Weird Electrical problem with fuel filter sensor

**Noisy** · 26th December 2017, 08:36 AM

Hello,

As per the title i have a weird problem and can't seem to find any answers through google and searching, so here it goes. Twice now my car has not started due to the plug on the water in fuel sensor, when you turn the car on no glow plug lights come on and the car will just crank and crank and not fire. The first time this happened was at a car wash and found it quickly as the light for water in the fuel was on the dash simply unplugged the plug blew the plug to clean it out re plugged and was all good, that was over a year ago no problem since. Then yesterday it happened again when coming home from a Christmas party, hopped in to start no glow plugs on the dash and just crank and no fire, again went and unplugged the plug and plugged back in and away she went glow plugs back on the dash and all good.

Now from my research from the first time it happened you can unplug the plug and the car should run and it does. I have even unplugged it while running and no problems. So my question is what is actually causing this problem as it seems to me it should be able to do it at all.

At a guess all i can think of is that must get some debris in there and shorts it out, the first time at the car wash was because it was full of water from my extreme car washing skills, this time maybe some dust???

Anyways interested to see what people think

Car info, its a 2000 td5 auto, 225xxxkms very good service history and great service history since i have owned it for the last two years,

**Bohica** · 26th December 2017, 10:41 AM

This water in fuel sensor. This is on the fuel filter? Which was changed, when?

**Noisy** · 26th December 2017, 11:14 AM

the fuel filter was changed on the 7/8/16 at 210679kms the sensor was never replaced in the 2.5 years i have had the car. There is no water in the filter, maybe i have been miss understood the problem seems to be with the plug more then anything unless the sensor can be at fault. But as i said earlier you can disconnect the plug and the car will start and run fine so i don't understand how it won't start if its faulty as it clearly doesn't need to be there to run the car

**Bohica** · 26th December 2017, 12:03 PM

I think that the sensor was not fitted on the facelift D2. 2003 or there abouts. Mine does not have one. I'm not sure if it ever did.

**Markf** · 26th December 2017, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Noisy

the fuel filter was changed on the 7/8/16 at 210679kms the sensor was never replaced in the 2.5 years i have had the car. There is no water in the filter, maybe i have been miss understood the problem seems to be with the plug more then anything unless the sensor can be at fault. But as i said earlier you can disconnect the plug and the car will start and run fine so i don't understand how it won't start if its faulty as it clearly doesn't need to be there to run the car

In my experience you can clean that plug as much as you like and it'll make not a jot of difference. I replaced the sensor at an exhorbitant price for a genuine unit and it was OK for a couple of months before it got up to its old tricks. After one episode where it refused to start because of it, when it was pouring rain, now I just leave it disconnected with no ill effects. Until I score some contaminated fuel I guess...

**rick130** · 26th December 2017, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Bohica

I think that the sensor was not fitted on the facelift D2. 2003 or there abouts. Mine does not have one. I'm not sure if it ever did.

Yep, deleted on the D2a as apparently they were pretty unreliable.

**Noisy** · 26th December 2017, 12:43 PM

OK so it is just a faulty sensor then, i have had the problem twice in the two and half years i have own it and once it was likely my fault after washing it. Just was trying to see if it would actually stop the car from firing, the symptoms are similar to as if the immobilizer was on, I guess at least it is easy enough to get to to fix when i wont start lol.

So if they removed the sensor on the d2a, what do they use to warn you of water in the fuel? is it an improved system or just relocate it elsewhere?

**scarry** · 26th December 2017, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Noisy

OK so it is just a faulty sensor then, i have had the problem twice in the two and half years i have own it and once it was likely my fault after washing it. Just was trying to see if it would actually stop the car from firing, the symptoms are similar to as if the immobilizer was on, I guess at least it is easy enough to get to to fix when i wont start lol.

So if they removed the sensor on the d2a, what do they use to warn you of water in the fuel? is it an improved system or just relocate it elsewhere?

Pretty sure they deleted it,replaced it with nothing.

You can drain the filter using the nylon plug on the bottom of it,but be careful as they love to break off.

I used to carry a bolt and washer in the glove box,in case it broke off.Cant remember the size,maybe 10mm.

**rangieman** · 26th December 2017, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by rick130

Yep, deleted on the D2a as apparently they were pretty unreliable.

Not apparently on mine 04 unless it has been retro fitted

Mine was a one owner before my ownership and dealer serviced all its life so i doubt it very much

Oh and mine does not cause any issue maybe a false warning now and again thats about it

**Noisy** · 26th December 2017, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by scarry

Pretty sure they deleted it,replaced it with nothing.

You can drain the filter using the nylon plug on the bottom of it,but be careful as they love to break off.

I used to carry a bolt and washer in the glove box,in case it broke off.Cant remember the size,maybe 10mm.

Maybe that is option here then just delete the whole sensor and put a bolt in. I like the idea of the sensor though as it should tell you of crap in the fuel and warn you before any damage.

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