Fuel Filter Sensors??

Wide Open

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Can someone tell me what these two sensors are on the top of my fuel filter?
I don't have a sensor in the bottom of the filter itself so I figure one of them is the "water in fuel" sensor but I'm not sure which one and I have no idea about the second one.
 

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Cincinnati Guy

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The red one you marked is for the fuel heater.
The black one is for the Fuel filter light

There should also be one at the bottom of the filter for water in fuel, unless yours is the one without the port on the filter.
 

Wide Open

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Hmm. I don't see a sensor for the bottom of the filter but the water in fuel light is on. I just bought the truck and it was on when I bought it. I drained the filter but that didn't help. Neither did changing the filter. Should there be another sensor around there somewhere that I'm just not seeing?
 

Exekiel69

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You need the fuel filter with the water separator wix 33617 I think. There is also another version of fuel filter with an aluminum bowl under it where the sensor is plugged in.
Make sure the fuel tank is does not have water in it or You'll change a lot of filters. Buy spares, try filter barn.
 

Wide Open

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I think the tank is ok. I'm only using the rear tank right now because the front one leaks. The rear tank is filled with fresh fuel.
The picture shows the filter that was on the truck when I bought it. I've replaced it with the identical filter (without the sensor port). I'm not sure this truck still has the actual water sensor and wiring because I haven't located it so far but I'll check again tomorrow
 

George D.

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If the fuel in water light is on it's either becuse the sensor is missing or due to an electrical problem if you don't go bac to the OE style filter with the aluminum bowl I would go with out the sensor and just drain the seperator periodicaly. The sensor has plastic threads that don't like being screwed in and out every time you change the filter and develop a leak it is also real easy to strip the threads. But with out the sensor the light being on has absolutly nothing to do with water being in the fuel.
 

icanfixall

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The actual usegae of the fuel heater is still being talked about in this forum. So far nobody really knows if they work well enough to keep them or ditch them. Out here on the west coast we really don't see any freeze so I don't feel they are needed. I know my heater never worked when I bought my truck. One day I was taking the heater apart to replace the leaking o-ring and found the heater broken. Just soldiered it back together but still don't see any differance in it working or not. I do know they are on anytime the truck is running but how effective they are is a wonder... I don't see why an injector pump would need warmed up fuel either...:dunno
 

Wide Open

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Looks like a previous owner got rid of the water sensor and wiring. I went back into the wire harness a few inches and didn't find any cut wires though. I guess I'll just pull the light bulb.
 

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