Question about Malibu Ballast Pump

So i noticed the other day, that the port side rear ballast tank has an issue.

As soon as i flip the fill switch it starts shooting water out the side like its full. only it's not. I flip it to drain and it shoots water out like it's draining. only it would literally run all day if i let it.

I'm guessing the pump is messed up and i need to take it to the dealer to get replaced??

anyone else experienced something like this?

the other rear tank works fine, and the mid ballast works fine. seems to be only that tank.

also noticed the wake lip is washed out on that side.

Hmmm. They use two different pumps for filling and draining. If you're tank doesn't have any water in it, it of course shouldn't be spitting water out. Very weird.

And the washed out wake of course is because you don't have the weight evenly distributed in the boat. More weight on the washed out side will get rid of it.

So let me get this straight. When you fill or empty your ballast tank it will only empty, correct?

If it's like mine it's one pump that fills and empties. I would look at the wiring or just take it in. Has it worked before? Has anyone messed around under the dash with wiring?

yeah it is very strange. its almost like something is telling the pumps the tank is full. i am certain its empty though.

trying to fill or empty that tank results in a constant flow of water being spit out the side.

no, the boat only has 40 hours, no ones fooled with it (i hope). I'll just take it to the dealer when i get a chance. Surely this is something that would be covered under warranty, right??

Man it sounds like the tank is full. Try taking the boat out of the water and running the empty pump. There is zero no nada any way it could pump water out forever that way.

When it stops pumping out water the tank (obviously) is empty.

Get back in the water and fill the tank. If it pumps out the overflow immediately you have a problem. IF it fills the tank then pumps out the overflow your normal.

okay, i'll try that this weekend. it's on the lift all the time so that's easy enough to try.

i think it won't drain anything out on the lift, but as soon as i hit the water and switch to fill it will start shooting out.

(Message edited by tj_in_kc on July 18, 2008)

The only way that the pump will empty "all day" is if you have a short that turns the filling pump on at the same time as the emptying pump.

I'd look into that, if it is actually emptying all day.

Got off work early today and walked down to the dock, went out for a little spin. Seems the pump is not totally confused for that tank like i thought.

just moves in slow-motion. meaning it takes forever to empty that tank for some reason. let it go on for about 10 min and it finally stopped pumping water.

it's a miracle...god bless America!

(Message edited by tj_in_kc on July 18, 2008)