John Deere 97.16 – Engine Control Unit (ECU): Water In Fuel Detected

The water-in-fuel (WIF) sensor has detected a moderately high amount of water in the fuel system, specifically that the water limit has been above a predetermined quantity for longer than 20 seconds.

• 5085E
• 5090E
• 5090EL
• 5100E
• 5085M
• 5100M
• 5100MH
• 5100ML
• 5115ML
• 5090M
• 5115M
• 6110M
• 6120M
• 6130M
• 6145M
• 6155M
• 6175M
• 6195M
• 6110R
• 6120R
• 6130R
• 6145R
• 6155R
• 6175R
• 6195R
• 6215R
• 9030 Series
• 9430
• 450J
• 410J
• 7760
• 3520
• 3522
• 4630
• R4030
• R4038
• R4045

1. 1

   Drain the sediment bowl on the bottom of the primary fuel filter/water separator to remove any actual water in the fuel

2. 2

   Visually inspect the ECU connectors and the WIF sensor connector for dirty, damaged, or poorly positioned terminals

3. 3

   Check for grounding issues (low resistance to ground or a grounded input circuit) using a proper connector adapter test kit

4. 4

   Perform a moisture buildup test using a Diagnostic Scan Tool (DST) or Service Advisor: drain the bowl, operate the engine, and check if the code reoccurs

1. 1

   Turn off the engine

   Turn off the engine and ensure the ignition is OFF.

2. 2

   Locate the assembly

   Locate the primary fuel filter/water separator assembly.

3. 3

   Disconnect the sensor

   Disconnect the water-in-fuel sensor connector.

4. 4

   Remove the filter base

   Remove the filter base cap screws and the pre-filter base (the mounting bracket does not need to be removed).

5. 5

   Replace components

   Replace the fuel filter and/or the Water In Fuel (WIF) sensor as necessary.

6. 6

   Reinstall components

   Reinstall the components, ensuring the sensor is properly seated in the bottom of the filter bowl.

7. 7

   Reconnect the harness

   Reconnect the sensor wiring harness.

8. 8

   Prime and verify

   Prime the fuel system if necessary, restart the engine, and verify that the ECU 000097.16 code has cleared.