Waste Water Tank Sensor

[Ginster]

Morning All, Hoping someone out there has the answer to this:
I have an Auto Trail Tracker EKS 2017 plate. The waste water sensor in my tank is continually sound the alarm to say it's full even when I've just emptied it. I mentioned this when I had the hab check done in July and was told it was cleaned, it worked fine for a week but now has gone back to sounding the alarm. As I'm living and touring in my van full-time, I can't take it back to the dealer to be cleaned again. Has anyone else had this problem and do you know if there's a way I can clean it off myself. I can't fill the tank to see if that would do it as I don't know when it would be full. Thanks in advance.

 

[PaulandChrissy]

Hi Ginster.
The waste tank sensor works on a 2 probe system. (Possibly more if you have graduated gauges. My AutoTrail waste tank only has empty or full. 2 probes.) One near the top and one near the bottom. When the water covers both probs, it closes the circuit and the alarm sounds. There are 2 things you can do. First is to put tank cleaner in the tank and roughly half fill the tank with water and go for a drive for the tonic to splosh about and thereby cleaning the tank walls. Then drain the tank at the end of the journey. This may have to be repeated. Another thing you can do is move the position of one of the probs so that it’s further away from the other. I’m not talking about moving the top one higher, but further to the left or right so it’s as far away from the lower probe. The further the distance the greater the resistance, and so the reduction in false alarms. The second option is more involved but not difficult to do with a little thought. Hope that helps.

PaulandChrissy.

 

[I2C]

Not tried this (we have the same problem on our Swift, the alarm is forever going off when there’s no water in it so I am tempted to give it a go) but if you can get to the wire for the probe you could disconnect it from the probe.

I know that means you don’t know when it’s full but it should stop the alarm sounding all the time.

 

[PaulandChrissy]

That’s another option. Just disconnect the wires. Didn’t like to suggest that, but it will stop the problem for sure. If you remember to drain your wast tank every time you fill the fresh tank, you should never have a problem with overflowing.

 

[Ginster]

Thanks PaulandChrissy and I2C but how do I get to the probes, mine shows .25, .50, .75 and 100% full, does that mean I have 4 probes? Thanks, Ginnie

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[I2C]

That certainly sounds as though you have 4 probes, sounds just like our fresh water display, that certainly had 4 probes.

I don't know your van so all I can go on is ours I'm afraid. The probes will have been fitted at the top of your waste water container, where abouts will depend on the manufacturer. Unless it's an internal one you'll have to crawl under the van to find it, not easy or fun. If you can see the cable from the probe and where it comes in the van you could cut it, though only if you have a way to reconnect in case it a) doesn't work or b) is the wrong cable. Obviously turn 12v off if you're going to cut a cable just in case.

Sorry I can't be more helpful than make suggestions.

 

[I2C]

This is what they look like just in case you've never seen one

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[PaulandChrissy]

My auto trail has the probes on the side. Once again you will have to crawl under the van to find the probes. I wouldn’t cut them. I think disconnecting them at the probes would be a less destructive method. Maybe just disconnect the top one. This would eliminate the warning buzzer. It might be worth giving Auto Trail a quick call to find out where the probes are if you can’t find them.

PaulandChrissy.

 

[I2C]

Agree disconnecting is the better option, I mentioned the destructive options if you had no other choice

 

[Ginster]

Thanks again PaulandChrissy and I2C, thought I might have to get under the van, just didn't fancy doing it at least I now know what I'm looking for!

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[dunnah01]

You can disable the alarm on the CBE panels but not sure which make you have

 

[royandsharont]

I disconnected the cables to mine very easily. They had a plastic clip connector near the tank and I bagged & taped them. Easy task. Accessing the probes would have been much harder.

 

[Ginster]

Thanks for the responses, I'll investigate all of them and see which is the easiest