water in the fuel filter?

apsbaketcase · Unread post by **apsbaketcase** » 17 Feb 2004, 01:49

My M reg 405 diesel(non turbo)has the yellow 'water in the fuel filter' light on 90% of the time. I have consulted the grand master of knowledge(Haynes manual)and loosened the drain on the bottom of the stat/fuel filter housing but nothing comes out(water or fuel). The light goes on and off when it feels like but is mostly on.
Thanks for reading
Ash

reblack68 · Unread post by **reblack68** » 17 Feb 2004, 02:16

Try replacing the filter but these lights just do whatever they want, it doesn't necessarily mean there IS water in the filter.

mbunting · Unread post by **mbunting** » 17 Feb 2004, 02:30

Don't you have to loosen another part of the system since it's under vacuum, and therefore allow air in, and the water out ( eg. during a filter change )?
Of course, you'd need to use the priming bulb afterwards

apsbaketcase · Unread post by **apsbaketcase** » 17 Feb 2004, 02:35

Just checked out the Haynes manual, nothing about loosening anything else. Any idea what I should loosen?
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by mbunting</i>

Don't you have to loosen another part of the system since it's under vacuum, and therefore allow air in, and the water out ( eg. during a filter change )?
Of course, you'd need to use the priming bulb afterwards
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

DaveW · Unread post by **DaveW** » 17 Feb 2004, 02:57

There is no need to loosen anything else.
If the filter has been on the car for a while there is a good chance that the hole in the drain is clogged with rust and other gunge.
Open the drain and poke a bit of wire into the hole and wiggle it about. You will probably see a load of junk come out followed by water and derv.
Don't forget to put a large piece of rag underneath to catch the fluids.
If you cannot unblock it, replace the filter.
In fact, if it has so much junk in it to cause it to block, it might be a good idea to replace it anyway.
DaveW.

Dave Burns · Unread post by **Dave Burns** » 17 Feb 2004, 03:06

Open the drain cock and pump the primer a few times.
If that doesn't help you will have to clean the sensor inside the filter housing with a fine plastic pan scrubber, don't use anything more abrasive than that.
To drain the filter housing, open the drain cock, loosen the clip on the outlet pipe on top of the filter and with some rag around it, carefuly pull the pipe off, this is the least messy method of getting the filter emptied, if you don't allow air in you wont get any fuel out (except when pumped), if you just go and remove the four screws holding the filter top on before draining it you will have diesel all over the shop.
Dave

reblack68 · Unread post by **reblack68** » 17 Feb 2004, 03:07

Replace it with a genuine spec one, they're no more expensive and I'm sure you can get them here.

greg_b · Unread post by **greg_b** » 17 Feb 2004, 17:01

My L reg 405 has had this light on 90% of the time for the past 5 years but there is absolutely nothing wrong, no water in the fuel. Think my old man had it checked out by Peugeot dealer at the time it started staying on. Just an electrical fault or something. I am not saying you should not check it out, better safe than sorry, but it could be this is a common electrical fault and there is actually nothing wrong. Light usually goes out at speed on motorway and mostly comes on under braking,
Cheers, Greg