Windshield washer fluid low warning but reservoir is full
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 806
Likes: 27
From: Rochester, NY
2009 S550 AMG sport pckg. 2014 Ford F-150 Lariat Supercrewcab
Exactly. I wouldve never thought it would cause so much havoc
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,379
Likes: 952
W212 FL
Well Done Nick, glad you got it sorted out
Last edited by BenzV12; Mar 10, 2015 at 04:46 AM.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 806
Likes: 27
From: Rochester, NY
2009 S550 AMG sport pckg. 2014 Ford F-150 Lariat Supercrewcab
Thnx. You live and you learn I guess. What has me stumped is I've been using Rain X for years and never had any problems. The stuff works awesome at repeling rain. I wonder if the de-icing agent doesnt stand up that well to temperature changes. Maybe the heating/cooling cycles it goes through from the heat exchanger to cold make it precipitate. I dont understand why they even put a heat exchanger in, windshield wiper fluid doesnt freeze
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 427
Likes: 57
13 GL350, 14 SL550
Sensor is so cheap that if you're doing this much work you should just replace it. Bought a genuine MB sensor for $10 shipped on eBay but lots of online places have it around that price.
For those wondering about the two pumps, one is for windshield and the other is for the headlamp washers. Apparently they use two separate pumps, although (not confirmed) the pumps are exactly the same.
For those wondering about the two pumps, one is for windshield and the other is for the headlamp washers. Apparently they use two separate pumps, although (not confirmed) the pumps are exactly the same.
Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 193
Likes: 4
From: Denver
2014 CLS550 4Matic; 2010 E550, 2007 SL550
FYI, I bought a case of Autozone house-brand yellow/orange washer fluid, and it did the same to our X204 and E550.
The GLK required a trip to the dealer (they replaced the sensor), a couple of rounds of generic blue washer fluid fixed the W212, it hadn't been in there long.
Avoid the yellow/orange stuff from Autozone.
The GLK required a trip to the dealer (they replaced the sensor), a couple of rounds of generic blue washer fluid fixed the W212, it hadn't been in there long.
Avoid the yellow/orange stuff from Autozone.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 806
Likes: 27
From: Rochester, NY
2009 S550 AMG sport pckg. 2014 Ford F-150 Lariat Supercrewcab
FYI, I bought a case of Autozone house-brand yellow/orange washer fluid, and it did the same to our X204 and E550.
The GLK required a trip to the dealer (they replaced the sensor), a couple of rounds of generic blue washer fluid fixed the W212, it hadn't been in there long.
Avoid the yellow/orange stuff from Autozone.
The GLK required a trip to the dealer (they replaced the sensor), a couple of rounds of generic blue washer fluid fixed the W212, it hadn't been in there long.
Avoid the yellow/orange stuff from Autozone.
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 57
Likes: 5
2020 A35 AMG
I came across this thread when I encountered the same problem with my 2020 A35. I was using (yellow) Reflex De-Icer formula and it seemed fine, but when it got low enough to trigger the "check washer fluid" warning I filled the reservoir with the same stuff, but the warning never went away. I really didn't want to go through all the work to remove the reservoir/sensor, so I waited until the temperature went above zero and drained all the yellow stuff out and replaced it with hot water, and then let it sit for a few hours so it would dissolve any film built up on the sensor. Next time I turned the car on, the warning went away. I then sprayed out all the water on my next drive, and when I got home I filled it with the cheap blue stuff I bought from the grocery store, and all is still well.
I'm glad I didn't have to go through all that work to disassemble and replace the sensor. Who would have thought the fancy expensive stuff causes problems, and the cheap stuff is preferred for luxury cars?
I'm glad I didn't have to go through all that work to disassemble and replace the sensor. Who would have thought the fancy expensive stuff causes problems, and the cheap stuff is preferred for luxury cars?
