Erroneous Water in Fuel Light today

[Blakers]

Has anyone had any problems with their Water in Fuel light coming on erroneously? Today on my way home from work it was raining and snowing with lots of very heavy (4 inches on the road) slush.



After driving about 10 miles my Water in Fuel light came on. I pulled over as soon as I could and drained the fuel filter. When I started the engine the light was still on, so I drove another 10 miles and drained it again for a good long time. Still the light remained on.



I filled the truck up with fuel at Flying J 3 days before and had no problem and no light. I have never had a problem with water from them.



Anyway, after driving another 25 miles the light went out on its own. Tonight when I left for work, the light came on again when I started the truck, but went out with a "ding" after about a mile.



Could all that wet slush and snow have blown under the hood and soaked the wires going into the water in fuel sensor, thus causing the light to come on? Has anyone had this happen?



Thanks,



Blake

 

[Tony T.]

Did you find any water in the fuel when you drained canister. I usually will drain mine in a empty 2 liter pop bottle to avoid any diesel mess and to check for any water present.



One of the TDR members posted here not to long ago about the two small vents on top of our fuel tanks maybe having access for water to enter. Using a piece of 1/4 inch fuel line to extend out the vent. I done this to mine a couple of weeks ago when I installed Spooled-ups vent kit. I extended them about six inches with the fuel line.



If your finding no water what so ever it could be just a computer glitch or faulty wire or connecter. JMO



Tony

 

[daytripper63]

Yes, there is a reflash for random idiot lights, have you had the washer fluid lite blink sometimes or trans temp lite (I have man, trans. this was the giveaway of a problem)

 

[Blakers]

Thanks guys...



I just drained it onto McDonalds parking lot, so didn't have a way to check for water. It was snowing outside so hard I could hardly see anyway. Big wet flakes.



I left it drain a long time and still the light stayed on, so I suspect it was not caused by water in the fuel.



Every once in a while my check gauges light will flash briefly, but it has done that since the truck was new. No other gauge or light problems until this one. I try to avoid the dealers touching my truck and have heard other problems created by the reflash, so I didn't do that.



I'm thinking my problem may be from moisture under the hood - perhaps combined with salt residue from winter.

 

[daytripper63]

Thanks guys...



I just drained it onto McDonalds parking lot, so didn't have a way to check for water. It was snowing outside so hard I could hardly see anyway. Big wet flakes.



I left it drain a long time and still the light stayed on, so I suspect it was not caused by water in the fuel.



Every once in a while my check gauges light will flash briefly, but it has done that since the truck was new. No other gauge or light problems until this one. I try to avoid the dealers touching my truck and have heard other problems created by the reflash, so I didn't do that.



I'm thinking my problem may be from moisture under the hood - perhaps combined with salt residue from winter.

No its the phantom idiot lite my 03 and my neighbors 03 and many others had this happen as well the reflash only affected this issue no others, I have had no more lites since the reflash. I dont go to dealer for much anything cause I have to gtake off TST box and its a pain to put on and off and on etc

 

[Fireman]

Blakers,



It was me who had all the WIF problems, and I really beleive that the unused vents on top of the tank caused the problem. I was getting the WIF light as often as twice a week, and YES! I would get 1/2 to 1 cup of water every time. Once I drained the fuel filter the WIF light didn't go out immediatly, it would stay on 5-10 miles before going out. You'd better watch it because DC doesn't warranty injectors and pumps destroyed by contaminated fuel, yet. I started a long thread on the subject a few weeks ago, the title was something like "Check your fuel tanks" That should be enough to find it if you are interested .



Good luck,

Fireman

 

[COSEng]

Can you extend the vents without dropping the tank??



Do most 03's need this done?



Thanks,

Carl



Blakers, where the heck did all this snow come from????

 

[Tony T.]

Can you extend the vents without dropping the tank??



Do most 03's need this done?



Thanks,

Carl



Blakers, where the heck did all this snow come from????

I would try my best to before dropping the tank. In my case I seen Firemans post before I installed the vent kit so it was a easy add on. Looking through wheel well you can see rear vent pretty easily. I just forced the tubing on the barb of the vent, but didn't use a small clamp it felt though it was tight enough to stay on to me. The front vent you may have to just locate it and feel for the barb to slide the tubing on to it if your reach is long enough.



Tony

 

[Blakers]

I suppose I should carry some clear and colorless plastic cups to drain the fuel filter into so I can see if there really is water in there.



Thanks for the heads up about the vents. I wonder why they wouldn't have run vents up higher for fording water?



Blake

 

[Fireman]

It is easy to put tubing on the vents without dropping the tank. I used 1/4" fuel line. I took a piece about 1 ft long and reached up between the drive shaft and fuel tank and felt around for the barb and pushed the fuel line on. The only problem might be if you have really short arms. Then drop the end of the fuel line between the tank and the metal shield. This sholdn't take more than a minute or two. Be sure to do the one at the front of the tank as it appears to be the one that traps water.



Fireman

 

[Fireman]

Blake,



The little water bottles work well, after you drain the filter you can just screw the cap back on. Also, I went to the hardeware store and got a piece of clear tubing that is 3/4" OD and 5/8" ID, this will fit over the tubing on the fuel filter and extend it down nearer the ground making it easier to catch the fuel when draining the filter.



FIreman

 

[Blakers]

My truck sounded a "ding" last night on my way home from work as it set a code. The code said water in fuel, but the light did not come on. I drained some fuel and no water whatsoever.



I think there's a glitch. This was on a perfectly dry day.



Blake

 

[nauidvr1]

My truck just set the WIF light today. It has only had 2 tanks of fuel ran thru it and it was at the end of the second tank (1/8th tank left). I used a small clear water bottle and drained 4 oz. of fuel out, I let it set for a few hours and checked for water - the was NO water in my fuel.



Filled up today and am going to see if the light continues to stay on, then call the dealer if need be.



NAUIdvr1



P. S. I have a Short Bed and installed the tank vent kit after the 1st tank of fuel, while the tank was out I put a clear hose on the rear vent/nipple. The front one was not recessed and I did not see how water could get in it (at least on a short bed truck).

 

[nauidvr1]

Just wanted to clairify what is happening to my truck, and maybe someone has some advise - or I am just a diesel newbie that needs a lesson.



My WIF light only comes one when I turn the key to the on position. It lights up while the grid heater is on. Once the truck is started the light goes out. Is this normal, cause I don't remember the WIF light doing that for the last 3 weeks?



Thanks for any pointers... ... ... .



NAUIdvr1

 

[nauidvr1]

TTT,

Sorry bumping this to the top to see if anyone can tell me if the WIF light is supposed to come on with key in on position?

 

[ERohloff]

Had my '05 3500 SB for 2 wks now, 500 miles on the odo. Dropped the tank down 3"(to the end of the thread bolts) useing a deep 15mm 1/2" drive socket to make it easier to get at the top of the tank.

Checked both the front and the lower nipple vents. Both were very open (no restriction to blowing or sucking on them using a slipped on 1/4" fuel hose) to the ambient air.

Connected both these vent nipples to a brass tee and then the 3rd leg of the tee to a $3 clear plastic gas filter and plastic zip locked it to the front tank handle to keep it in place. Total tubing length used - 5. 5'.

Raised the tank back up to the top of the threads and good to go.

But, as others have said, if you are doing David's tank Vent Kit, this is easy to do when the tank is out.

bob r...