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I have taken delivery of my new-to-me 2017 e400 wagon and it is for the most part glorious!
All lessons, trials, and tribulations related to buying out of state, sight unseen aside, I'm enjoying the car as it is leaps and bounds above all others I have owned thus far . . . including the refrigerated 2011 Sprinter, ehem.
I was surprised the other day to see the check washer fluid light on within the first couple weeks of owning the vehicle and initially thought, "hmm, shocking the dealership didn't send it with a full reservoir." I filled it up, admiring the capacity and it's ability to hold a gallon. The next day, I walked out to the car and saw fluid dripping from the back of the driver's side front wheel well. A quick paper towel dab on the puddle later and I knew why the aforementioned light came on.
Given that the car is covered by the CPO warranty, rather than start wading through the layers to get to the reservoir, I figured I'd just make an appointment with my local dealer. But being curious, is there anything easy and obvious I can check?
I have taken delivery of my new-to-me 2017 e400 wagon and it is for the most part glorious!
All lessons, trials, and tribulations related to buying out of state, sight unseen aside, I'm enjoying the car as it is leaps and bounds above all others I have owned thus far . . . including the refrigerated 2011 Sprinter, ehem.
I was surprised the other day to see the check washer fluid light on within the first couple weeks of owning the vehicle and initially thought, "hmm, shocking the dealership didn't send it with a full reservoir." I filled it up, admiring the capacity and it's ability to hold a gallon. The next day, I walked out to the car and saw fluid dripping from the back of the driver's side front wheel well. A quick paper towel dab on the puddle later and I knew why the aforementioned light came on.
Given that the car is covered by the CPO warranty, rather than start wading through the layers to get to the reservoir, I figured I'd just make an appointment with my local dealer. But being curious, is there anything easy and obvious I can check?
After the failed washer tank seal is replaced you'll want to use MB Approved washer fluid. It has the right chemistry to keep troubles at bay.
This is applicable to all fluids. MB vehicles are non-standard and need specific spares. OEM branded products meet minimum compliance.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Nov 22, 2023 at 05:50 PM.
Congrats on the long roof. I just picked up an e400 wagon this year and had the same issue. It’s a cheap part on rock auto and will probably save you a couple hundred dollars if you do it yourself.
trico 11614
It’s fairly easy to access. Jack up the front left side. Remove wheel and plastic liner. Reservoir and pump are just behind the wheel. Maybe a 30 minute job.
Side note on washer fluid FWIW. My MB dealer laughed at me years ago when I asked if they sold a specific/approved type.
They could have been laughing because I had an R320 and they knew what it would do to me.
Unfortunately timing with the local dealer was a bit of an issue and I can't give it to them for a couple days they say they need.
So I dove in! The part that gave me the most pause was pulling the fender liner due to fear of breaking clips, etc. The worst that happened was one flew out and went under the car. My pump looked like this:
Once I pulled the fender liner, I put a little bit of washer fluid in to see where the leak was coming from. It wasn't the gromet, but the base of black nipple on the left side of the pump. I put in the replacement pump, filled the reservoir before putting the fender liner back in place, and success, no leak! It took a minute or two for the pump to engage, but both the rear and main washer do their thing.
I couldn't find my plastic magnet, but once I could move the car, I recovered the errant clip.
Thanks to those providing advice and words of caution. Had it been more than a simple issue, I would have kept my appointment at the dealership for tomorrow . . .
Thanks for the info on this; I had a slow washer fluid leak and just swapped it out two weeks ago. (Mine was leaking from exactly the same location.) I'm sharing a few pics in case anyone else needs to change the motor.
BTW - super easy job, less than 20 minutes, and I'm not much of a mechanic. The hardest part was indeed the clips: it wasn't readily apparent how they work, so I fiddled around with them (gingerly - mostly worried about breaking one). You just need to pull out the center "pin"; they'll slide right out with the pin out, sort of a reverse plastic pop rivet. Once the fender liner is out of the way, everything else is very fast and doesn't require tools. There are plastic clips holding the hoses onto the motor assembly (captive clips IIRC), and the wiring uses some sort of captive clip as well. (Also IIRC, the whole thing lifts up and out of that plastic bracket.)
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