When you ask what happens when I turn the valves on manually from the "valve box"...are you referring to the controller box where I program days of the week and zones?
No, the controller (clock) is an electrical timer that you can program so that the valves come on for certain lenghts of time on specific days. If you have anti-siphon valves, they will be above ground. Other types of irrigation valves are probably in the ground, hopefuly in a valve box for protection. Wires connect the clock to the irrigation valve(s). You should be able to turn the valve on manually at the valve box for testing.
on the outside of the house where the pump is, there are 2 valves that turn just like if I were turning on a hose, but when I turn them either way, nothing happens.
Turn both of these valves counter clockwise to make sure that they are open. The problem could be as simple as making sure that all of your valves are open, and you have your pump primed.
Would you happen to know how much something like this will cost to be repaired (assuming the pump is ok)? I realize without knowing the actual problem its hard to answer, but Im afraid someone is going to come here and try to tell me its something complicated and expensive, when it may be something very simple
I have no idea what the labor charges are for your area, as a matter of fact, I don't even know where on our planet that you live. I've done some jobs like this and it's taken ten minutes, and most of that was learning the system. I've done others that have taken several hours. You are right, you can't really tell until you look at it.
PM me.
Mick