Washer tank empty indicator

[timmo]

Hello fellow LEC'ers
Has anybody get any idea why my washer fluid tank indicator is showing that the washer fluid tank is empty when in reality I can't actually fit another millilitre of fluid into the b*****. Clearly I've got a problem with the indicator any suggestions?

[Tuga2112]

Hello fellow LEC'ers
Has anybody get any idea why my washer fluid tank indicator is showing that the washer fluid tank is empty when in reality I can't actually fit another millilitre of fluid into the b*****. Clearly I've got a problem with the indicator any suggestions?

sounds like an issue with the switch/sensor at the end of the tank. i have the same issue in the NA but havent bothered to look into it yet.
i am pretty sure i've seen the issue mentioned before and i suspect its a fairly common one to come across. dont recall ever reading about a solution however, this is a vague recolection from the days when i just bought my car. and since i didnt have the issue i wasnt going to read in detail about the problem

[Saltire]

I can’t help directly, because it’s not a problem I’ve experienced on the Lotus. I have had it on another car, and the issue was that the level indicator was driven from a float (like the ball cock in your cold water tank). Don’t ask me how, but the float had sprung a leak along its seam, and was full of liquid, so it always showed empty.

I’ve never had the Lotus tank to bits, so I don’t know how the warning light is driven, but, if it were me, I’d siphon the contents out of the tank, remove it from the car, and find that float or equivalent!

[dapinky]

I haveno idea, but I'd just like to say, on behalf of those of us who are still not Politically Correct.....

..... it's good to see you posting again Timmo

[KenS]

Having nuisance Washer Level warning lights does seem a common problem recently. It may be the float in the resevoir tank, but more likely to be a fault with the 'Red relay' under the dash, above UK drivers knees. I think the usual fix is to remove that relay since it is an expensive part to source. The circuit of the 'relay/timer' has been back engineered, so probably could be repaired or replicated.

Ref old posts:
https://forum.lotuselancentral.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=29069&hilit=washer+red

https://forum.lotuselancentral.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=29069&hilit=washer+red

[Tuga2112]

The circuit of the 'relay/timer' has been back engineered, so probably could be repaired or replicated.

and theres another project for my todo list...

[timmo]

Thanks everyone for your solutions. It's all fixed now and it was simply just a matter of unbolting the tank and unplugging electrical and pipe connections, giving the tank (which stank) a thoroughly good wash out with clean water. . Put it all back together and now problem is solved. I'm guessing it was a buildup of crap over the last 20 odd years gummed the sender up in the level sensor.