Washer Fluid Sensor Heads Up

[Stickman]

I don't know if anyone else has had this problem but I had to take my '12 up to the dealer today to have the washer fluid sensor replaced. Mine kept going off saying it was low even though it was completely full. After it was finished the service manager told me unless I switched to a different brand/type of washer fluid it would happen again. He said something about the Rain X brand washer fluid that I use clogs up the sensor and causes the problem, and it only seems to happen on the Rams. They've replaced 5 or 6 within the last couple months on only Rams, and they're a Ford/Dodge/Ram/Chrysler/Jeep dealer. Anyway here's a pic of the fluid I use so you guys don't have to worry about going through this stupid little problem and save you some headache dealing with that stupid dash light.

[TwinStick]

I have been using that since i bought my truck. Yes, the light comes on & goes out from time to time, but it don't bother me any. That shit works great.

[Will]

That's all that has been in mine since the day the factory stuff ran out over 4 years ago. Never had a problem. Wouldn't use anything else. Awesome water repellant in the rain. I use it religiously also, have to refill it about every 2 months. Maybe that's why it has never clogged.

I use the orange in the winter and the green during the spring and summer.

[Bill2014]

That's all that has been in mine since the day the factory stuff ran out over 4 years ago. Never had a problem. Wouldn't use anything else. Awesome water repellant in the rain. I use it religiously also, have to refill it about every 2 months. Maybe that's why it has never clogged.

I use the orange in the winter and the green during the spring and summer.

Not much summer here - so I only use the orange year round.

[Stickman]

Hmm, I guess I'll keep using it and just alternate it with another fluid to dilute it down every few months to help. That's weird only 1 of you guys has had an issue with it.

[loveracing1988]

This is a common problem with a fluid with silicone in it like the rain-x does. What he said was half right, it isn't just ram it is all of chrysler that has the problem. You might see it every now and then on other brands but for some reason the sensor that chrysler puts in all of their vehicles does not play well with a silicone containing solvent which any rain repelling washer solvent has in it.

[plotter1]

I use regular (blue) washer fluid with Rain-X additive. I have been through four sensors so far. This is the first time I have heard anything about the fluid being the issue. I thought I was the only one.

[jersey1880]

I used to have a 2013 1500 and I had this same problem. My buddy had the same problem with his 2014 charger. The sensor that Chrysler uses in many of their newer vehicles has two electrodes that passes a small current through the fluid. When the fluid gets below the sensor, the current does not travel between the electrodes, and causes the low level light to come on. The RainX fluid creates a film over the electrodes and also prevents the current from connecting between the two electrodes, which is why the low level light will still be on when the fluid is full.
My 1500 was a lease and I had to fix it before I turned it in. I bought a new sensor from the dealership for less than $5 and replaced it myself.

[Will]

I have had 3 Ram trucks, a Durango, a Wrangler and a Grand Cherokee and I've used the green one in every one of them and never had an issue. Occasionally, in the winter "month" we have I switch to the orange. I guess I'll stick with the green since it appears to be fine for me.

[RustyPW]

I just changed the sensor on my PW yesterday myself. Cost me $2.68 for it. My sensor has been out for about 2 years. LOL. There is no way to clog that sensor. What it is, is a conductivity probe with 2 metal tabs sticking out. How it works, is that when fluid is making contact with both tabs. It basically closes a circuit. When the fluid is not making contact with both tabs. You get the low level light (open circuit). I had to have the sensor on my '13 Grand Cherokee replaced a couple months ago. And the dealer told me it was from using the orange fluid. I've only used one jug of the orange in the GC. That was just before the sensor failed. I've always used the orange fluid in my PW, and that's been about 7 yrs.

[Will]

If mine quits, I'll just wire it and close the circuit then. You'll know when it's out.

[Stickman]

Hmm, dealer said it was $22, must have been a different sensor, he kept saying there was 2 of them though. I'm still under warranty though so I'm not spending any more money if I don't have.

[Will]

Boy, I thought I jinxed myself. Going home yesterday, I hit the washer and the light comes on. I think, oh this is highly too coincidental. I hit the button again and I'm out of fluid. I go get some more of the green stuff and new wipers, full tank now and the light is off. I wonder if the additive in the orange stuff "for ice" is what coats the electrodes yall speak of..

[Snowsled]

That orange crap ruined the sensor in both my '06 Ram and my '13 GTI. ANYBODY who loves this garbage can come to my house and pick up the extra gallon I have for free. I will NEVER buy a RainX product again, ever.

[verdesardog]

Funny, even when I lived in Seattle rainx always just smeared my windshield bad! Never use the stuff any more. I tried the wipe on stuff which made the rain just bead off the glass but turn on the wipers....can't see a thing.

[Pit Slave]

Funny, even when I lived in Seattle rainx always just smeared my windshield bad! Never use the stuff any more. I tried the wipe on stuff which made the rain just bead off the glass but turn on the wipers....can't see a thing.

You know that's the funny thing with it, on some of the trucks I've been in, it either worked really great or it looked like someone had dumped oil contaminant on the wiper blades and windshield.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[jersey1880]

Funny, even when I lived in Seattle rainx always just smeared my windshield bad! Never use the stuff any more. I tried the wipe on stuff which made the rain just bead off the glass but turn on the wipers....can't see a thing.

when you're wipers just smear, time for new wiper blades...

[verdesardog]

been there done that, in Seattle. Cleaned the windshield spotless, new wiper blades still no go. But that was many years ago, haven't used the stuff for years. Maybe they have improved it???

[RustyPW]

This is what the sensor looks like.