does anyone know how these work. Mine has stopped working properly. The warning light flashes a few times the goes off.

I've got an earth and 5volts. Is this right. I've had a look at the sensor and can't see how it works. There is a bit of metal on the flap part of the sensor. Does this rise up and something inside the sensor reckonise it?

I just wanna confirm its the sensor.

Thanks.

 

I think it's a reed switch and magnet set up, but don't know 100%.

Should be 12V though, sounds like the switch has too much resistance and will need changing to me.

 

Is it 5v with it plugged in Glenn? What voltage you got on the plug with it disconnected?

 

Yes I've got 5 volts when it's unplugged. I've ordered a new old stock switch to try. The wire from the warning module in the dash to the sensor is OK too.


If it doesn't cure it I will just take the bulb out ha ha. I just like things to work.

 

Yep it's handy little warning light to have defo get it working if you can. I had a pipe split on my coolant circuit on my 3dr and level light came on to warn me before temps had even started to rise. They should have all had em imo.

 

Your thinking of the coolant low sensor not the washer jet/fluid low sensor.

 

Yep sorry thought you were going on about the coolant level sensor.
Screen wash level is handy to lol....

 

Not sure if the 2wd Saff has one but I have never noticed it?

 

If the sensor is disconnected the light will flash a few times and then go off. If you have checked that you have 5V and ground at the plug at the loom that is good. You can also measure the electrical resistance of the sensor. In both high and low states it should not give infinity.

 

Yes, it does.

It’s next to the fuel light, unless you are talking about coolant. If so no, only the MK1 had it.

Martin

 

Yes the light is flashing a few times then it goes off. I hope its a faulty sensor.

 

so how do these sensors work then? Does the metal part on the white plastic float have anything to do with how it works??

 

Is there another metal contact on opposite side of the one on the float? Is the float mounted horizontally? If so I’d clean those contacts up and see if it cures it, if it’s only supposed to be 5V then it’ll struggle on a bad surface like that.

 

Metal part is most probably a magnet, and the switch is inside the black part to keep it away from water.

https://www.explainthatstuff.com/how...tcheswork.html

I would have bet on 12 volts though

 

The metal part is definitely not a magnet. The only thing I can think of is the wires inside the switch sense the metal when the float is touching the black part of the switch.

The new switch has been posted so when it comes we will see what the cracks is.

 

Thanks for the info, I did'nt know there was one. In the 25 years I have had my Saff the windscreen washer bottle getting low has never happened so I guess the light has never come on!!!

 

The light actually comes on as a test every time you turn the ignition on, just like all the lights from the auxilary warning system.

 

Yeah I know the light comes on but mine flashes about 6 to 8 times then goes off.

 

My comment was meant for Cossynut2 as he had never seen the light before.

 

Hi Marc, I had a look today at my dash and I cannot see the light, I am sure it does'nt have one. Not that I am worried as the washers don't get used much!!

 

I am 100% sure it does have it. Perhaps the bulb is broken? It’s above the clock, just like the low fuel warning light. The Sierra mk1 has 6 warning lights there I believe, but the mk2 only has 2 of them, quite a shame really.

 

Here you can see it.

 

Yes, a couple would be EML and brake pad warning.

Ford were strange like this, it’s like the MK1 Ghia had wooden door cappings and footwell lights. 2WD never had the latter, yet they reappeared on the 4x4.

I have always believed the reason to be cost cutting.

Martin

 

This means there is a problem
with the sensor or the circuit.

Martin

 

Fingers crossed its the sensor. I just like things to work but if not I will just take the warning bulb out.

 

Above the clock,the small panel where the Clifford alarm led is. That's where the washer low light is.(this is an old pic of inside my car)

 

Thanks Marc I will check it out!

 

My new washer fluid low sensor came today...

The light still flashes ha ha. I'm gonna check to see if there is a 12volt libw coming out of the bulb failure module to the switch.

 

Oh mate what a pain in the ass! Had my cossie running couple days ago and cooling fans packed up. Had to re wire into a relay, nearly killed the fuse box. Bloody old fords!

 

Yeh there not getting any younger.

The bulb failure modules are cheap in ebay so I might get one.

 

The auxiliary module controls this, not the lamp failure. I think 5V may be correct, as essentially it's a trigger input.

Martin

 

Cooling fans should be rewired externally to the fuse box, an "uprated" switch is also a good idea, this along with the fuel pump wiring are two weak points.

Martin

 

Had a look at the pin out for you, pin 20 (Bn/w) is what runs to the reed switch, it appears there are several wires with the same colour though.

Martin

 

The one behind the passenger side dash??

 

yes I checked this out the other day. There is about 4 wires with the same colour. So could it have 5 volt feed or should it be 12? This is the next thing I was gonna check,to see what the voltage out of pin 20 at the module.

 

A rewire kit only costs about 50 quid they have a wire so you can run a manual switch.

 

I suspect it's correct, so will be 5V remember this is electronics, if you think about engine management it has 5V outputs as well.

Martin

 

Fixed to fooooooook... when I've pushed the new sensor connector in it pushed the pin out of the wiring loom so it wasn't making a connection.

 

as you can see in the pic the switch is open so it has a bit of resistance

the switch is closed and the resistance isn't as much.

I checked my old switch and there was no resistance at all. It was an open circuit. So im chuffed its fixed.

 

Nice that it is fixed. All these little things can become annoying when there are too many of them. I like everything to work as it is supposed to.