Weird issue, thoughts needed.

My livewell pump out wouldn’t stay running constantly today. I could flip the switch and it would run for 15-30 seconds and then it would turn off. I changed the rocker switch and it did the same thing, so it’s not the switch. If I turned the switch off and waited a minute or so, then flipped it back on, it would run for a few seconds. Could the pump be getting too hot? Not sure what else it could be and it’s a mofo to get down into the bilge, so I’d like to have a clue before I jump in there.

thermal breaker somewhere, they will reset pretty quick if they can cool down fast.

brushes may be worn out in motor, gunk in pump/line blockage could also cause it.

hold a hose up to the intake and turn on the pump while some pressure is there, may clean crud out if any.

Do your live well switches have an "Auto" feature on them?

Yes, but that all seems to work normal. If I remember correctly, the pumpout is by itself, grrr, can’t remember anything anymore.


The thing has to be plugged with junk. Has to be something like Hop mentioned, guess I’ll have to dig down into it.

I hate to say this as any work on our pumps is really tough, if your being careful so as not to break fittings. But one think that this sounds to me is the pump is getting ready to completely lock down altogether. They will do this as time gets on them.
I just had to replace both bilge pumps and both aerator pumps as the bilge pumps were locked completely and the two aeration pumps have been on the blink, acting up. Replacing these all at once is a pain for an older beat up guy such as myself.
Now I wish I had just replaced all at once. Hope this helps man...

Edit: I forgot to mention, if you do put the new pump or pumps in, if they are like you mentioned as a pump
Out, cut the threaded suction tube of the pump long enough and file down nice and smooth, this helps with getting the nut on after you slime with sealant. I cut mine all extra long and buy the domed screw on screens to keep all the big stuff from being sucked through my pumps. I do this with any of the suction side of the pumps, that can be on the inside of the bait and or livewell, as well as on the outside of the boat with the fill pumps. The only pumps I can't do this to is the bilge.
The bilge pumps get to suck out fishing line, fuzzy crud from carpet, bugs and a host of everything you can think of. No way to really filter them either. I wash my bilge out completely quite often and let dry.

One other think to watch for and it's really common with the auto-bilge pumps, but can be any and or all other pumps we have is having them come on, or leave them on while no water to pump. The auto-bilge can get trash in it and keep it from shutting off. These little plastic pumps will not last long at all running with no water to pump. Just some other things to think on....

I replaced all the pumps 3 years ago, massive pain in the rear! Replaced all the fitting then too, I haven’t messed with the pump out yet, I’ll wait until I have to replace the batteries, then bilge dive again. nothing seems to be made with quality anymore.

You are so right about the quality... It's all made to sell, not to use. The otherside of this, if you can find some of this stuff we need that is made to use, it's ridiculous how much it cost. Heck right now I bought 3 new batteries for my boat this summer, first the series 30 batteries were hard to find and good ones I wanted I couldn't afford lol...