The short answer
A Contoure washer that finishes full is nearly always obstructed somewhere between the drum and the house drain, and the pump itself is the least likely part of that path. On this class the usual cause is the drain hose kinked or crushed behind the machine, with a drain hose set at the wrong height, so the machine siphons next to rule out.
What you actually observe
- It drained fine at home and not on the road — The installation changed and the hose run is what changed with it.
- The drum is still full of water at the end of the cycle — The most literal version of this fault and the one everybody reports.
- NEAR MISS: water on the floor rather than in the drum — That is a leak, and it has its own page and its own cause list.
The causes, most likely first on this brand
- The drain hose kinked or crushed behind the machine — A hose flattened between the machine and the wall throttles the pump completely, and it is the easiest fault on this page to create by pushing a machine back into place. Ranked first on a Contoure unit: a coach machine is installed in a cavity where the hose is routed around joinery, and every bend in that run is a candidate.
- A drain hose set at the wrong height, so the machine siphons — Every machine specifies a range of heights for the end of its drain hose, and one set too low lets the drum siphon empty while it fills, which reads as a drain that never completes. Ranked second here: the grey tank connection is fixed at installation and is frequently higher than the pump likes.
- The drain pump filter or coin trap packed solid — Ranked third here: a filter in a cramped installation is very rarely opened.
- Too much detergent, leaving the pump trying to move foam — Ranked fourth here: last, though a small drum on a coach needs very little detergent indeed.
Check in this order, and why this order
- Pull the machine forward and follow the drain hose along its whole run — A flat section or a tight bend is visible and it explains everything.
- Measure where the end of the drain hose sits against the machine's own guidance — A hose lying in a bucket on the floor is the classic version of this.
- Open the small hatch at the bottom front of the machine and look at the filter — A filter that has not been opened in a year is the answer on this design more often than not.
What an owner can safely check
- Straighten the hose and leave a gentle loop so pushing the machine back does not crush it again — Secure the hose so it cannot fall behind the machine when it moves.
Tools: torchAbout 20 min
- Secure the hose end within the height band the machine calls for and fix it so it cannot slip — A hose that drops during a cycle causes an intermittent fault that is very hard to find later.
Tools: cable tieAbout 20 min
- STOP HERE if the next step needs a meter on live terminals or a panel off — That is where an owner check ends and a service call begins.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the machine or switch off its breaker before opening a pump filter or reaching into a pump housing, because the impeller can turn under power and its edges are sharp. There is more water behind a filter cap than most trays will hold, so release it in stages with towels down. Never defeat a lid or door interlock to force a drain.
When to call a technician
Call once the filter, the hose and the standpipe are all clear and the drum still holds water, because a failed pump or a blocked internal sump needs the machine opened. Call sooner if the machine trips its breaker while trying to drain, since a stalled pump draws heavily. Bear in mind when you decide that an RV appliance is serviced by RV dealers rather than by household appliance technicians, and the warranty usually runs through the dealer who sold the coach.
Nearest pages of this class
What this page does not cover
This page covers the Contoure washer as a class, not one family or model line. Filter locations, pump types and hose specifications all change from build to build and are deliberately not here. Where a family or model page exists for your machine, it is the more specific answer and the one to read first.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
