Broken fuel pump toggle switch

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Mjwatlanta
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Broken fuel pump toggle switch

Post by Mjwatlanta »

The fuel pump toggle switch on my 2019 DA 40 NG broke. I have thought from the very beginning that it was a tiny little switch. It was not near robust enough to do it’s job - that fear has proven true as it has simply stopped working. It won’t move. Am I required to replace that switch with the same tiny little official Diamond part toggle or can I get something more robust and sturdy?
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Boatguy
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Re: Broken fuel pump toggle switch

Post by Boatguy »

I had to replace that switch in on my 2019 DA40NG. The DSC used the official part.
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Mjwatlanta
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Re: Broken fuel pump toggle switch

Post by Mjwatlanta »

I wonder how many people have had similar problems. The very first time I used the switch, I thought it was unlikely to have a long life. I was proven right. It failed at less than 70 hours. Given that I've been flying a lot more corss-country trips that touch and goes, this failure was with very few operations considering it's only used on take offs and landings.

My A&P is looking for a matching part number made by another supplier. Fingers crossed.

Can't wait to hear about the 62!
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Re: Broken fuel pump toggle switch

Post by Mjwatlanta »

$365.70 total for labor. I bought the part online for $2.57.
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Re: Broken fuel pump toggle switch

Post by Boatguy »

Mjwatlanta wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 7:18 pm $365.70 total for labor. I bought the part online for $2.57.
A little over a year ago I paid $36 for the factory part + $203 to install + $34 for the log book entry = $304 with tax
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Mjwatlanta
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Re: Broken fuel pump toggle switch

Post by Mjwatlanta »

The replacement part is a little more robust looking. It’s knurled. And it actually works. I can now hear the pump. Before replacing the old part, it was moving but apparently not actually turning the pump on. Oops.
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Re: Broken fuel pump toggle switch

Post by Boatguy »

Mjwatlanta wrote: Sat Feb 11, 2023 10:59 pm The replacement part is a little more robust looking. It’s knurled. And it actually works. I can now hear the pump. Before replacing the old part, it was moving but apparently not actually turning the pump on. Oops.
That was my tip off that the switch I had failed. I no longer heard the pump.

What I've never understood is that there are two pumps, and the switch just turns on the second pump, in series with the first, as a backup. Why is that I don't hear the first pump, but I do hear the second pump?
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Re: Broken fuel pump toggle switch

Post by Mjwatlanta »

I don’t recall hearing the pump on the 180, so when I got the NG I didn’t know I was missing anything. The NG is so much quieter - but I didn’t know I should have heard the pump. Now that I know I should, and can, hear the pump the sound will be a good reminder during takeoff and landing.
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