I can't do that. I have no means to get underneath the RV and do these things. And there is no one in the area that has a lift strong enough to lift the RV to have it done!!
So ... make another appointment with the dumb ass RV dealer. July 30th is the earliest appointment. So here I sit with an almost full grey water tank and no means to empty it ... at least as far as I know.
My question is:
Is there a way to empty my grey water tank without having to use the macerator pump?? Is there some kind of drain valve on the tank?? Since it is only grey water I don't mind draining it in my back yard for now.
FYI ... I have not used the black water tank period. It doesn't need to be emptied. I also noticed that Winnebago has made a change on their 2013 model ERA and replaced the macerator pump system with a gravity flow system to empty the tanks on the ERA. Perhaps they have identified a problem with the macerator pump method that they haven't shared with us yet??????
Any help would be appreciated.