Thanks to Glyn M Ruck for his tips on checking if the pump is out or not.

At some point, you'll need to replace your pump, because it'll look like this/seize:


Things you will need:

windshield wiper pump (p/n 210-869-08-21)
10 mm hex socket
15 minutes

1) Turn your steering wheel all the way to the left. Remove the three screws on the panel shown.


2) Peel the panel back. The whole black plastic piece is flexible. Just bend it past the tab on top. The pump is accessible now.


3) Go ahead and pull out the pump, it's straightforward and just pulls up and out. Then, remove the plug. The plug has a small latch that you have to push, like most other plugs, to keep the fit snug. Also, remove the small hose that is also connected to the pump.


4) Reconnect the plug to your new pump, reconnect the small hose, and plug the pump back into it's hole in the reservoir. Turn the white swinging bar back to it's position to keep the wires snug. Should look like so:


5) Slide the black plastic panel back under the tab, replace the screws, and you're done!

Note: I recommend not doing this in a garage. Once you disconnect the pump, the fluid will gush out. In my case, my garage would have smelled like citrus and alcohol.


Very easy, and I can see clearly now!


-Laneshift

 

When my car needs work done I'm coming to FL.

 

+1. I'm in on that bandwagon as well. I'll bring the other car part. A000-000-00 Pack of Beer

 

I think Lane is a teenager. I guess as long as he doesn't tell there won't be any need for the other part - A000 000 00 00 - handcuffs or the accessory A000 000 00 00 - soap w/ rope.

 

lmao, thanks guys.

...Where's karo, again?

But yes, I'm fresh on the road. Aged at 16, always had a thing for wheels. Started with hot-wheels, moving onto dirtbikes, hobby level r/c's, and finally a car. Very lucky to get a Benz as a first car! I do like to take things apart and do things myself, and being it's summer and I have a flexible job, I have plenty of time to straighten out my car.

 

Awesome job! Subscribed for future reference.

 

Good job Lane!

 

Wow, you sure are getting you're hands dirty working on your car lately. Nicely done, keep it up

 

When I fill my wiper fluid, it leaks to the ground.

I have not check why yet. Anyone has the same problem?

 

You might want to check the pump. As you can see the picture of the old pump, there is rust and probably that is where you leaks are at.

If not, then there is a crack tube somewhere.

 

Perhaps the pump itself is dislodged from it's hole. Take it off any sweet jumps lately? (Hit any huge bumps?)

 

I also have a leak all the way at the bottom of the tank--the small rubber grommet on the left side has fallen out, NOT the large grommet next to it. Anyone know the part number or a place i can get it? I'll give the dealership a call....

 

You don't do any modfications to your cars yourself?

 

The C320 reservoir assembly is different from a C240 on my year. The 320 has a heater in it, and where that heater coil mounts...center bottom, bolt through reservoir.... is where mine leaked. Bad design/implementation and I replaced mine with a 240 reservoir and blocked off the washer heater path at both the motor and the radiator.

 

^ Solid intel from laneshift.

How do you manage to get through your harsh HB winter weather? :D

 

Anyone know the part number????

 

True story.....I was in Flagstaff, Az over the New Year weekend and it got down to 20 below! When I left my washers wouldn't work until I was almost home because I only protected it to zero.

 

 

Thanks for the write up. I don't have the pump problem, but I've always had an issue where fluid doesn't immediately come out- I need to hit the lever three times, then it comes up normally, so I'm guessing I have a shot check valve. One of the jets on the pass. side stopped working two weeks ago, so I have to check that as well.

 

Great job Lane! It kills me that with less than 20k my windshield washer still doesn't work. What were the diagnostic steps that Glyn had you do?

 

Wow this was extrememly helpful! I just bought my c300 and after I bought it like the next week it started leaking by the front left tire. so I was also having the electronic starter issue (dear god was that a tough situation) and had to bring the car into MB dealership to fix it. While in the shop they looked at everything else to see if anything else needed fixed. this was one of the fixes but they wanted to charge like $300 for parts and labor.

I havent done the labor part yet but I'll tell you this:
Mercedes wanted to charge me ~ $125 for the new pump, but I found it for $6.99 on amazon. Brand New, matching part code and everything. soooo Moral of the story: DIY DIY DIY

 

Yep.. quoted me $350 a couple of years ago. I think I paid a whopping $20 for the pump though. You don't even have to take the wheel off!

 

So my specific set up was a bit different from this. I still havent done the part install, buuut when I do tomorrow I will take pictures.
Basically my wheel well was a bit different as it didn't have the precut hole like yours does. so i had to remove a huge part of my wheel well and it ended up cutting part of it...but the pump is actually ATTACHED to the far end of the reservoir and i didn't see any physical damage when i removed it but it could be something else i'm not seeing.

Anyway it was a little more work on my model and if i could get the stupid wheel off it would be a lot easier but whoever put these wheels on WAY over torqued my bolts (which doesn't make me a happy camper at ALL)

Edit:I almost need an impact to remove these. definitely going to Discount tire co to have em loosen my lugs. what a stupid reason to have to go to them. I have a special hate reserved for the dealership that sold me this car.

 

So you tried to kind of jump on the lug wrench and still couldn't loosen the bolts?
Over-torqued bolts are actually bad for the rims...

 

I'd like to try this DIY replacement of the washer pump but the pics from laneshift no longer exist on imageshack. Anyone else have some pics to help out with this project? I've got a 2005 w203 wagon.