WIF light stays on.

[RManwell]

Hello, I had oil/lube/filters changed on my 92 on Wednesday and the WIF light has stayed on since then. Any ideas on how to fix that?



Wishing you compassion and clarity,

Rick

 

[1stgen4evr]

WIF light

Take it back to the ones that did the work and tell them to correct the problem they caused.



Crush the bulb.



Look to see if they hooked it back up.



Do it yourself next time.



The sensor is in a part that screws into the botton of the fuel filter. They may not have even used the correct filter. There is a filter that will fit that doesn't accomodate the WIF sensor. The wires and screw-in segment should be dangling if that is the case. Or in the trash can where the work was performed.



At least you know they did something. I have been charged for a filter change that didn't happen.



1stgen4evr

James

 

[RManwell]

Thanks James - the guy that did it for me has treated me good for many yrs now so I want to keep him around. I did do it last time and didn't have any problems. I didn't have any issues w/ it going in - I wonder if I should try to clean the contacts?? I will look and make sure it's hooked up and I really think the bulb crush is a great idea . Thanks for helping with this.

 

[RManwell]

Well I looked it over again and it all looks like it's hooked up right. I unpluged and pluged it back in a few times, connections "look" ok. still have a solid light when the thing is running.

 

[Greenleaf]

I'm not certain "how" these things work. But an certain there is a method used to trouble shoot them. If you think about it long enough, perhaps you could investigate how it functions and locate the problem.



I will be happy to go the distance with you on this one and look it up in the "Big Book" and get an idea how it is suppose to "sense" water. Perhaps you will get it working and I'll (and everyone else) will learn something.



When mine came on, I changed the filter. All was well again.



Let me know if I may help.



Scott

 

[1stgen4evr]

WIF light

This thing won't go out of my mind. You know there just might still be water in the fuel. I have had filters so bad the truck almost quit that didn't show water in the fuel so I have limited experience with this.



I have changed the filter lots of times in the 750k miles I have run up on CTDs. I think I will unhook mine and tinker with it to see what happens. I have not crushed the bulb on mine but I know a mechanic that has done that at least once on a car that the check engine light would not go out. I have unhooked the ABS module behind the glove box short term till I could do a complete brake bleed.



1stgen4evr

James

 

[RManwell]

Sorry I have not done any more w/ this - I got busy with the cows the last 2 days and didn't try anything new with this problem. It will be Friday before I can do anything else with it. I think I'll take it out and just get a look. I had a 1/2 tank of fuel when he did the filter change and I didn't have any light before that. I asked a buddy of mine that owns a trucking firm and his advice was to live with it ... . not something I really want to do.

 

[cerberusiam]

Pull the sensor out of the bottom of the filter and use either contact cleaner or carb cleaner to clean the sensor posts and both ends of the connector. Blow everything clean and dry with an air gun taking care not to touch the sensor posts with your hands. Try to not let the sensor post touch anything else when you reinstall it into the filter or you may get the light again. I think the sensor posts ar some sort of reactive element that senses water and other contaminants but not positive. I do know the first time it happened to me I tried to wipe it clean with a towel and handled it with my hands and the light came back on. It didn't go out until I diid the former routine. When you pull the sensor make sure you get the o-ring that goes on the threaded part. It has a tenedency to back out with the threads and stick to the filter then it drops into the no-can-see universe. I usually dielectric grease the connector the wrap it with tape after its put back together to keep moisture out and the light from coming on when its wet. I am not sure the spray cleaner is good for the sensor tips but I have done it that way for 2 years and the WIF operation hasn't seemed to change. You are supposed to be able to drain the filter and the light go out but that has never worked for me. When I get the light I have to pull the sensor and clean it all up to get it working properly again.

 

[Jacek]

The way I understant the WIF sensor works is that when the two probes complete a circuit the light comes on. Diesel fuel has poor electric conductivity, but water which tends to settle to the bottom of the filter has high conductivity. When water settles between the two probes, the circuit is complete.

There could also be water on the plug in for the sensor - Whenever I cross streams a bit to fast, the WIF light comes on and so I stop and unplug it to dry it as the light drives me nuts.

Alternatively you could just unplug the harness, but then you really don't want any water going into the fuel pump if you do have water.

Of course, I could be totally wrong...



Jacek

 

[RManwell]

First let me say thanks, to James, Scott, Cerberusiam and Jacek. I've pretty busy with the cows and just got a chance to work on the pickup on Wed. I sprayed the contacts with contact cleaner like Cerberusiam said and my WIF light is no longer on. YEPPIE. Thanks for all the great help and everyone being so darn nice (the best part)

Wishing you compassion and clarity.

 

[bgilbert]

Another satisfied TDR customer! Bill