Craftsman 480.991170 Troubleshooting Manual

Unit will not turn on

1. Make sure the power washer is OFF. Plug in the electrical cord to a grounded 120 volt outlet (no electrical extension cord should be used). If the electrical cord will not plug into your outlet, your electrical outlet is not properly grounded and should not be used. Use another electrical outlet.
2. If changing the outlet did not correct the problem, try plugging into another electrical outlet and repeat the above procedure. If it is still not working, call Customer Service at 1-866-235-5112.

The high pressure hose will not connect/ stay connected to the spray gun. Is this a spray gun problem?

1. In most cases, the spray gun is not the problem. The problem is the rubber sleeve covering the fitting at the end of the high pressure hose. It has likely slipped up toward the metal tip. To fix: wiggle, twist and/or pull the rubber sleeve down until the entire tip is visible plus an 1/8 in. of the metal fitting below the tip. Now try to insert the hose tip into the spray gun. It should "click" into place and will not come out until the hose is released by pushing in the lever on the underside of the gun. You may cut away the end of the sleeve with a sharp knife if unable to move the sleeve down. Be careful not to cut or puncture the hose.

The unit is running but there is no water flow.

1. Check the water source. Unclog the nozzle on the lance. (See nozzle cleaning instructions under "Cleaning nozzles".) Or take off the lance and just spray out of the spray gun. This will indicate if the problem is with the lance.

Why is water leaking where the high pressure hose connects to the spray gun?

1. Make sure there is an o-ring at the end of the metal tip of the unit's soft PVC hose. If no o-ring is present, the connection between the hose and spray gun will leak.

I can't remove the lance from the spray gun. What should I do?

1. All lances and the detergent bottle are attached and removed from the spray gun in the same manner. Insert the quick-release end of the lance/detergent bottle into the spray gun. Press the spray gun and lance together (about a 1/8 in.) and turn clockwise. The lance will lock in place. Remove the lance by reversing this procedure. Press the spray gun and lance together and turn counter clockwise. The lance will slide out.
2. Hold the spray gun and lance in an upright position with the nozzle end on the floor. Push the whole assembly straight down to loosen the connection, and then follow the removal process again. You may also spray soapy water or a lubricant in the area where the lance connects to the spray gun.

The power washer turns on for 2 seconds, shuts off, and will not turn back on. Do I have a defective unit?

1. When the water is connected, the accessories are assembled properly, and the power switch is turned on, the power washer may turn on for 1 - 2 seconds to prime the pump. It automatically shuts off and waits for the spray gun trigger to be pressed. When the trigger is pressed, water starts flowing through the pump. The water sensor in the pump "senses" the moving water and automatically turns the power washer on.
2. Turn the power off, hold in the trigger on the spray gun, so that you have a steady stream of water. While you are holding the trigger open on the spray gun, at the same time, turn the power on.