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Old 06-03-2015, 03:44 AM   #1
Willy Bee
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Tank Light Gauges

Going nut with my tank lights for how full my tanks are. When I empty and clean out my black tanks I still show 2/3rd to full on #1 and empty on #2. On my gray water #1 its always at 2/3rd. I was told to put 20 pounds of ice in my tanks before drive and that didn't work at all. Everywhere I came I ask Montana owners and they all tell me that there gauge light don't work either. Has anyone got them to work? And if yes HOW?
 
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Old 06-03-2015, 04:02 AM   #2
bncinwv
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They have not worked on any of our three models and I just accept that fact. Establish a regular dumping schedule and you should be fine.
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Old 06-03-2015, 04:22 AM   #3
dieselguy
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Like Bingo stated ... you'll solve world hunger before you get the tank indicators to work consistently. Eventually you'll get to know about how much RVing you can do before filling a tank. Going aftermarket ... there are "hooded" sensors that require installation into the tank itself and exterior sensor strips that are attached to the outside of the tanks with adhesive backing if you want to go that route. Both can use existing wiring.
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Old 06-03-2015, 04:46 AM   #4
DQDick
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We put the external sensors (mostly because I like all my toys to work) on and now they work every time, but they are pricy and working on a schedule serves almost all the time..
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Old 06-03-2015, 06:01 AM   #5
jcurtis934
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I also have external sensors. But since those cheap things that come with our montes require a high mineral content in the water to work...you could try dumping cheap table salt down into the tanks to see if it will do any good for you. John
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Old 06-03-2015, 07:05 AM   #6
richfaa
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Forget the OEM tank indicators they are useless as others have said. Mine read 1/3 full out of the factory.
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Old 06-03-2015, 11:28 AM   #7
WeBeFulltime
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I pay no attention to mine. I know when tank duty calls without lights.
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Old 06-03-2015, 12:31 PM   #8
chris199
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Our black tank always shows 2/3 full. Probably a piece of tissue hanging around. Grey tank sensors seem to be ok. Yeah that ice process isnt as reliable as you might have been told. Isnt a cure all but could help...im going to try it to see if it remove whatever is on my black tank sensor. We'll see.

There's a youtube of a guy testing the ice theory to clean a black tank. Really had little effect. His conclusion was fill the tank and soak whatever is in there to break it down. His conclusion was suprising and eye opening. I think it depends on the issue you are trying to remedy.

Do Ice Cubes in the RV Black Tank Really Work?: http://youtu.be/iH6acEmqvcw

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Old 06-04-2015, 03:18 AM   #9
MIMF
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Mine seem to be working just fine, so far. Usually, the reason these quit working is due to a poor 12 volt ground connection...like everything else. However, these things use milli volts to operate. I have in my possession, a copy of my tank location and position of my tanks by model. You can get this from Team Montana without much of a problem.

If I need to, I will open a section of the under belly on one side that gives me the best access to the sensors. Then, I will loosen and resnug each of the nuts on the sensors. Especially, on the white ground sensor.
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Old 06-04-2015, 01:40 PM   #10
Bill Turton
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My 2015 Montana 3611 RL is doing the same thing. Black tank says 2/3 full when it is empty. I bought one of those wands to clean the black tank and hopefully it will get anything that may be stuck to the sensor. I just got it today so I have not tried it .
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Old 06-04-2015, 02:46 PM   #11
1retired06
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Forget about them. When the toilet starts to burb, flush. Leave the grays open when in a full hookup site. Otherwise, wait til the drains start collecting water.
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Old 06-04-2015, 03:23 PM   #12
Dam Worker
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I can say that mine seem to work so far. After emptying tanks all three read zero. I will never have to empty that second black tank as I don't have a tank just the gauge. . Hope they continue to function correctly as time goes by. I just need to have my tanks empty quicker. Never more than a third full flow in the clear elbow. Back to bad readings, I like to leave some liquid in the tanks on the way home every so often to let it slosh around and hopefully clean the sides and bottoms of the tanks.

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Old 06-04-2015, 03:51 PM   #13
richfaa
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Right now all my tank gauges work for the very first time .They did not work out of the factory .We had the Black and Galley tanks replaced due to failure and I had on my "things for the dealer to check "list that gauges never worked... Don't know what they did but the notation on the invoice was " all gauges operating normal" and they do.. let us see how long that last.
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Old 06-04-2015, 04:22 PM   #14
Dam Worker
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Rich I hope they stay working for a long time as that might mean mine will also stay working for years to come.

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Old 06-05-2015, 12:42 AM   #15
hickory
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Ours have never worked right either. We often park on our own private CG with FHU so we don't have to be too concerned with how long we spend in the shower. We keep all valves closed any time we camp and have found that we can go for eight days before dumping. We have never filled a tank yet, that we could notice. I don't even bother to check the lights anymore.
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