Computer Flashing red – Pump Failure?

Troubleshooting a Flashing Red Warning on Your Computer: A Case of Pump Failure?

If you’ve ever encountered a flashing red warning on your computer during startup, you know it can be a cause for concern. Recently, I faced this issue with my setup, which features the H150i Elite LCD Cooler, and I’d like to share my experience and seek advice from fellow enthusiasts.

The Problem Overview

After using my computer without any issues for over a year, things took a turn yesterday. Upon startup, I noticed a persistent red flashing light and a loud fan noise. A BIOS alert flashed on my screen, indicating a problem related to the fans and pumps not being detected. Interestingly, the BIOS monitoring section showed the pump and fans were operational.

Upon launching iCUE (Corsair’s software), I received a “Pump Failure” notification for my cooling unit. While I could still see temperature readings in iCUE—about 2600 RPM for the pump and a coolant temperature of around 24°C, all seemed relatively normal. However, the coolant temperature was about 6°C lower than I usually observe at idle, and the fans were running at full capacity.

Control Issues and Initial Diagnosis

Currently, I am unable to control the fans or resolve the blinking red light, which adds to my confusion. Despite the computer operating coolly, I’m not convinced that the pump has malfunctioned. I attempted a Software update, but it did not yield any changes.

I would greatly appreciate any recommendations or insights on steps I can take to identify the issue, especially considering my limited technical background. Additionally, I have concerns about replacing the unit if it is indeed faulty, but I’m unsure what component might be causing this problem.

Recent Developments

In my latest attempts to resolve the situation, I tried powering the computer on and off multiple times. On my third attempt, disconnecting the power briefly allowed it to start normally. However, this morning, I faced the same flashing red light, “pump failure” alert, and noisy fans after three more attempts.

I even engaged in gaming sessions with titles like Diablo IV and Subnautica, and according to iCUE, my temperatures remained stable—about 30°C for the coolant and 60-64°C for the CPU. The air escaping from the vents felt cool, which typically should not be the case under high load.