Automatic Litterbox Central

I just hooked up a brand new unit. It filled with water, stirred, then it started making a horrendous noise -- it actually sounded like it was grinding up some granules. So I unplugged it (couldn't think of anything better to do). I plugged it back in, and it stirred a coupla times, and then when it got to the end of the third cycle, it flashed "ERR 2."

I looked it up and followed all of the steps. Now, all it does is fill up (I've manually drained the unit three times and started over again) and it doesn't even sound like it's making an effort to pump. I even tried the "skip cycle" procedure (hour button and start cycle button) and the only thing different I was able to do was that one time I noticed the heater coil was on although the blower wasn't working, and this while the tub was full of water (hadn't drained).

Does anyone have an idea what's going on? Without being able to call the company, I'm stuck!

Also, is it supposed to drain after each of the first three cycles, or is it supposed to drain only after the third stir?

One other thing .. in the manual (online at Litterfree.com), one of the steps it gives is to run a "Power Clean." However, the manual shows a button, which on MY machine is labelled "Power DRY."

Here are some troubleshooting steps:

1. Remove the processing unit from the box, turn it over, and use a small screwdriver to carefully rotate the waterpump impeller a few times. You will probably find that it has sucked in some pellets, so try to shake them ALL out. The fact that your unit is not draining indicates a jammed impeller.

2. Take all the pellets out of the box.

3. Replace the processing unit in the box, making sure it is firmly seated, and the box is level.

4. Put about 10 pellets in the box, and push the start button.

5. If everything goes well, when the unit drains, the impeller should not ingest any more pellets, and you can add the remainder and relax.

6. If it DOES ingest pellets (you will hear it!), please send me some very close-up photos of the bottom of your processing unit - there is a way in which it can be damaged such that pellets are sucked into the water pump, and I also have a fix for this. The pellets won't damage the impeller, but they will jam it, and make a nasty noise as well.

The unit is supposed to drain after each cycle. The Power Dry button simply extends the length of time that the heater is on after everything has been processed. The "Power Clean" reference is apparently a misprint.

Thanks for the response! I took the steps you suggested and I'm about 90% there. It filled with water, stirred three times, drained three times, and then dried. What is really weird is that the impeller (the drain impeller -- which I suppose is the one that is mostly enclosed) wasn't stuck before, because I had already tried to make sure that it turned freely.

What I DID end up doing is taking the back cover off, and I made sure that everything would move freely, and that there were no disconnected cables. I then put it back together, and now it is working.

The reason that I said I'm only 90% there is that some of the waste water is coming out the back. Since it is clean water (the cats haven't used it yet) I'm not to concerned at THIS point, but I think I know the cause (I hope, because I'm more than ready to get this to do its job on its own)..

When I took the cover off the back, the drain hose pulled loose from its rest and some white stuff .. what looks like teflon tape or caulk .. came off. I threw it away since it was torn (probably a moment of stupidity).

I'm thinking that I should open it one more time and just lay a small amount of caulk in that little trough and then close it. The reason I think this might be the cause is because the waste water is using the outside of the waste hose as a conduit and running out the backside (probably getting sucked up and around the loop). I would imagine also that this is the reason there is still some water in the pan, mostly back in the groove, at the end of the process. What is your opinion on using the caulk?

'Sorry for being so wordy .. and thanks for the suggestions! One or more of those helped greatly.

I would definitely suggest using the caulk - as you may have noticed, it's kind of thick, and you want food grade stuff (anything you put in the box will get on your cats paws, and anything on their paws winds up in their mouth) - I think you can get some caulk of the appropriate thickness that is food grade at any refrigerator supply place.

Well, I used the caulk, I let it dry for about 7 hours (the label said 2) and it is still leaking almost as bad as without the caulk. I put plenty on there, so I'm really wondering if that was the problem. I'm wondering if there is a hole in the hose itself, although I don't see how there could be in a brand new unit.

The water comes out from the top of where the drain hose comes out from the bottom of the unit. I am at a loss what to try next. This is a brand new unit. If the company was still in business, it would be easy. I could just get them to send me another one. But now I'm stuck with a rather large $400 paperweight. I'm farther along than I was last night, but with 10% of the wastewater still getting tossed on the floor, I've run out of things to try. (BTW -- the unit IS on a level floor, i.e. not leaning towards the back end. I thought of that too).

One other question: what is the port at the bottom-center that looks like a hose should be extending from it?

I am not sure what port you are referring to, unless it's the fresh water inlet which is between the impeller and propeller.

Have you checked to make sure the washer inside the coupling for the drain hose is intact?

shfwilf wrote:Have you checked to make sure the washer inside the coupling for the drain hose is intact?

The "port" I'm referring to is immediately below the latch release button. I can't figure what that is for.

As to the washer inside the drain hose coupling .. are you referring to one on the end where the hook is, or one next to, at the bottom of, or inside the processing unit? Mine doesn't have a coupling on the unit for the drain hose. It just has an ~10' hose that comes from inside the unit.

The leak occurs during the pump-out only, and it's apparently coming from inside the bottom of the processing unit. It's running out along the drain hose, and now unfortunately the ac cable too, so it's apparently getting sucked into the bottom of the unit, and then finding its way out along the hose & cable.

Again, thanks for your responses. I feel like I'm getting closer, but this thing is baffling me. I'd love to get it working and then walk away from it.

I see a hole in the back of one of my units, but it's above that latch release and just under the label. No idea what it's for, although it may provide access to a screw holding the unit together - I can't see that far inside.

The drain hose does just emanate from the inside of the unit, and actually, I had forgotten that I modified the end of mine to screw on to a drainpipe fitting, hence the washer question - sorry!

It seems to me that you are going to need to take your unit apart if it's leaking dirty water onto the floor and try to determine where it's doing this, and if it can be fixed. Once you have taken it apart, I can try to make suggestions if you need them. This is kind of a dangerous situation in that water is getting inside the unit, and the unit runs on AC current. You may want to simply ask the seller for your money back. On the other hand, it may be something as simple as a hose clamp on the inside that has worked loose and can be tightened. I will be curious as to what you find should you decide to take it apart.

My issue with water spouting from the unit was a result of the foam tape being incorrectly applied. After a discussion with a great guy at litterfree, It was explained that the break in the tape in the middle of the unit is supposed to be Wider than it was.
This sounds odd, since how can it seal if there is a break in the first place.
Carefully slicing back the tape by about 1/8 inch solved the problem.
My replacement unit did indeed have a larger gap, and never leaked.
It appears that it could be Very easy to damage the tape, since the fittings are so close to the bin. Super careful alignment during placement of the proccesing unit guards against that.

[quote="NFLnut"]One other question: what is the port at the bottom-center that looks like a hose should be extending from it?[/quote]
This sounds like the solution dispensing channel.
Behind the latch,in the center of the unit?
This is where the break in the tape is, in my other post.

I tried trimming the foam tape back about 1/16" on each side of the gap. I'm still getting the leak. I guess my next step will be to open 'er up and see if there is any reason for the leak inside.

What I have noticed is that the leak starts not at the beginning of the pump-out, but about halfway through. It might just be taking that long for it to find its way out. But I am wondering if the water is being sucked up the shaft of the pump motor. It's apparently not the seal of the drain hose, because the caulk should have taken care of that.

As far as return/refund, unfortunately, that's not possible. Therefore, I 'm determined to get this one working. I can really see no reason why it shouldn't work properly.

Continuing to try .. thanks again.

At least one other person that I know of has had this problem; it turned out to be that the drain hose had come partially loose inside the unit, and this was easily repaired. I was also told that you need to be a bit careful when taking the unit apart and putting it back together, as there are a variety of seals that need to be seated properly.

Continuing saga ..

I took the unit apart. I found that the caulk I had put around the drain hose was completely washed away. I ended up winding the fitting with a bit of teflon tape and closed it, made sure that the seals are were properly made, and ran a cycle. Once again, it started to leak at pump-out from inside the unit, along the outside of the drain hose.

I have to admit, at that point I was ready to put the thing back in the box and go back to the old manual cat boxes or a LitterMaid <shiver> (and I'm closer to doing that than I was a day or two ago! I mean, I'm glad everyone else seems to have had success with theirs, but I'm MORE than frustrated at this point and REAL close to giving up!).

I decided to take the unit apart ONE MORE TIME and look to see if I could find a cut in the hose or something.

I *DID* find something interesting .. the black hose coming from the oblong white fitting (it looks like an intake or something) that seats just under the drain motor and slightly off center seems to have a defect. It looks like a little punch-out that still has the center of the hole intact but water can still get out (like the hole wasn't punched completely through -- I rubbed it with my finger and the little center piece of the hole fell out).

My question is: what is that oblong, white fitting, and what is the device that the black hose connects to at the top (above the fan cage). It almost looks like a pump or something (it's reddish-brown with a black cover). Would that hose be carrying water? Is it a water level sensor or something, because that might make sense as to why the leak doesn't start as until the pan gets to about half empty. If it does carry water, I may have found the culprit -- that hose would have leaked from day one. If it's an air hose or something, then I'm about out of ideas! I AM going to go to a car parts store tomorrow to get a length of rubber hose that matches and try replacing it.

BTW -- I checked the pan itself, and there are no cracks, holes, or any apparent defects with it. Besides, the leak comes from inside the unit.

Thanks!..