Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Water in Fuel light won't go off.

[DSiemens]

I am having a new problem with my water in fuel light won't go off. Drain, changed filter and the light won't go off. Does the sensor fail or where should I start looking for the failure?



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95, Kitty dead, #6plate, 5speed.

 

[illflem]

Unplug the water in fuel sensor wiring from the bottom of the filter and see what happens. If the light stays on you've got a wiring or computer problem. If it goes out the problem is with the sensor. I don't think much can go wrong with the sensor, wonder if there is just some crud in-between the two sensor prongs.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(work truck)
95 3500,5 speed 3:54,BD E-brake,Driftwood,Banks&Psycotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(works harder truck)

 

[DSiemens]

I will give it a try tommorrow. Thanks.

 

[Randy Hutton]

the wires are easily broken at the point they go into the sensor, then they short together and light is on.

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95-2500-ExtCab-LB-4x4-Auto-AMSoil Air Filter, Bypass Oil Filter by others, AMSOIL and Mobil Synthetics, TST 255HP and TransGO Shift kit .

 

[DSiemens]

Seems to be the sensor. Light goes off when unplugged. Thanks.

 

[Matt400]

If the light stays on you've got a wiring or computer problem.

I have one that does this, light stays on. Have not read about this kind of fault before.

 

[ewcmr2]

Seems to be the sensor. Light goes off when unplugged. Thanks.

Sensor may have debris/crud built up on the probes. Clean it before replacing...

 

[WilsonF]

If you need a new one this is where I got mine.
FLEETGUARD - REPLACEMENT WATER-IN-FUEL SENSOR (89-96 DODGE)-Dodge Cummins Diesel Truck Accessories – Geno’s Garage

Floyd

 

[Matt400]

Pretty bizarre-



Light now goes out if its disconnected, reconnect and it comes on.

I pulled the sensor and put it in a cup of clean diesel and it stays off.

Screw it into the filter and it just stays on.

 

[Matt400]

Posting back for future folks doing a search-



The POS fuel filter was the trouble. The relief spring in the bottom was contacting the sensor tips when it was screwed in.

Pushing the spring over to the side away from where the probe tips are when screwed in was the fix. Yes it was a fram filter and I don't use them, this was not my truck.

 

[Missouri Mule]

This happened on a Fleet Guard filter I had my mechanic put on before I headed for Kansas. They put a NAPA filter on and it went out. They said it was the spring in the Fleet Guard. (I have put on 3 to 4 Fleet Guard filters and never had this problem).

 

[abranz]

Had the same thing happen on a fleetgaurd filter as the two prongs would touch the internal filter spring. Use a napa/wix one. Tony

 

[RVPILOT]

filter

I elimited the connection about 500,00 miles ago and found a filter at about the third the cost without the sensor connection. used on john deers. stormy

 

[AWallace]

Mine always stays on for a couple of days after I change filter. I always wash the fuel off with a water hose from priming. The wires broke on mine once orded one from jeno's. I left it unpluged until i got one light was off while unpluged.

 

[MLee]

Mine did this on my last change and read on here, others had the same problem.

Solution!!! unscrew the sensor till the light goes out. Usualy 1/2 turn or so. Its shorting out on the filter case. Thats what water does to the sensor to turn on the light. fuel has other properties so the light stays off. I don't know why.

 

[Draught]

I have a 95 i had the same problem after i washed the engine or going through a car wash with the engine running. I ended pulling the plug apart used wd40 to disperse water and a little sillocone grease its ok.

 

[AWallace]

I can live with the light after a change for a couple of days. I don't believe I would do away with the drain. I have got bad fuel 2 times in the last 10 years or so one in Napa Valley CA and AZ. The drain is all that save me. Last summer (2008) was the last time in CA. I struggled with that tank for nearly 350 miles. I findly camped in a campground that would let me change filters as long as I did not get any on the ground. I poured the fuel out after the change looked like someone dumped a ash tray in it. Still running on that filter 9k miles later. I change about every 10K

 

[GaryOwen]

Mine did this on my last change and read on here, others had the same problem.

Solution!!! unscrew the sensor till the light goes out. Usualy 1/2 turn or so. Its shorting out on the filter case. Thats what water does to the sensor to turn on the light. fuel has other properties so the light stays off. I don't know why.

I unscrewed mine less than 1/4 turn after experiencing the WIF light with a Fleetguard filter and the light went off. Hasn't leaked either.



Wonder if the tips of the sensor could be ground down a bit (maybe 1/16" or so) without ruining the sensor?

 

[MLee]

I unscrewed mine less than 1/4 turn after experiencing the WIF light with a Fleetguard filter and the light went off. Hasn't leaked either.



Wonder if the tips of the sensor could be ground down a bit (maybe 1/16" or so) without ruining the sensor?

Gary your like me. We want to make sure that we don't end up with a fuel leak so we tighten the sensor to far. With a O-ring it doesn't take much to seal it off. So NOT So much tweak on it any more. Grinding off the sensor- not necessary. Just back off a little on installing it.



Ya'll have a merry Christmas and a Happy New year!!!!!

 

[AWallace]

I have never had that problem except when I change. I always spray it off with water and it may stay on for that day but by the next day its off. I don't use much pressure when I am tighten the sender I don't want to strip the plastic treads.