Cleaning grey tank sensors

Kaliona · 07-19-2020, 09:32 PM

My grey tank level never indicates "empty" even right after dumping. I tried the liquid dishwasher cleanse with a a few gallons of hot water on the way to the campsite so it would slosh around hoping to clean sensors. Did that 3 times. Still level indicator starts at "1/3". Doing some repair work under the trailer I exposed the grey tank and noticed the sensor wires. I'm guessing the yellow wire is the 1/3 indicator, green is 2/3, and red is full. Can I disconnect the yellow wire, remove the sensor, and clean it to solve my inaccurate reading problem? Any special tools needed to do this? Any special sealants need to be used when I reinstall it? I want to fix this problem but don't want to create new ones by taking it apart.

**JFlightRisk** · 07-19-2020, 10:12 PM

Unfortunately, you won't be able to remove and replace those sensors. I had exactly the same issue with ours this summer. Stuck reading 1/3. They are an expanded rubber grommet, and are meant to tighten and seal only once. I splurged for a new set of Horst Miracle sensors from Amazon, and just replaced them a couple of days ago.

There was a piece of flaky crud stuck to it, that stayed wet for a long time. I was looking to try the Tank Blaster chemical, but could only find the Commando brand locally. The treatment was working, but I think it needed more tries.

Enough of my babbling...to remove the old ones, remove the two nuts with the wire and the flat washer CAREFULLY. You WILL need two 5/16" open end wrenches, and one of them has to be THIN to hold the inner nut from spinning, like an ignition wrench. At this point, the actual metal sensor stud can be pushed into the tank. VERY carefully, put a 9/16" box wrench over the rubber part of the sensor, against the tank. Place a larger flat washer, that has a small center hole, over the threaded stud, and then one of the nuts you took off. Now, keeping the wrench tight and square to the tank surface, tighten the nut down until the sensor pops out of the hole. Don't twist it, or try to pry it out with the 9/16" wrench. It will come out by tightening the nut. Don't worry if part of the rubber tears off and drops inside the tank. I had two of them do that. Those pieces float, and will flush out of the tank when you're all done.

Now that you've read all of this, you can also drill a 3/8" hole right next to the old sensors, and install new ones, leaving the old ones in place. Just take off the first nut and wire, and move it over. Personally, I wanted to see just how hard it was to get the old ones out.

Sorry for the long post, but it's really easy to replace them, just hard to explain in few words.

Tunce the traveler · 07-19-2020, 10:16 PM

I would say “leave well enough alone” because after just one trip you’ll be right back to where you started from. Their notorious for never working properly no matter what you do.

Jagiven · 07-19-2020, 10:21 PM

I have had decent luck, using liquid fabric softener, and water. After dumping, I add a cup of fabric softener to a fairly full 5 gallon bucket. Dump about 1/2 into each tank. Then drive home, and back to the the next trip.

I also never fully dump my grey tank. I assume usually there is a few gallons of water left. This just keeps things wet.

Fabric softener and water softener, changes the surface tension of the water. So, the water can penetrate into any crud. With that said, I assume grease is the issue in the grey tank. We religiously wipe down greasy items before doing dishes.

Kaliona · 07-19-2020, 10:38 PM

Thanks guys. Good to know its a relatively easy fix if I decide to do it. If I don't do it, I guess its better to have a stuck 1/3 sensor as opposed to a stuck full sensor.

travelingjw · 07-19-2020, 10:39 PM

We've tried everything with our grey tank. DW never allows anything into the sink. Hand wipes all dishes and pots prior to washing and it still didn't help. I have found that using Dawn and traveling down the road will sometimes get them clean. We've also used Dawn with Calgon, etc. but in 3 years we've never gone one full trip without the sensors malfunctioning.

**JFlightRisk** · 07-19-2020, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaliona

Thanks guys. Good to know its a relatively easy fix if I decide to do it. If I don't do it, I guess its better to have a stuck 1/3 sensor as opposed to a stuck full sensor.

Very true. If I hadn't decided to crawl under our TT to change them out, I might never have noticed the "full" and "2/3rds" sensor wires were switched. Were that way from new. and always wondered why that tank filled up so quickly, but were still able to go another couple of days on it. Now they're wired correctly.

RetiredOne · 07-19-2020, 11:00 PM

You would think, after decades of RVs being built, that the manufacturers could come up with a system that would actually work.... We can drop men on the moon, but RV manufacturers can't produce a reliable set of sensors to measure fluid levels... crazy...

**JFlightRisk** · 07-19-2020, 11:08 PM

I think those are called See Level sensors. Great product, just a tad pricey for us weekenders.

Our original gray sensors lasted 8 years. So I'll post a performance update on these Horst sensors in 2028...to be continued...

Vpsnathan · 07-19-2020, 11:16 PM

Same problem here. Out black water level stuck at 2/3?!
A RV repair place recommended to add 'RV DIGEST-IT' holding tank treatment. Add 2-4oz. Add 5gallon water. Let sit for 12 hours. Adding hot water may help too. I just bought this stuff. Plan to try it this week when we go to the RV parked at a RV park.

Vpsnathan · 07-19-2020, 11:21 PM

It appears Jayco is NOT taking notes and feed back from users and correcting the causes of these problems!?
Is this forum owner passing such feedback to Jayco?. Is Jayco member of this forum?

**JFlightRisk** · 07-20-2020, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vpsnathan

It appears Jayco is NOT taking notes and feed back from users and correcting the causes of these problems!?
Is this forum owner passing such feedback to Jayco?. Is Jayco member of this forum?

Since Jayco is not the owner of this Forum, it's unknown if they have anyone watching. and we don't have a different pathway than anyone else to contact them.

**norty1** · 07-20-2020, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

......snip...... So I'll post a performance update on these Horst sensors in 2028...to be continued...

I hope you can give us a 6 months update! 2028 may be to late for me!

RetiredOne · 07-20-2020, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

I think those are called See Level sensors. Great product, just a tad pricey for us weekenders.

That's exactly my point. Why is it up to us, the buyers, to install upgraded components, just so the systems function..... normally?

It's the same deal with sway bars, steering stabilizers other suspension upgrades, fridge fans, batteries, water filters, thermostats, GPS systems..... on and on....

TaftCoach · 07-20-2020, 09:21 AM

It seems that everyone wants a top of the line system. So why do manufactures offer units with less than top of the line components? Why aren't Goodyear tires installed? Why isn't every 5th wheel standard with two AC units? Why doesn't every TT come with LED lights? Why did my unit come with an analog thermostat instead of a digital?

EA37TS · 07-20-2020, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetiredOne

That's exactly my point. Why is it up to us, the buyers, to install upgraded components, just so the systems function..... normally?

It's the same deal with sway bars, steering stabilizers other suspension upgrades, fridge fans, batteries, water filters, thermostats, GPS systems..... on and on....

Why did you buy it?

CAG · 07-20-2020, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaftCoach

It seems that everyone wants a top of the line system. So why do manufactures offer units with less than top of the line components? Why aren't Goodyear tires installed? Why isn't every 5th wheel standard with two AC units? Why doesn't every TT come with LED lights? Why did my unit come with an analog thermostat instead of a digital?

Because people want top of the line but don’t want to pay for it.