Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Fleet | Keystone RV Models > Travel Trailers
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-26-2014, 05:03 PM   #1
trackstand
Member
 
trackstand's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lagrange Il
Posts: 63
My black tank meter does not read.

Any ideas before I drag it back to the dealer?

Thanks
__________________
2014 Passport 2910 GT

2013 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 CC LB Hemi

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland V6
trackstand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2014, 05:13 PM   #2
J&A
Member
 
J&A's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 97
Hi Trackstand,

Do a quick search on the topic. There are several threads on the subject that can help you troubleshoot the problem and potentially fix it.

Are you getting any readings at all?
__________________
J&A


In search of my next RV
SOLD! - 2013 Terrain 299TBH
SOLD! - 2002 Chevy Tahoe 5.3L
J&A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2014, 05:53 PM   #3
bmach
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Mass
Posts: 102
How long can you trackstand? I'm just working on mine.
bmach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-26-2014, 05:58 PM   #4
trackstand
Member
 
trackstand's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lagrange Il
Posts: 63
Quote:
Originally Posted by J&A View Post
Hi Trackstand,

Do a quick search on the topic. There are several threads on the subject that can help you troubleshoot the problem and potentially fix it.

Are you getting any readings at all?
Yep! other three are fine.
__________________
2014 Passport 2910 GT

2013 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 CC LB Hemi

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland V6
trackstand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2014, 06:27 AM   #5
hankaye
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Arrey,
Posts: 2,368
trackstand, Howdy;

I didn't teach my black tank gauge to read ... figured if it stayed
ignorant it would be easier to work with ...
So, I listen to it, when the sound becomes urgent, I dump the contents
and wait for the tone to change ...

hankaye
__________________
Striving for a less complicated life since 1949 ...

Home: 2008 Cougar 278 RKS
T.V.: 2004 F-250 4X4, Level III BulletProofed , Detroit Tru-Track Differential (915A550)
Dog: 2006 Border Collie (Rascal) aka Maximum fur dispersal unit. (08/04/2006 - 12/16/2017) RIP.
hankaye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2014, 11:09 AM   #6
trackstand
Member
 
trackstand's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lagrange Il
Posts: 63
Quote:
Originally Posted by hankaye View Post
trackstand, Howdy;

I didn't teach my black tank gauge to read ... figured if it stayed
ignorant it would be easier to work with ...
So, I listen to it, when the sound becomes urgent, I dump the contents
and wait for the tone to change ...

hankaye
I sure hope You have a day job.
__________________
2014 Passport 2910 GT

2013 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 CC LB Hemi

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland V6
trackstand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2014, 12:01 PM   #7
GaryWT
Senior Member
 
GaryWT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 3,153
So if all other gauges are working then there is probably either a loose wire or a bad board. If it is just reading incorrectly then this is normal and we all get use to it. After awhile you will learn when the tank needs to be emptied. Can be by time, sight or the toilet burping at you when flushed.
__________________
2013 Premier 31BHPR
2014 F350 6.2L
Soon to be just DW and I
GaryWT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2014, 05:05 PM   #8
therink
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 1,605
Before I took it to the dealer, I would remove the control panel and move the black tank sensor wires to a gauge from a gray tank and test. This way you could determine if it is a bad gauge or wiring/tank sensor issue. I find it easier to diagnose the problem and then tell dealer what needs fixing. I don't even use the black tank gauge because it isn't accurate anyway.
__________________
Steve Rinker
Rochester, NY
2013 Outback Sydney 340FBH (12,280 lbs loaded-scale)

2015 GMC Sierra Denali 3500HD, SRW, Duramax, CC, SB (payload 3700)

https://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/...65/340FBH1.jpg
therink is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2014, 05:07 PM   #9
trackstand
Member
 
trackstand's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lagrange Il
Posts: 63
Quote:
Originally Posted by GaryWT View Post
So if all other gauges are working then there is probably either a loose wire or a bad board. If it is just reading incorrectly then this is normal and we all get use to it. After awhile you will learn when the tank needs to be emptied. Can be by time, sight or the toilet burping at you when flushed.
Unacceptable on a 2014 $32000 camper.....
__________________
2014 Passport 2910 GT

2013 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 CC LB Hemi

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland V6
trackstand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2014, 05:09 PM   #10
trackstand
Member
 
trackstand's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Lagrange Il
Posts: 63
Quote:
Originally Posted by therink View Post
Before I took it to the dealer, I would remove the control panel and move the black tank sensor wires to a gauge from a gray tank and test. This way you could determine if it is a bad gauge or wiring/tank sensor issue. I find it easier to diagnose the problem and then tell dealer what needs fixing. I don't even use the black tank gauge because it isn't accurate anyway.
Good call. spoke with the dealer today and they asked Me to pull it with 5 gallons of clean water and a 10 pound bag of ice dumped in. We will see what happens this weekend.
__________________
2014 Passport 2910 GT

2013 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 CC LB Hemi

2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland V6
trackstand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2014, 06:06 PM   #11
GaryWT
Senior Member
 
GaryWT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 3,153
Quote:
Originally Posted by trackstand View Post
Unacceptable on a 2014 $32000 camper.....
We all spend a lot for our trailers. You did not answer my question. If it is not working at all it is a wire or the panel. If it is working but not reading then the sensor is covered with tp or crud. You can clean out the tank and the sensor will work for a trip or two and then be covered again. The sensors are the same basic set up in all trailers.
__________________
2013 Premier 31BHPR
2014 F350 6.2L
Soon to be just DW and I
GaryWT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2014, 06:19 PM   #12
hankaye
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Arrey,
Posts: 2,368
trackstand, Howdy;

Quote:
Originally Posted by trackstand View Post
I sure hope You have a day job.
Nope ... no day job, retired a few years ago


hankaye
__________________
Striving for a less complicated life since 1949 ...

Home: 2008 Cougar 278 RKS
T.V.: 2004 F-250 4X4, Level III BulletProofed , Detroit Tru-Track Differential (915A550)
Dog: 2006 Border Collie (Rascal) aka Maximum fur dispersal unit. (08/04/2006 - 12/16/2017) RIP.
hankaye is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2014, 07:26 PM   #13
RGene7001
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: FL
Posts: 119
My gauge stopped working long time ago, all problems are due to hard stuff getting stuck on the electrodes and giving false reading. Going back to the dealer is pointless, in my opinion. The problem will return after a few flushes. I know that for 3 occupants I have to empty the tank every 5-7 days. So far- no overfilling accidents
__________________


Gene.
_______________
'16 Passport 2670 BH
'11 Mercedes ML 350 gas, Reinforced OEM hitch receiver,1000 lb Eaz-Lift with custom welded head, 2 sway control bars, Prodigy P2 - ALL SETUP by Canam RV, Ontario, Canada
TST 507 trailer TPMS


'13 Passport 2650 BH- traded in
RGene7001 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2014, 09:42 PM   #14
Festus2
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
trackstand -
Readings from the black tank have always been known for being inaccurate. They often start out giving true readings but soon develop a "mind of their own". Most folks spend a considerable amount of time and effort in keeping their black tank as clean as possible and; despite their efforts, the sensor and reading doesn't reflect what is actually in the tank. It could be, for example, "squeaky clean" and have a couple of gallons of fresh water in it, but still shows 2/3 full.

At first, people find it frustrating and ask the same question as you but soon learn to live with the fact that it's just the way it is - regardless of how much money you paid for your RV.

All sorts of devices and "tricks" like travelling with ice cubes in the tank have been tried over the years to have the reading accurately reflect what is in the tank. Almost all have failed --- the tank may be clean and empty - but the reading doesn't show that.

In the end, it's not worth getting too excited and; like many of us, have learned to rely on other, less sophisticated methods of figuring out when the tank is nearing full and it's "time to dump".
__________________
2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
Festus2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2014, 10:32 PM   #15
golfpro
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Hermiston or
Posts: 128
most of the time it is toilet paper stuck to the sensors that make it not read. clean you tank.
golfpro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2014, 11:02 AM   #16
schrod
Permanent User Ban
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Bonaparte, Iowa
Posts: 10
Yes, very first thing they will have you do is try the water and ice slosh method. However, I have found that these things are not what they are hyped to be. These gauges are only vaguely accurate and are really a joke and wall decoration at best. I think the design is good but the installation at Keystone is the crapper. Their quality control has severely gone down hill since my 2006 model. It still had real wood door frames and real wood doors on the bedroom and bathroom. My 2013 now has the imitation paper covered stuff like the assemble yourself furniture is made from. This is my last Keystone.
schrod is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2014, 09:42 PM   #17
Ken / Claudia
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Fruitland
Posts: 3,357
My 2002 Artic fox, if purchased today would be about 18,000. more than I spend on the keystone trailer I now have and the black tank gauge worked just like this one. It is empty and shows 1/3, 2/3 full etc. If I clean it real good it usally shows correct, but, not always.
__________________
2013 24RKSWE (27ft TT) Cougar 1/2 ton series SOLD 10-2021
2013 Ford F350 4x4 CC 6.7 engine, 8 ft bed, 3.55 rear end, lariat package
Retired from Oregon State Police in 2011 than worked another 9.5 years as a small town traffic cop:
As of 05-2020, I am all done with 39 years total police work. No more uniforms for me.
Ken / Claudia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2014, 04:04 AM   #18
robo
Senior Member
 
robo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Oakfield NY
Posts: 229
Well the info that has been posted as u can see it is just a point of aggravation if it "needs" to work then take it back we all here in the community have grown accustom to the shotty workmanship. That is why we have the mods section of the forum
robo is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:03 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.