Ask thetford they may tell you what it is.
www.thetford.com first page top line click on 'contact us' scroll down and fill the email form.
Just a thought....like a bike pump if you leave it for a long period the washer that causes the pressure dries out and shrinks so air passes instead of being trapped and pumped out into the tube. This could be the prob I don't know I've yet to come across it with my thetford 4 manual pump.[the old twist type pump. ie twist to flush ]
Bob, July 2008