PC Watercooling Pump Won't Move Coolant

Noodles79 · Apr 1, 2016

So after a while of being a PC enthusiast, I finally decided to tying hardline tubing for a watercooling system I build. Everything went well up until the point I put my fluid in my res. I am using a D5 pump and when I power on the system the pump is clearly running (it hums and creates ripples in the coolant) but the pump doesn't want to move the coolant to any other components in the system. I don't know what the problem is and thanks to anyone in advance for helping.

Ethanh100 · Apr 1, 2016

What is your pump plugged into, is it getting enough power, if you plugged it into a motherboard fan header make sure the voltage is turned up. Otherwise you pump may be broken

rubix_1011 · Apr 1, 2016

What is your loop order? Sounds like you have an issue with an airlock in the loop and the pump cannot move coolant. Does the loop have the reservoir cap open so that the coolant can displace the air and move the coolant?

Noodles79 · Apr 1, 2016

Ethanh100 :

My pump is plugged into a molex and fan header on the motherboard. How would I be able to turn up the voltage?

Ethanh100 · Apr 1, 2016

Noodles79 :

Its plugged into 4pin molex and a fan header? you only need one. Molex will give you 100% rmp the whole time, and if its plugged into the board go into the bios and change the speed of that fan header.

rubix_1011 · Apr 1, 2016

Ethanh100 :

No, based on the information he has given, this is not the issue. Also, the D5 pumps do not use a motherboard header - they are a Molex.

This is not a closed loop cooler.

Noodles79 · Apr 1, 2016

Ethanh100 :

The molex for the pump only has 2 pins on it but yes it is connected to a fan header and a molex.
Also, I have an EK D5 PWM pump.

Noodles79 · Apr 1, 2016

rubix_1011 :

The loop is closed the fan header is used for controlling the pump speed

Ethanh100 · Apr 1, 2016

Yeah sorry i didnt see it was a d5 pump. Like rubix said make sure there is a place for the air inside the loop to escape to be replaced by the fluid.

Noodles79 · Apr 1, 2016

Ethanh100 :

I left the cap to the reservoir open and I just tried going into the bios only to find out that my PC is not posting.

rubix_1011 · Apr 1, 2016

I would think you'd want to jumper your PSU if your loop isn't filled and leak tested...why are you going into the BIOS? Can you connect the pump to a Molex or SATA power? Not sure why people use PWM settings for pumps - there's no need to use PWM on a watercooling pump; if anything, use PWM on the radiator fans if you really want to. Just let a pump run at the speed its configured to run - don't make it oscillate up and down the RPM range.

Jumper your ATX plug from your PSU for filling your loop. - use a bent paper clip, insert into the plug (powered off) - green to any black.

Does your reservoir drain when switched on? Is the reservoir higher than the pump inlet, or is it a bay/res/pump unit?

Noodles79 · Apr 1, 2016

I'll try jumping my psu and also should I remove the fan pin from the motherboard when jumping the psu. Also, the res is higher than the pump but the fluid is not draining from the res.
It is also a res pump combo

rubix_1011 · Apr 1, 2016

Can you list your loop order and components? Or post a photo?

Noodles79 · Apr 1, 2016

I don't know how to post a photo bust it goes res - pump - gpu - cpu - 360mm rad - 240mm rad - then back to the res

rubix_1011 · Apr 1, 2016

I'm betting that the res/pump combo might be the issue - some of those are difficult to prime. You said it was an EK res/pump combo - is there a priming port on it? My DDC/res/pump has a port that allows this and requires you to prime it before it will push water.

Noodles79 · Apr 1, 2016

I'm not sure this is the exact model I have https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-xres-140-d5-pwm-incl-pump

Noodles79 · Apr 1, 2016

rubix_1011 :

UPDATE: When I jump my PSU the pump does not turn on at all

rubix_1011 · Apr 1, 2016

How is the pump connected to power? The motherboard or Molex? If so, it probably isn't going to work since the ATX power isn't connected to the MB.

Do fans, etc come on? Drives spin?

Noodles79 · Apr 1, 2016

rubix_1011 :

Its powered by the molex and the molex is connected directly to the PSU. Fans on the rad turn on just fine. The is a 4 pin fan connect that is attached to the pump that is not connected to anything at the moment.

rubix_1011 · Apr 1, 2016

Do you have another power supply you can test with?

Noodles79 · Apr 1, 2016

rubix_1011 :

Not at the moment but the system was working fine before I installed the loop. Also, I have leds connected to the molex adapter on the power supply that are working fine but the pump is receiving no power.

rubix_1011 · Apr 1, 2016

Installing a watercooling loop shouldn't cause a PC to not turn on unless you spilled water somewhere.

Did you correctly jump the right pins on the ATX plug?

Can you connect the pump to the Molex that works for your LEDs to eliminate that you might have a bad plug or connection?

Noodles79 · Apr 1, 2016

rubix_1011 :

The entire PC powers on correctly the pump is not receiving any power

rubix_1011 · Apr 1, 2016

Check the pins on the Molex plug for the pump, did they get pushed back into the connector and not making good contact? On my old D5, I had to fix this because the pins didn't seat well.

If the pump was 'working' and making noise and turbulence, it means it was getting power. Even if the pump got burned up, you would still hear something. Sounds like the power connection might be in question. Can you check that?

Noodles79 · Apr 2, 2016

The pump is making absolutely no noises when jumping the PSU

PC Watercooling Pump Won't Move Coolant

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