Cummins fuel filter water sensor

[Tom Ray]

Has anyone here removed the water sensor from the bottom of the Cummins fuel filter? The manual says to remove it in order to drain the filter, but does not say how. I tried tugging on it, and it didn't budge. I tried twisting, with the same result. With a strategically placed mirror and flashlight, I was able to see the plug, and what looks like a couple of little slots beside it. Recalling electrical outlets and switches where you slip a screwdriver into a slot to release the wire, I managed to slip a couple of screwdrivers into those slots and try tugging on the sensor again. It still did not move.

Also, does anyone know how this sensor works, and what might cause it to fail? We are fairly certain there is not water in the fuel filter. The boat is not in a place where condensation should be an issue, especially in a plastic tank, and I drained the Racor (upstream of the Cummins filter) and found only clean fuel, no water. I suspect a false alarm, but don't know how these sensors work.

It helps to keep in mind that there's always someone with a bigger boating problem. I came across this on the way home:

 

[captain's cat]

I suppose if you can get it out and it's shot you could get a new one and replace it. With the price of filters and other Cummins parts, it'd probably cost as much as that big, stuck, boat! :?

Charlie

 

[henrym]

You might have a sensor problem. Water should have first appeared in the bottom of the Racor filter before it fired the QSD fuel filter sensor off. However, the last thing you want is to let water get into a hot injector nozzle. I hate to think what CMD will charge for a replacement fuel injector.
I had an intake manifold temperature sensor failure , it always read 205°, high enough to constantly give a fault alarm on the SmartCraft display screen.

You might want to give Steve Stohler (Cummins Power South, Tampa) a call on this one 813-635-5705, as he removed my bad sensor while he was replacing and reprograming the ECM.
Henry

 

[dr. o]

Naaahhh, that BSB is not a problem... Jack up the rear wheels 6 inches, lay some 4X4 X 8 footers under there and as soon as the trailer moves forward 3-4 feet it will be clear of dragging on the hump... Any old time mover or junk hauler will have the planks and the know how...
OTOH, they likely called some modern tow truck with a 25 year old driver that doesn't know 'jack' and he will likely damage the boat and trailer trying to drag it around by brute force and then charge them a thousand bucks for a hundred dollar job...