Thread: Weird Electrical problem with fuel filter sensor

Originally Posted by donh54

Always wondered why they seemed to deliberately chose a plastic that would seize in the thread, but wouldn't stand up to the force needed to undo it?

Tdi Defender sedimenter drains were the same.
The fix was a SS bolt.

BTW, my water alarm started flashing this arvo and stopped the car, although I think there were a couple of electronic gremlins occurring.

To the OP - You sure it's the water sensor causing your starting issues? There are a bunch of other reasons it might not be starting.

IMO if the vehicle is serviced with care that water in fuel sensor is useless though strangely it's on the same circuit with the fuel pump feed so there are two possibilities:
1. a problem with the pump's feed which will bring up the water in fuel warning too as the warning comes on if it's output drops below 1.8V
2. a problem within the sensor which puts a load on the pump's circuit not enough to blow the fuse but enough to disturb the pump

.....or a frantic hypothesis that LR made it so on purpose without mentioning that in any document as when there's a water in fuel warning due to excessive water the management to cut the fuel supply to protect the engine

Water in fuel sensor circuit.jpg

Originally Posted by gusthedog

To the OP - You sure it's the water sensor causing your starting issues? There are a bunch of other reasons it might not be starting.

Well both times my car failed to fire (cranks over nicely) the glow plug light on the dash was not there and the water in fuel light was on. Both times i have unplugged the plug and simply re plugged it in without touching anything else, so i can safely say yes its the sensor.

Originally Posted by sierrafery

IMO if the vehicle is serviced with care that water in fuel sensor is useless though strangely it's on the same circuit with the fuel pump feed so there are two possibilities:
1. a problem with the pump's feed which will bring up the water in fuel warning too as the warning comes on if it's output drops below 1.8V
2. a problem within the sensor which puts a load on the pump's circuit not enough to blow the fuse but enough to disturb the pump

.....or a frantic hypothesis that LR made it so on purpose without mentioning that in any document as when there's a water in fuel warning due to excessive water the management to cut the fuel supply to protect the engine

Water in fuel sensor circuit.jpg

I did think it may have been a feature (curse, burden) that if there was water in the fuel it did something to stop you from running the car and doing damage but haven't found any info on that. Like i said earlier the symptoms are similar to what an immobiliser would do, car will just turn over and no go. Just seem weird that both times a simply unplug and re plug is all that was needed

When do we, in the western suburban world, get water in the fuel? Here with a petrol car in remote areas, the preventative maintainance was a cup or two or methylated spirits. I've not heard of any problems with the diesels. Have I missed something?

Originally Posted by Noisy

...Like i said earlier the symptoms are similar to what an immobiliser would do, car will just turn over and no go. ...

the immobiliser won't let it crank