Tap issues

[CaliforniaSteve]

The water flowing from the tap is intermittent on my T6 Ocean. The water always flows eventually but sometimes nothing happens for up to a minute. I am not sure if it is an airlock issue or pump issue.
Any suggestions? A description of how it all works would be useful.

 

[TripleBee]

If you open the tap, do you hear the waterpump? It is located under the wardrobe/safebox. If you hear the pump, but no water comes out, it means that the valve that locks the water is broken, or you have a leak somewhere in the hose to the tap. If you hear nothing, it can be a switch in the tap or the pump be broken.

 

[CaliGem]

I'm having this very issue with my 2010 Cali too

 

[VW Guru]

Hi the most common problems we see on T6 cali’s is the micro switch failing in the tap. The most common on the T5 and T5gp (5.1) was the pump seizing up. It’s a very simple system it consists of an intake pump a piece of pipe and the tap with the micro switch in it to turn the pump on and off. Normal signs of the tap micro switch failing is you turn on the tap and nothing happens you wait a little while ( longer than the normal 3-5 secs ) and all of a sudden water starts to flow. I would suspect the tap is failing in your case.

 

[Emil Silenhag]

You can confirm that it is the micro switch by disconnecting the thin cable underneath the sink, leading to the tap. Then shortcut the to terminals/pins. If the water starts flowing, then it is the micro switch.
You can clean the micro switch, or better install a relay instead, so the micro switch only have to handle “signal current”.

 

[Jabberwocky]

We’ve had our Cali for two and a half years - all was well. On way back from Factory visit the sink tap when switched on started to “leak” from around the end of spout and nozzle screw thread. Today it gave up and fell in two pieces! Looks like a stress fracture. See photo below. I know I could get it sorted via a warranty claim but is the little nozzle available as a spare anywhere?

 

[WelshGas]

We’ve had our Cali for two and a half years - all was well. On way back from Factory visit the sink tap when switched on started to “leak” from around the end of spout and nozzle screw thread. Today it gave up and fell in two pieces! Looks like a stress fracture. See photo below. I know I could get it sorted via a warranty claim but is the little nozzle available as a spare anywhere?View attachment 45270

Unfortunately No. whole tap only.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Unfortunately No. whole tap only.

Thanks WG. I see you are in Norway (?). Have a great holiday.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Unfortunately No. whole tap only.

Tap replaced under warranty.

 

[Teejay]

Hi the most common problems we see on T6 cali’s is the micro switch failing in the tap. The most common on the T5 and T5gp (5.1) was the pump seizing up. It’s a very simple system it consists of an intake pump a piece of pipe and the tap with the micro switch in it to turn the pump on and off. Normal signs of the tap micro switch failing is you turn on the tap and nothing happens you wait a little while ( longer than the normal 3-5 secs ) and all of a sudden water starts to flow. I would suspect the tap is failing in your case.

Looks like I may have this problem with the micro switch. Is this fixable in the field, I'm on Orkney at moment. Here for another 2 weeks. If it I will drain the tank.!

 

[VW Guru]

Looks like I may have this problem with the micro switch. Is this fixable in the field, I'm on Orkney at moment. Here for another 2 weeks. If it I will drain the tank.!

If you can get a couple of wires you can bypass the switch there is a little two pin plug just tucked up under the sink wrapped in foam just remove that and bridge the two pins and water will flow

 

[Loz]

I'm getting this now, so my plan is a small relay under the sink.

 

[CaliforniaSteve]

Hi the most common problems we see on T6 cali’s is the micro switch failing in the tap. The most common on the T5 and T5gp (5.1) was the pump seizing up. It’s a very simple system it consists of an intake pump a piece of pipe and the tap with the micro switch in it to turn the pump on and off. Normal signs of the tap micro switch failing is you turn on the tap and nothing happens you wait a little while ( longer than the normal 3-5 secs ) and all of a sudden water starts to flow. I would suspect the tap is failing in your case.

Thanks. How easy is it to replace the tap? My Cali is now out of warrantee.

 

[VW Guru]

Thanks. How easy is it to replace the tap? My Cali is now out of warrantee.

It’s easy there is just one securing nut and that’s hand tight the most difficult part is getting the water pipe off the old tap but if you warm it carefully with a hair dryer it will just pull off with ease.

 

[Teejay]

I'm getting this now, so my plan is a small relay under the sink.

I'd be interested in your relay solution if you share

 

[Teejay]

If you can get a couple of wires you can bypass the switch there is a little two pin plug just tucked up under the sink wrapped in foam just remove that and bridge the two pins and water will flow

Thanks, @VW Guru and @WelshGas, this is exactly what it was. Mentioning the foam was the key to finding the correct wires. Now I have 7 litres in platypus bottles.

 

[Loz]

I'd be interested in your relay solution if you share

Ordered a few bits this morning.
This is my plan.

 

[ArunAlec]

Ordered a few bits this morning.
This is my plan.
View attachment 48162

Me too! Just waiting for the relay.
I have an additional mod, a toggle switch under the sink to isolate the tap and now the relay. Just to save having to pull the fuse when I drain the system.

 

[Loz]

Job done!

 

[ArunAlec]

Just fitted my relay and a thought occurred to me (doesn’t happen often) ..... The tap has two elements, the electrical switch to operate the pump and the physical valve, which controls the flow/volume of water.
This means that when the tap is set to “minimal” flow, the pump, which is either on or off is working hard to push water against a almost closed valve.
Will this cause the pump to burn out quicker?

 

[Loz]

Will this cause the pump to burn out quicker?

No, it just causes slight cavitation in the pump.

 

[KGCali]

Ordered a few bits this morning.
This is my plan.
View attachment 48162

Hi Loz, where did you get the crimp terminals for the VW connectors as I didn't get any with mine, do you have the parts numbers?

 

[Loz]

Hi Loz, where did you get the crimp terminals for the VW connectors as I didn't get any with mine, do you have the parts numbers?

I purchased off ebay and the plugs had short tails on them where they had cut them from the vehicles.

 

[KGCali]

Ordered a few bits this morning.
This is my plan.
View attachment 48162

Finally got around to fitting the tap relay to save the tap microswitch and added a switch to turn off the power so I can drain the tap without removing the fuse. Thanks for you circuit and photos @Loz
I also fitted the newer sink waste with the built-in water trap so it now drains much faster.

 

[westfalia]

Finally got around to fitting the tap relay to save the tap microswitch and added a switch to turn off the power so I can drain the tap without removing the fuse. Thanks for you circuit and photos @Loz
I also fitted the newer sink waste with the built-in water trap so it now drains much faster.

View attachment 52514

When your sliding window leaks, will the drips miss the contacts?