Waste water tank reading full

Hi all, I’ve read quite a few posts on the way the tank level sensors occasionally give false readings!
My waste tank is reading full although I know it isn’t.
I’ve seen several remedies including coke etc to clean it!

However, has anyone removed the sensors to clean them?
I’m currently in Spain so I can’t get to my dealer because it’s a warranty job really.

It’s not a problem of any magnitude and I'm guessing that it’s a problem that will continue to raise its head long after the warranty has expired so it might just be better to learn how to remove the sensors and clean them myself ???

Ray

Your sensors are different to the ones I have but I think the fixing process is the same; when they are tightened the rubber sleeve is compressed longitudinally and expands to fill the hole. The rubber does not relax fully when unscrewed and they have to be weighed out, they are not fit for re-use. Personally, I would leave them alone till I got home rather than risk having a leaking tank.

Cheers Peter, good info...
They are (I believe) a new type of sensor, quite small apparently, however; despite any changes/improvements to the sensors, they still fail which is a little irritating.

Ray

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I think these are what you have.

I think most of us have accepted that despite repairs to these sensors, they tend to fail again at some point. Being only grey water indicators perhaps not so important as your knowing how much fresh you have on board. Noticed the waste sensors had been replaced on our newly acquired used van some two years ago but recently have seen the panel display either half or quarter full when it has been empty but sometimes it reads correctly. However can understand how disappointing it is on a new van so soon after acquisition, hope the warranty repair is successful long into the future.

I am not sure if this will help, but at my last habitation check at supplying dealer I reported the same problem as yours.

Well he fixed it by adding tank flush, the green stuff and flushing it through, it worked and still does. Quick fix or what, time will tell.

There has been a topic on here where you can add an inspection hole to the tank and clean it out, not that I would do it onsite.
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Richard

Peter Brown wrote:[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I think these are what you have.

Thanks Peter, they do look similar if not the same..miracle sensors mmmmm....not so sure about that

Thanks to everyone who has offered advise...in Autosleeper’s defence, I’ve had very little trouble with my vehicle, that’s not to say that problems haven’t arisen....the microwave overheats..the bedroom blinds don’t open correctly...the hab door central locking failed..(broken wire)

But I’m more than happy that these minor issues will be resolved...the tank level sensors are a slightly different element of reliability.....I don’t think there is a long term fix!
But when you mix water with photons....!!

Ray

We can live with the non- functioning visual readings from the tank sensors but what we do find annoying, or worse, is the waste tank full alarm. Sure as fate, it always wakes us in the middle of the night and, even if we know the tank is nearly empty, it stll causes worry. Having had the full tank well-up into the shower ( pushing up the shower drain plugs)  soaking everything in the bathroom and causing them to smell horrible, we don’t relish the prospect of it happening again.

if the sensors can't read the levels accurately, is the alarm (linked to level readings, I guess) also a false alarm, as in the tank may not be full?
if so, how do you know when to believe it?
our old Bolero had a row of small holes drilled around the top of the tank so that excess grey water overflowed onto the pitch...far nicer than have it come up into the shower....

bolero boy wrote:
............if so, how do you know when to believe it?

Precisely ! Most of the time we don't believe the alarm, but we have been caught out.  The gauge now reads empty all the time and no amount of tank cleaner, bio washing liquid etc has sorted that.

I like the idea of the holes drilled in the top of the tank. Simple but effective and, if the tank is emptied at every opportunity as we usually do, then I can't think that we'd leak smelly water too often.

bolero boy wrote:if the sensors can't read the levels accurately, is the alarm (linked to level readings, I guess) also a false alarm, as in the tank may not be full?
if so, how do you know when to believe it?
our old Bolero had a row of small holes drilled around the top of the tank so that excess grey water overflowed onto the pitch...far nicer than have it come up into the shower....

An overflow is a great idea, but could do with something to let you know when it is "helping".

I'l park that project for the nicer weather, but I will look into doing something on mine.

far nicer than have it come up into the shower....


But not so nice for the next occupants of the pitch !!

You could always stick a collapsible bucket underneath the drain pipe.

willy eckerslike wrote:far nicer than have it come up into the shower....


But not so nice for the next occupants of the pitch !!

Willy, (love your "handle")

I worked for donkeys years in the water treatment industry and designed treatment processes. 

The subject of grey water on the ground raises a lot of different views with motor-homers, some VERY passionate, so I will tread very carefully here in response.

I totally agree, and I share your concern. Letting your grey water out onto or near your pitch as a matter of course is to be discouraged, it may lead to temporary smells and messy, waterlogged pitches. (not to mention a bad press for us motor-homers)

What I was calling a great idea was an overflow but I recognise that you would need to know it has operated, so only a small quantity of grey water is involved. It would be a useful back-up to the issue of incorrectly reading level sensors catching you out.

Having said that, and the reason for giving my qualifications, is that I can state that the grey water that we collect can easily be treated by bacteria in the ground and you will know, I'm sure, that many site operators like us to put our grey water around their hedges and trees as they will readily use the water. I'm certainly not advocating routine emptying of tanks-full or large quantities of grey water to areas where people will be affected or under your van where it cannot be seen until you leave. No-one wants that. Not what an overflow is for. Also, some sites are poorly drained and additional surface water will not be welcomed.

As for the next occupants of the pitch, for the quantities I am thinking (<3 litres), the next occupants would not even notice, nor would it affect them.

Thanks for the comment, it may start another interesting debate.

Best wishes

Dennis

there is another answer (the obvious one) and that is for manufacturers to use equipment that actually works...

our (two) Bolero tank indicators (fresh and waste) were regularly cleaned but just as regularly failed...

OTOH, our two Carthagos have both been totally perfect over three years of pretty constant use....

in fact, when I'm filling the fresh tank, I put in the hose (it will stay in the hole without holding it) and go back inside the van and keep an eye on the gauge, watching it climb up until it hits FULL. I then go round to the tap, turn it down and slowly fill the remaining few litres until it overflows (under control) back via the input pipe....

so, it can be done if the desire is there, and the cost of a decent 'right first/every time system is far cheaper (and better for customer and supplier, manufacturer) than having folk return time after time to 'fix' it...

You are 100% correct, Chris, but it is what it is for the vans we have purchased and we will continue to work-around what we have.

Frustrating and interesting in equal measure (for me anyway)

bolero boy wrote:

in fact, when I'm filling the fresh tank, I put in the hose (it will stay in the hole without holding it) and go back inside the van and keep an eye on the gauge, watching it climb up until it hits FULL. I then go round to the tap, turn it down and slowly fill the remaining few litres until it overflows (under control) back via the input pipe....

“Keeping an eye on the gauge” , “ Watching it climb”......,!  How very old- fashioned !

We attach our water hose to the inlet, turn on the mains supply and go off and empty the loo or chat to passing campers. When the tank is full the water supply automatically clicks off and the gauge, pretty reliable, reads Full. No need to go indoors with wet or muddy feet or stand over the tap checking for overflow underneath.  

That's the beauty of the Whale filling system. I'm surprised to see that many owners hate it.

Dare-devil-dennis wrote:You are 100% correct, Chris, but it is what it is for the vans we have purchased and we will continue to work-around what we have.

Frustrating and interesting in equal measure (for me anyway)

Im sorry but I don’t agree with your point that we will have to work around it.

The equipment fitted by Autosleepers seems to be NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE 

Let’s be honest Autosleepers are marketed as a quality product with a price tag to match.

So I will be returning my Motorhome back to the dealers for it to be corrected.

Terry

Eltel wrote:

Dare-devil-dennis wrote:You are 100% correct, Chris, but it is what it is for the vans we have purchased and we will continue to work-around what we have.

Frustrating and interesting in equal measure (for me anyway)

Im sorry but I don’t agree with your point that we will have to work around it.

The equipment fitted by Autosleepers seems to be NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE 

Let’s be honest Autosleepers are marketed as a quality product with a price tag to match.

So I will be returning my Motorhome back to the dealers for it to be corrected.

Terry

Please do not let this thread degenerate into yet another Autosleepers bashing campaign, or I shall close it.

The constant slagging off becomes very tiresome to those who don't realistically expect Autosleeper vans to be perfect in every detail!! (Or any other marque for that matter. They all have to rely upon third party components.)

PLOUGHLIN wrote:My Gloucester is 7 years old. The water filling, fresh and waste guages, water pump and water heater all work perfectly. Just saying.

That’s effectively ensured that all of them will suffer terminal breakdown next trip.

You can call me Cassandra....