Date:         Thu, 2 Jun 2005 20:51:03 -0700
Reply-To:     mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: water level sensor in westy
Comments: To: rob campbell <rob@QUIMP.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <AEC93FEA-FB34-43DB-AFF2-57883704FE94@quimp.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

There were 2 types of level sensor used on the Westy water tanks. The
first type has metal probes screwed through the side of the tank at
several levels. Wires attach these probes to the Westy LED panel after
first passing through a small "black box" near the side of the tank. The
probes sense the water level by conducting electricity between probes,
through the water. When the water level drops and a probe is exposed,
the LED indicator drops down one LED.

The later type tank has a float inside the tank, part of a rod sticking
down from the top. I believe the float has a magnet in it or something,
to trigger the reading of the water level. These seem to fail
frequently. One of mine is currently dead and I have an older style tank
ready to replace it so I can switch to the probe level system.

Mark

rob campbell wrote:

> Hello-
>
> I'm doing some water tank maintenance on my 87 Westy.  I was looking
> the Bentley manual, since my water tank LEDs have never worked.
> Don't know if I really care, but figured I would take a look while
> replacing the pump.  The bentley shows wires coming in through the
> lid.  I have nothing but the two-in-one pump wire.  My lid (the screw-
> out cap) has no holes it in for a wire.  Is this a retrofit?  Am I
> reading the Bentley incorrectly?  Should I care?  Its easy enough to
> look and see how much water there is.
>
> Also, trying to get the old pump hose off... its quite brittle.  Its
> really difficult to reach my hand down and back up to try to cut it.
> I spent a couple painful hours with some wire cutters trying to
> perforate or score it a little, no success.  I'm thinking of just
> abandoning that nub and using the tank-fill nub (since I never use
> that feature.  Anyone have advice on getting in there and getting the
> hose off?  I'd like to just unscrew the nut and pull it up and
> through, but the tube-remnant is acting to block the nut from coming
> off.
>
> Thanks--
>
> rob campbell
> 87 Westy
> Long Beach, CA
>