T6.1 fresh water level indicator

[mroelants]

I had an issue with my fresh water level indicator (T6.1) where the control panel continuously indicated empty, regardless of the actual level. Sometimes the tap would work, sometimes it wouldn't. Had a look today in the tank under de wardrobe and removed the float/senor. Turns out the pump was installed incorrectly, able to move around freely and stopping the float from moving up with the water level. Moved it to the corner where there are 2 tabs holding it in position and out of the way of the floater. Works perfectly now. I have attached a picture of where/how it should be installed. Hope it helps for those strugling with the same issue.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

My fresh water level sensor seems to have failed and I had a message saying to take it to a VW workshop. We’re touring at the moment and still have water through the tap so not a major issue, just a little irritating. Anybody else had this? Does it most likely need a new sensor or could it be a fuse? If the latter can anybody advise which fuse?

 

[Bigphatwhale]

I'm a newbie and waiting for delivery next April. My local dealer had an actual Ocean on the showroom floor yesterday so I took the opportunity to have a little stroke (Can't believe I've actually ordered £70k worth of kit without even inspecting it let alone driving)! I got talking to the sales guy who was lovely and I asked about warranty issues etc.

He said ''don't have much faith in the water tank info on the screen'' ''its either full or empty regardless of what is actually in the tank'' he said . He had just resigned himself that it was an unreliable part of the van and not a lot we could do about it.
That's not very good is it?

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

I'm a newbie and waiting for delivery next April. My local dealer had an actual Ocean on the showroom floor yesterday so I took the opportunity to have a little stroke (Can't believe I've actually ordered £70k worth of kit without even inspecting it let alone driving)! I got talking to the sales guy who was lovely and I asked about warranty issues etc.

He said ''don't have much faith in the water tank info on the screen'' ''its either full or empty regardless of what is actually in the tank'' he said . He had just resigned himself that it was an unreliable part of the van and not a lot we could do about it.
That's not very good is it?

That’s always been the case for the waste water on our van, shows water in there even when emptied. The fresh water however has always been reliable. What I have is a fault condition with an exclamation mark overlaid on the tank graphic. Anyway, it’s booked in for diagnosis and a fix later this month.

 

[bob_summers]

He said ''don't have much faith in the water tank info on the screen'' ''its either full or empty regardless of what is actually in the tank'' he said . He had just resigned himself that it was an unreliable part of the van and not a lot we could do about it.
That's not very good is it?

I’ve got intimate knowledge of the fresh water system level detection on various trains (don’t ask…) which cost considerably more than a Cali and don’t work that much better.

 

[Dysie]

I'm a newbie and waiting for delivery next April. My local dealer had an actual Ocean on the showroom floor yesterday so I took the opportunity to have a little stroke (Can't believe I've actually ordered £70k worth of kit without even inspecting it let alone driving)! I got talking to the sales guy who was lovely and I asked about warranty issues etc.

He said ''don't have much faith in the water tank info on the screen'' ''its either full or empty regardless of what is actually in the tank'' he said . He had just resigned himself that it was an unreliable part of the van and not a lot we could do about it.
That's not very good is it?

£70k without an inspection or a test drive....... thank god its not just me ! I'm waiting on delivery in March but assume it will be longer..

Little sight of a functioning 6.1 around dealers here in York/Hull. But I'm heading home to Norwich in next couple of weeks so the prospect of a little stroke and to see where the money has gone is very tempting. Can I ask where you the local dealer with a Cali was ? Are they the dealer you purchased from ?

 

[Bigphatwhale]

£70k without an inspection or a test drive....... thank god its not just me ! I'm waiting on delivery in March but assume it will be longer..

Little sight of a functioning 6.1 around dealers here in York/Hull. But I'm heading home to Norwich in next couple of weeks so the prospect of a little stroke and to see where the money has gone is very tempting. Can I ask where you the local dealer with a Cali was ? Are they the dealer you purchased from ?

Hi the Cali is at Robinsons in Norwich, it’s a demo , already sold but they have to keep it for 6 months.. I ordered through DtD and will be collecting from Eurovans down in Surrey. I’ve already checked trains and what my packed lunch is going to be

 

[Dysie]

Thanks, think I’ll pop down next week, a little peek preview will help keep me going though the long winter months…
Yep Dtd from Eurovans seem to be cleaning up, no wonder they didn’t sound too excited by my call !

 

[newboldi]

My fresh water level sensor seems to have failed and I had a message saying to take it to a VW workshop. We’re touring at the moment and still have water through the tap so not a major issue, just a little irritating. Anybody else had this? Does it most likely need a new sensor or could it be a fuse? If the latter can anybody advise which fuse?

View attachment 84152

Hi - I’ve had this on a recent trip. Just went into the dealer who said the sensor had come off/loose…caused by driving with water in the tank!!!! Fixed now under warranty but, frustrating at the time…

 

[sidepod]

That’s always been the case for the waste water on our van, shows water in there even when emptied. The fresh water however has always been reliable. What I have is a fault condition with an exclamation mark overlaid on the tank graphic. Anyway, it’s booked in for diagnosis and a fix later this month.

Bear in mind there are two different types of measuring kit on the two tanks.
Waste water, you don’t care about level, all you care about is “Full”.
Fresh water is different, that does measure level.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Hi - I’ve had this on a recent trip. Just went into the dealer who said the sensor had come off/loose…caused by driving with water in the tank!!!! Fixed now under warranty but, frustrating at the time…

Thanks @newboldi
Suspect the same has happened with ours.
Absolutely crazy for the dealer to suggest you shouldn’t drive with water in the tank! Did you point out that sometimes you are not able to fill up the tank on arrival at a site and definitely not if wild camping.

 

[Rod Mackay]

I’m on my 3rd FW Sensor now.GG. First one had shorted out after a coup,e of months and second one lasted a week. It was fine when empty or half full but when running with a full tank I got the same display that you have. Touch wood sensor number 3 seems fine so far but overall confidence level is not high. As you said at least the tap still works, it’s just a sensor fault. Hope you get it fixed when you get back.

 

[newboldi]

Thanks @newboldi
Suspect the same has happened with ours.
Absolutely crazy for the dealer to suggest you shouldn’t drive with water in the tank! Did you point out that sometimes you are not able to fill up the tank on arrival at a site and definitely not if wild camping.

I did point this out…I was pretty sure it was nonsense tbh so largely ignored it at the time. But thought someone on here would definitely know…

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

So, back home now and an update.

Noticed that after using water the exclamation mark on the camping display disappeared but the tank displayed empty. After using more water the level reappeared showing about half full. Drained the tank and the display showed empty. Filled the tank again and the display showed full. No warning about sensor failure. I’ll test it all again tomorrow but it looks to have resolved itself? Fingers crossed might avoid a workshop visit.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Have tested it again today with 2 cycles of filling and emptying and all seems OK

Anybody know how the level sensor works in a T6.1? Is it a type float switch? Could mine have got stuck and generated the error message and have now freed itself?

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Road tested today with a full tank of fresh water sloshing about and pleased to say all still OK.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

For what it is worth.

When at Citygate yesterday for an oil change service, I spoke to their California Master Technician about the issue I’d had with the fresh water level indicator. Bottom line is that he says they do get stuck, so it’s always worth draining/refilling a couple of times to see if it remedies the problem before visiting the workshop.

Not sure about this but he also suggested that in the past they’d seen the water pump move and the magnetic field from the motor causing problems with the level sensor???

 

[Ladymuck]

I've tried emptying and refilling mine too as suggested as I was getting the same fault as yours. I've found the warning display disappears when I drain the water. The warning only re-appears again if I fill the tank again right up to the top but if fill it halfway up there's no warning!

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

I've tried emptying and refilling mine too as suggested as I was getting the same fault as yours. I've found the warning display disappears when I drain the water. The warning only re-appears again if I fill the tank again right up to the top but if fill it halfway up there's no warning!

Less than reliable system @Ladymuck . I expect ours might throw a wobbly again sometime in the future.

 

[Ladymuck]

Yes, mine's supposed to be going in Friday but I'm going to cancel as the water does work and can now avoid the annoying warning light and corresponding ping. I'll just wait until something else goes wrong and get it fixed them.

 

[WelshGas]

Yes, mine's supposed to be going in Friday but I'm going to cancel as the water does work and can now avoid the annoying warning light and corresponding ping. I'll just wait until something else goes wrong and get it fixed them.

Yes, mine's supposed to be going in Friday but I'm going to cancel as the water does work and can now avoid the annoying warning light and corresponding ping. I'll just wait until something else goes wrong and get it fixed them.

Could this be the cause?

T6.1 fresh water level indicator

I had an issue with my fresh water level indicator (T6.1) where the control panel continuously indicated empty, regardless of the actual level. Sometimes the tap would work, sometimes it wouldn't. Had a look today in the tank under de wardrobe and removed the float/senor. Turns out the pump was...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Sad]

Could this be the cause?

T6.1 fresh water level indicator

I had an issue with my fresh water level indicator (T6.1) where the control panel continuously indicated empty, regardless of the actual level. Sometimes the tap would work, sometimes it wouldn't. Had a look today in the tank under de wardrobe and removed the float/senor. Turns out the pump was...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

That's this thread...

 

[Ladymuck]

That's this thread...

It is, I haven't actually checked this possibility though!

 

[WelshGas]

That's this thread...

I know.
But the VW technician mentioned this as a possible cause and a Forum member found his pump misplaced.

 

[M88GAV]

I had an issue with my fresh water level indicator (T6.1) where the control panel continuously indicated empty, regardless of the actual level. Sometimes the tap would work, sometimes it wouldn't. Had a look today in the tank under de wardrobe and removed the float/senor. Turns out the pump was installed incorrectly, able to move around freely and stopping the float from moving up with the water level. Moved it to the corner where there are 2 tabs holding it in position and out of the way of the floater. Works perfectly now. I have attached a picture of where/how it should be installed. Hope it helps for those strugling with the same issue.
View attachment 81661

I was just reading through these posts as my water level doesn’t seem to register.
Could you advise how I get to the pump etc as shown in your photo please? I had a look in the rear wardrobe area and couldn’t identify anything that looked like your photo