Tank sensor reading empty

[SDSURFKID]

My black water sensor is reading EMPTY and its deffiently full.

Any quick fixes??
Thanks

[chuckster57]

Most likely lost ground. You need to open the underbelly, find the sensor pack and look for the white wire. You can run a jumper to the frame and it should fix it.

[sourdough]

My black water sensor is reading EMPTY and its deffiently full.

Any quick fixes??
Thanks

I think you will find that the tank sensors are a "feel good" thing put in the RV that seldom are accurate. Thankfully we have used RVs for years without them and know when we need to dump.....ours are inaccurate as well...always have been and don't improve no matter what we do. It matters not to us and don't know that I've looked at them after our first trip in the RV. Good luck but just learn how the tanks work and when the fill up...really simple and eliminates one more worry with the unit.

[travelin texans]

I agree with sourdough!
You can pull the underbelly & check wiring, but from my experiences with several different rvs that's a LOT of work that most likely won't make any difference in the accuracy, or lack of, with said sensors.

[Pull Toy]

WELCOME to the group! There's lots of good friends to be found here, and tons of experience.

Even if you get the system working, the next time you dump, a piece of TP will stick to the sensor and show you FULL, even though you know your not. It's the nature of the beast.

There are five screws through the wall into the tank attached to wires on the outside. The bottom one is the ground. As the water level rises, you will reach the first sensor screw. This completes the first level circuit by using the fluids as a "switch" between the two screws, thereby turning on a light on your gauge. As levels rise, each additional screw makes contact to complete the next circuit, turning on each additional light. In theory, a great bullet proof system, right? NOT! All it takes is corrosion, broken wires, or "cling ons" to shut you down.

As already mentioned, it is a lot of work to get to your sensors, to correct a problem that will probably re-occur. Maybe a flashlight pointed down the hole is an easier fix. Just don't drop it! LOL


Good Luck,

[JRTJH]

Most of us have stopped relying on the tank sensors for anything other than a bunch of red lights with no purpose. With use, you'll learn what your toilet sounds like as the tank fills and you flush. Most owners can tell you when they dump, either by "we get X days between black tank dumps" or "When I start hearing that little gurgle when I flush, I know it's time to dump"....

There are some people who do use their tank sensor system, they are the "lucky few" with an operational system. The rest of us, our system gave up being "honest" years ago.... YMMV

[chuckster57]

And once again I’ll just say that mine have worked in every trailer I have owned, and I have got them working in every trailer/motorhome I’ve worked on.