Tank level lindicators
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8140
Printed Date: 23 Jun 2025 at 4:56pm
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Topic: Tank level lindicators
Posted By: ron/roscoe
Subject: Tank level lindicators
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 7:53pm
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Problem? My tank level lights do not work, after two trips back to the dealer, they said they worked. The next week went camping with full hook ups but left end the dump valves closed to test the indicators. We camped for 5 days with the gray and black indicators staying on the empty position. The evening of the fifth night, the tanks came alive, the gray water was almost full due to several showers. Any suggestions? I have a 2016 R178. ------------- Ron Rowland |
Replies:
Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 8:44pm
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If all lights were non-functional at the same time, I would think it's a wire fault or a bad tank panel indicator. Check behind the tank panel indicator for a loose wire. 1)No power (wire) 2)Loose ground 3)Bad panel
------------- 2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler 2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD) 2013 VW Touareg TDI |
Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 11:08pm
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The tank level indicators are a joke. They are notoriously inaccurate. My black water tank indicator recently showed 1/3 full. I emptied the tank, backflushed it thoroughly and it now shows 2/3 full. FYI, whenever we empty the tank, we backflush and add detergent and calgon to the tank to clean it out. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 8:52am
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The tank indicators will often give a false positive, but never a false negative. A light can light and stay lit due to crud sticking to the probe, but a properly connected and functioning probe will not fail to indicate a wet condition. If the panel does not indicate successive filling (like Empty, 2 lights, 3 lights, full) the wiring or panel is faulty. The most common problem is the black tank indicating full or close when the tank is known to be empty. Cleaning is the only solution and it's only temporary. The battery indicator is another story. Its only accurate functions are to tell you your battery is being charged or you left the battery at home. ------------- 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: techntrek
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 8:10pm
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+1 I never use them. Best way to tell the black is almost full is to look down the drain when you flush the toilet. If you see water coming up the pipe you might get one more flush. For the gray tank if the shower pan starts filling during your shower, it is full. Over time you learn how many showers and days you get from each tank. ------------- 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: furpod
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 8:30pm
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HOKUM!! HOKUM I SAY!! I pay them no attention. My father has been RVing since the 70's, NEVER had a set he trusted. When we bought our 'stream I asked him about them.. he laughed and said, "when you don't hear a "sploosh" black is full.. and when the shower backs up.. grey is full. Never miss an opportunity to dump." It's a system I have learned to live with for it's simplicity. ------------- |
Posted By: ron/roscoe
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 3:43pm
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Seems like a like they should be a way to crawl back Under the camper and see where the level is, sort of like a see through tank. On older campers, the black water problem can be fixed by putting a bag of ice into the toilet with a few gallons of Ayer to clean the sensors. Let it slosh around until your get to your distinction. Ice will work at least on my older motor Home! ------------- Ron Rowland |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 4:11pm
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What's Ayer?
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |