Question AIO pump issues and no longer functioning. Hydrolux lite(Swiftech H360?)

[AydenHaze]

Hey everyone,

I've searched and searched, emailed multiple sources (DS & Swiftech), and watched every youtube video available and can't seem to figure out the issue with my AIO cooling system on my PC. I've had the system for 2 years and just recently ran into the pump giving me issues. The initial issue was the pump giving out a cavitation-like sound and huge air bubbles appearing in the tubing. Google searches first directed me towards tilting the case to get the air bubbles out and this solved the issue for a short time. A few days later the computer made the loudest, aggressive sounds from the pump and shook the case a bit it seemed like. I contact DS who directed me to a tech who agreed with me when I asked if I should go ahead and flush the system and refill it with a newer coolant. Long story short I didn't have the quick disconnects option when ordering the pc and that was definitely an adventure to get to the point I'm at now. I unplugged the power connections to the main components and the PSU as recommended from the guides and videos I watched. Fast forward into the initial draining and first round of filling and draining again. The neon green coloring I had flushed out was found to leave big clumps of gunk behind and made me feel good about cleaning the system.

After getting the system refilled and moving the case around to get air bubbles and rinse fluid into as many sections as I could, I attempted the PSU jumper option for the pump to cycle the next round of cleaning. Nothing happened. Lights and other fans came on but the pump did nothing at all. Double checked I had the jumper connected properly and followed all other directions and still nothing.

I went ahead and made sure the AIO was full and sealed it up, connecting a monitor and mouse to check BIOS if it displayed fans, to which I found everything said 0rpm as well as the pump still not making any signs of life. Checking the power settings and beginning to adjust them to the settings others had recommended for the CPU fan, sys, fans, etc. the computer gave me a GPU overheating error warning and at that point, I just shut everything off and decided to post this for help.

I took photos before I touch anything to ensure I placed the right ones back where they belong. The pump fan slot, SATA connections, and all sys fan ports are the same as before I began the process, which confuses me even more about what is going on.

I feel like all answers I've gotten from the company I got the computer from and the manufacturer of the cooling system I have, that they were all very basic and standard answers to my issue and nothing truly has helped me figure out what's going on.

If anyone has any tips or steps they can share and help me figure this out they would be much appreciated and welcome. Below are the specs for the system that may help with any sort of information to go off of.

Thank you!!

System Configuration:

Processor: Intel Core i9-10940X
Motherboard: MSI X299 PRO
Power Supply: 1000W Digital Storm Performance Series (Fully Modular) (80 Plus Gold)
Cooling -HydroLux LITE: (best info I can find with no help from DS is this is a swiftech H360 with 2 fans)
Chassis Fans: Corsair LL Series (RGB Fans)
Airflow Control: Corsair Commander PRO Management Control Board & Software (1x Board)

 

[Eximo]

Either the pump isn't getting primed or it has failed. Given the noises you heard it making, it is very likely that gunk has gotten into the bearing surfaces. You could try dismantling the pump completely, cleaning out everything down to a very fine level, then reassembling.

If you aren't comfortable with that, replace the cooling system.

 

[AydenHaze]

Either the pump isn't getting primed or it has failed. Given the noises you heard it making, it is very likely that gunk has gotten into the bearing surfaces. You could try dismantling the pump completely, cleaning out everything down to a very fine level, then reassembling.

If you aren't comfortable with that, replace the cooling system.

Is there anyway to ensure I’m getting it primed? Or would the gunk build up in the bearing surfaces like you said make it hard to get it primed correctly?

With your experience is it a pretty normal occurrence with the colored fluids to have that much gunk after 2 years? Or could the pump have been bad from the get go?

Thank you for your input!!

 

[rubix_1011]

What is 'DS' when you mention this multiple times? I am not familiar with that acronym, so seeking some clarification.

Also, if you refilled a liquid cooling system, you should not 'seal it up' until it is fully primed if this is possible. For one, it does not allow air bubbles to displace through the cooling system, as it is essentially preventing air from being displaced by coolant without any method of escape. Most liquid cooling pumps are not powerful enough to displace air while also under pressure.

Can you provide links or photos to any of the cooling system above? Mostly needing to know what we're looking at and any details around how a specific cooler should be handled.

 

[AydenHaze]

What is 'DS' when you mention this multiple times? I am not familiar with that acronym, so seeking some clarification.

Also, if you refilled a liquid cooling system, you should not 'seal it up' until it is fully primed if this is possible. For one, it does not allow air bubbles to displace through the cooling system, as it is essentially preventing air from being displaced by coolant without any method of escape. Most liquid cooling pumps are not powerful enough to displace air while also under pressure.

Can you provide links or photos to any of the cooling system above? Mostly needing to know what we're looking at and any details around how a specific cooler should be handled.

I didnt see a place to add the videos, and images yesterday without having a link so I did not upload them but I will do that for you right now.

Also DS when I put in here it is for Digital Storm. I had nothing but a great experience with them until this started to happen, and now it feels like google gives me better advice than the "repair/service techs" that call or email me back.

To address one of your questions/comments I did attempt to turn everything on when I was first filling it back up with the fill tube in the reservoir and the system was not "fully sealed." Still had no signs of life or action with the pump. It was powering on and flowing right up until I started the process to drain and clean.

Will reply back to you again once I have images uploaded for you.

Thanks!

 

[AydenHaze]

What is 'DS' when you mention this multiple times? I am not familiar with that acronym, so seeking some clarification.

Also, if you refilled a liquid cooling system, you should not 'seal it up' until it is fully primed if this is possible. For one, it does not allow air bubbles to displace through the cooling system, as it is essentially preventing air from being displaced by coolant without any method of escape. Most liquid cooling pumps are not powerful enough to displace air while also under pressure.

Can you provide links or photos to any of the cooling system above? Mostly needing to know what we're looking at and any details around how a specific cooler should be handled.

Here are these. I will try to edit the post as well and add these if the links don’t for work you.
https://ibb.co/gW7Mjyy

D7267145-9-AAD-4661-900-F-74-CE7-AFEFDEC hosted at ImgBB

Image D7267145-9-AAD-4661-900-F-74-CE7-AFEFDEC hosted in ImgBB

ibb.co

https://ibb.co/G5rJQ1x

 

[rubix_1011]

Looks like an older HydroX cooler, https://www.swiftech.com/drive-x3-aio.aspx

Or very similar.

When power is turned on, does the pump spin? I assume those bubbles also never move?

 

[AydenHaze]

Looks like an older HydroX cooler, https://www.swiftech.com/drive-x3-aio.aspx

Or very similar.

When power is turned on, does the pump spin? I assume those bubbles also never move?

No spinning at all. Prior to the attempt to flush and clean it, the bubbles would move and go away after a while. Currently. No, no air or liquid moves and pump does nothing.

 

[rubix_1011]

OK, if the pump impeller isn't spinning at all, that's a problem and it isn't going to work at all unless it does. You might have a dead unit, but I would make 100% that all of your cables are connected and possibly check alternative connections just to rule out a bad one.

If this all results in the same way, no pump impeller spinning, you might be looking at a need to get a new cooler or replace it. Those coolers are end of life I believe, but you could see if Swiftech is honoring RMA or replacement. They've been a solid liquid cooling company for a very long time - I bought my first watercooling kit from them almost 20 years ago.

 

[AydenHaze]

OK, if the pump impeller isn't spinning at all, that's a problem and it isn't going to work at all unless it does. You might have a dead unit, but I would make 100% that all of your cables are connected and possibly check alternative connections just to rule out a bad one.

If this all results in the same way, no pump impeller spinning, you might be looking at a need to get a new cooler or replace it. Those coolers are end of life I believe, but you could see if Swiftech is honoring RMA or replacement. They've been a solid liquid cooling company for a very long time - I bought my first watercooling kit from them almost 20 years ago.

For the power troubleshooting would that be checking both the SATA power connections and the motherboard connection from the pump slot to possibly the CPU fan slot?