I have a well for my sprinkler system. It has stopped working. The motor runs, but no water to sprinklers. How can I tell if it is a defective pump, or has the well gone dry?

 

Jet or submersible pump? It sounds like you have a jet pump, if you know the motor is running.
It may have just lost its prime. If its a jet, try and reprime it.

 

Welcome to the forum.
Knowing what kind of pump would help us suggest what could be the issue. I'm also leaning towards what waterwelldude suggested as it being a jet and needs to be primed.
If it's a piston pump (unlikely, but could be), the gasket is probably shot.

 

It is a Gould GT15 pump w/1-1/2 hp motor. I did try priming it and just got a little fizzle out of the sprinklers, no pressure. I don't know if it is a jet pump or not. I think it is a shallow well , but am not sure. It is not a submersible pump.

 

It sounds like the seals may be gone.
I did a quick google search for that model and found a few sites talking about seals.

 

I really had to get this system working, since I just had new sod laid about a week ago. So, I had to call a professional in. There were two problems. The foot valve at the bottom of the well pipe had deteriated, and there was an air leak at the 90 deg. elbow coming out of the well. This is a very shallow well, only 15 feet deep.

 

Well Pump Control is Blinking E2 meaning low suction under 10 PSI. Checked everything then restarted, blinking E2. It is a vertical water pump setting on a two inch outer pipe with a center one each pipe with a foot valve at a depth of 42 feet. Replaced the foot valve and primed the pipe which would not keep water in the pipe. Found a leak at a joint and replaced the joint and was able to prime it properly. Put the pump back together but it still has a suction problem. What else might it be?

 

You should start your own thread when you have a problem, as opposed to using someone else's thread.

I assume you have a jet pump. Sounds like you are loosing prime. When you primed the pump, did you give it 10 minutes to see if the water flowed into the line a little more and then added more water or did you fill it up and put on the cap and hit the on switch?

When priming a pump, there will be air in the line. It can take some time for the added water to displace the air. If you do have an air pocket, as soon as that pocket hits the pump, it will lose prime and you're snookered. The best way to prime a pump is if you have a nice neighbour with a garden hose, connect it to your outside tap and let your neighbour's water pressure, prime your water system and blow out that air. If it is snowy winter weather where you are, I doubt that is an option. The other method is to fill the pump full, give it some time and fill it some more, until the priming water stops going down the pipe and the pump stays full.