New coach, but all waste tanks read 3/4 full right after dumping?

[TravelTiger]

Hi all, when we did our walk through Friday, the tech demonstrated that he'd filled out tanks prior to arrival to show no leaks. He pulled the handles to show them emptying properly. We forgot to verify they were empty on the inside panel. When we arrived at our overnight stop that night, I noticed the tank readings still said 2/3 (3 of 4 lights). The next day, we emptied the tanks, and the readings still said 2/3. Now, after 5 days, the tanks all read full, shower was gurgling, so we dumped them. Lots of appropriate gushing discharge when the handles were pulled for each tank.

Checked levels, tanks say 2/3 full.

Fresh tank seems to be fine, displaying 1/3 currently, down from 2/3 after we've used it some.

We are level in our site, verified by levels in the coach as well as levelup panel. (loving the new levelup, btw).

Can't get to dealership easily, would like to know what to troubleshoot. Suggestions?


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[kakampers]

I gave up even looking at the tank gauges years ago...they are notoriously bad...

 

[travelin2]

??? Our gray tanks are pretty close to actual, I think, in between full and empty. Right now they are bone dry for winter and that's what the gauges say. Maybe yours have bad sending units???
Our black tank shows empty too as it was super flushed for the winter. During use though the black tank is never close. I empty it based on time not quantity.


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[TandT]

I agree with what Kathy said. My fresh tank gauge and my bathroom grey tank, are fairly accurate. My black tank and my kitchen tank haven't been correct since day one. I would say they are just guesstimate gauges .

On a brighter note , congratulations on the new rig . Trace

 

[cookie]

Like the others I never look at the gauges.
You have discovered my method of draining. When the shower gurgles, kitchen sink no longer drains or the toilet burps it's time to dump.

Peace
Dave

 

[jnbhobe]

I'm with Cookie, they never work. I have survived for years without them.

 

[jhardin]

Like a lot of others.... I gave up on mine also, I just listen for the sound.

 

[olcoon]

Ours worked just fine for about a year, now it's like everyone else...listen for the burp, gurgle, or whatever. It is aggravating, though to have a new rig & them not working already! Since it's new, & "shouldn't" have anything blocking the sensors, possibly the sensors were installed wrong, or there is a malfunction.

 

[JWalker]

If it said ElkRidge on the front, you wouldn't have this problem. Right Roy. Lol!!

 

[MCTalley]

Try holding down the button for each tank for a while (like 30 seconds) and see if they change. I can't remember if it was our 3950 or this 3650 that would show 2/3 after I emptied tanks, but one of them I was standing there holding the button while I pondered the situation and it actually dropped to 1/3 after a bit. Later, when I checked, I think it showed empty.

In all three of our rigs, the gray tank and fresh water monitors have generally been relatively accurate. The blacks I never pay attention to.

It is possible something is mis-wired.

 

[StarryNight]

Try holding down the button for each tank for a while (like 30 seconds) and see if they change. I can't remember if it was our 3950 or this 3650 that would show 2/3 after I emptied tanks, but one of them I was standing there holding the button while I pondered the situation and it actually dropped to 1/3 after a bit. Later, when I checked, I think it showed empty.

Well this is interesting...I just hope I can remember to try this once we get going after this winter

I wonder if anyone else has done this (hold the button down) & it worked?

 

[danemayer]

Try holding down the button for each tank for a while (like 30 seconds) and see if they change. I can't remember if it was our 3950 or this 3650 that would show 2/3 after I emptied tanks, but one of them I was standing there holding the button while I pondered the situation and it actually dropped to 1/3 after a bit. Later, when I checked, I think it showed empty.

Well this is interesting...I just hope I can remember to try this once we get going after this winter

I wonder if anyone else has done this (hold the button down) & it worked?

I just tried and it didn't change my readings, which I'm pretty sure are inaccurate due to conductive gunk buildup on the sensors.

I've attached a picture of a tank with sensors. I think when you press the test button, 12V DC goes through the button, to each sensor. If a sensor conducts the 12V (by way of the fluid inside the tank, around the sensor), I think the current flows back up to the panel LEDs which are connected to a ground bus inside the test panel.

Since all 3 holding tanks are new, and the sensors are unlikely to be contaminated, and something is getting voltage to those LEDs, I think I'd have the test panel checked.

 

[TravelTiger]

Thanks all, our ElkRidge did have mis-readings after a few years of use. We also knew "when" it was time to dump, regardless of the lights, so I'm not frustrated by the faulty technology.

It's just that this is new, from the factory, and obviously not working right. This unit has bigger tanks so I have no experience on how long to "full". I'd like to troubleshoot before turning to the dealer, if possible.




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[Bones]

Can you pull the wires from the sensors and see if anything changes? Congratulations on the new rig.

 

[jbeletti]

Will you guys be adding heaters and such in the underbelly similar to your last coach? If so, when you have the underbelly down, good time to look at the sensor wires on the tank side. Otherwise, add it to your warranty list to have your dealer take care of.

 

[JWalker]

When we dumped the tanks for the first time in this trailer, there was a ton of plastic shavings, insulation foam and all sorts of debris that came out. Maybe something like that is hung up on one of the sensors.

 

[JanAndBill]

Our gray tank sensors typically work. However I have noticed that I need to leave the valve open for a long time to get the lights to show empty. Typically the only time the indicators work correctly on the black tanks is after I've flushed the tank for 30 mins or so.

 

[TravelTiger]

Will you guys be adding heaters and such in the underbelly similar to your last coach? If so, when you have the underbelly down, good time to look at the sensor wires on the tank side. Otherwise, add it to your warranty list to have your dealer take care of.

Jim, adding heaters and such is on the list but probably not till fall.

I will add to the list for warranty work, but I was hoping it would be something we could investigate beforehand so the fix is easy or quick. The dealer can only do service work on a weekday and no overnight stay on their property, and they are 3 hours away from us. Somewhat of a challenge when you are full-time living, and working full time.



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[TravelTiger]

When we dumped the tanks for the first time in this trailer, there was a ton of plastic shavings, insulation foam and all sorts of debris that came out. Maybe something like that is hung up on one of the sensors.

Yes I'd expect that, but it's all three tanks, showing 3 lights on all.


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[sengli]

I can say the only one that works on our rig from day one was the one on the fresh water. It at least it seems to react, as the water level goes down. We have never had the others work reliably even after flushing. Its a bummer to not be able to have a solid guess on the tank levels. Seems as if there an ultrasonic system out there for the tank level sensing. They tend to use this system on higher end class A's.