Black Tank Sensor Problem
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5131
Printed Date: 12 Jun 2025 at 8:02am
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Topic: Black Tank Sensor Problem
Posted By: 3ofUs
Subject: Black Tank Sensor Problem
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2014 at 7:38am
| After another week of camping, we dump the black tank and it still registers 3/4 full. There is nothing in the tank. So is this a tissue on sensor again??? I'm ready to bag bathroom tissue. We just got it cleared two weeks ago when warranty work was performed on Black Tank Flush. I've made sure plenty of water was in bowl before dropping paper in and I don't try to flush dry paper. This use to happen frequently in a motor home we owned. Any suggestions? I guess at some point it will free itself. Just curious if this is a common problem. |
Replies:
Posted By: HuronSailor
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2014 at 7:43am
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This is a common problem. Mine hardly ever reads right. ------------- .: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2014 at 8:15am
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The factory installed tank monitor using internal probes will never work. The solutions are: totally disregard the monitor or replace it with something like the SeeLevel system using external measuring pads. They work very well.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2014 at 8:15am
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Have you tried a bag or two of ice cube into the black tank then take it for a ride up and down a bumpy road, that should bounce around and brush up against the side enough to clear the problem. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: 3ofUs
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2014 at 10:33am
| I think my husband will use the wand he bought from Camping World and spray down in the tank and see if that releases it. Glad we came home yesterday. It's pouring rain today. |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2014 at 11:56am
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I wish the black and grey tanks were translucent like the fresh water tank..would be much more reliable to simply kneel down outside and glance at them now and then. I have owned RVs where the toilet dropped straight into the tank, was simple to just look down the hole to see how full. ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: 3ofUs
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2014 at 12:04pm
| Yes, Budward, we had motor homes like that. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2014 at 1:28pm
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Yup, the black tank sensors usually don't work within days or weeks. The gray tank tends to still work, and the fresh water tank sensors. The battery indicator is trash from the start for multiple reasons. I rely on seeing water with my own eyes. When the water starts backing up into the shower pan, I've waited too long to dump it (only an issue when boondocking since you can leave that tank open when you have hookups). When I see water starting to fill the tube when I flush the toilet, I have 1-2 more flushes before it is at the max. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Grayotter
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2014 at 11:16am
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When I had my previous trailer I made a blackwater cocktail for my tank by gently (afraid they might chip or scor the toilet) dropping ice cubes down the toilet occasionally and when I was about 20 miles from a dump site. I believe the problem is caused by toilet paper sloshing around, getting hung up on the sensors and drying in storage. By putting ice cubes in the tank, they will emoulsify (sp) the t.p. and also bump into the sensors keeping them cleaner. ------------- Love2 1der |
Posted By: ahefner
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2014 at 11:32pm
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I almost always double flush the black tank, if there is a line then I do a single flush on the black tank. My sensors still work correctly for now... ------------- 2014 rPod 178 2014 Toyota Tundra 5.7 |