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I have a very strange problem. My windshield washer container leaks. It can hold about 65% of the fluid but if you fill it to the top, in the morning, it has leaked out leaving you with pretty much what you had BEFORE you added the new fluid.
The strange thing is that my 2002 E430 did EXACTLY the same thing. How strange. (As am I probably).
id like to add on to this, i didnt do my research and put the rainx washer fluid in my reservoir and used as normal..after bringing it to the dealer for something unrelated i was told i put the wrong fluid in and damaged the sensor..is this accurate?
Mine just started leaking too. Actually, the one on my BMW leaks too.
Yeah, it kind of makes you laugh that something so simple that doesn’t leak in just about any other car, Toyota, Honda, Lexus, that is a non-issue. But I’ve had the tank replaced twice and it still does it. There is another post on here that says the real fix which involves a washer that cost about $.25 cents. Someone needs to dig up that post.
There are not that many components in the washer system. When mine have ever hinted at a leak I just pull out the tank and make sure it's not cracked, then proceed to replacing the pumps, grommets and level sensor so that I don't have to deal with it again. I've only ever had to do three times total on the 15 Benzes I've had in the past 30 years.
my 221 used to leak whenever it got below 30 ish degrees, I could see the drips from the front bumper, the washer shrinks and lets it leak out, like jason said it was prb a .25cent washer but I only noticed when it was super cold out so i never bothered w it. My e65 bmw 750 used to leak once in a while too. Im pretty sure was the grommet on top of the pump, but the bmw was very easy to pull the pump straight up and it would slide out(the bmws pumps used to go bad and leak out of a vent hole) my solution at the time was to keep the fluid level at 75% and that solved that issue.
I beleive there are 2 grommets on this tank (look at a parts diagram to verify). One for the sensor and one for the pump.
If you let it leak down overnight, put a flashlight on the tank and look at what grommet is at the water level.. there's your leak.
The grommet pushes into the tank, then the pump or sensor pushes into the grommet. It's all push fit. When the grommet leaks, the tank drains to that level.
Easy fix.. pull out the grommet, replace, reinstall the component (pump or sensor)
Be VERY careful if you remove the tank. It's sitting on a few rubber grommets and easily pulls out. But the hose coming out of the bottom breaks easily, and is expensive to replace. There is an elbow that is part of the hose, and the hose goes all the way to the windshield washer jets on the hood. And it's heated. So you have to buy the entire thing (elbow, hose, heater element wire, etc). It was $200 if I recall correctly?
Try to do this without removing the tank, or only lift it up an inch or two if you need to slightly remove it. The connector on the elbow has a push release but it's hard to disconnect because it's on the bottom of the tank.
I beleive there are 2 grommets on this tank (look at a parts diagram to verify). One for the sensor and one for the pump.
If you let it leak down overnight, put a flashlight on the tank and look at what grommet is at the water level.. there's your leak.
The grommet pushes into the tank, then the pump or sensor pushes into the grommet. It's all push fit. When the grommet leaks, the tank drains to that level.
Easy fix.. pull out the grommet, replace, reinstall the component (pump or sensor)
Be VERY careful if you remove the tank. It's sitting on a few rubber grommets and easily pulls out. But the hose coming out of the bottom breaks easily, and is expensive to replace. There is an elbow that is part of the hose, and the hose goes all the way to the windshield washer jets on the hood. And it's heated. So you have to buy the entire thing (elbow, hose, heater element wire, etc). It was $200 if I recall correctly?
Try to do this without removing the tank, or only lift it up an inch or two if you need to slightly remove it. The connector on the elbow has a push release but it's hard to disconnect because it's on the bottom of the tank.
Be VERY careful if you remove the tank. It's sitting on a few rubber grommets and easily pulls out. But the hose coming out of the bottom breaks easily, and is expensive to replace. There is an elbow that is part of the hose, and the hose goes all the way to the windshield washer jets on the hood. And it's heated. So you have to buy the entire thing (elbow, hose, heater element wire, etc). It was $200 if I recall correctly?
I did this. Very annoying to snap that elbow off; you have to fish out the whole line from under the hood and replace the hose for all eight of the washer jets. Otherwise the project would have been a doddle.
Yeah, it kind of makes you laugh that something so simple that doesn’t leak in just about any other car, Toyota, Honda, Lexus, that is a non-issue. But I’ve had the tank replaced twice and it still does it. There is another post on here that says the real fix which involves a washer that cost about $.25 cents. Someone needs to dig up that post.
I look at it this way, if this is the worst thing that happens to my Mercedes or BMW I can live with it.
I beleive there are 2 grommets on this tank (look at a parts diagram to verify). One for the sensor and one for the pump.
If you let it leak down overnight, put a flashlight on the tank and look at what grommet is at the water level.. there's your leak.
The grommet pushes into the tank, then the pump or sensor pushes into the grommet. It's all push fit. When the grommet leaks, the tank drains to that level.
Easy fix.. pull out the grommet, replace, reinstall the component (pump or sensor)
Be VERY careful if you remove the tank. It's sitting on a few rubber grommets and easily pulls out. But the hose coming out of the bottom breaks easily, and is expensive to replace. There is an elbow that is part of the hose, and the hose goes all the way to the windshield washer jets on the hood. And it's heated. So you have to buy the entire thing (elbow, hose, heater element wire, etc). It was $200 if I recall correctly?
Try to do this without removing the tank, or only lift it up an inch or two if you need to slightly remove it. The connector on the elbow has a push release but it's hard to disconnect because it's on the bottom of the tank.
I have a very strange problem. My windshield washer container leaks. It can hold about 65% of the fluid but if you fill it to the top, in the morning, it has leaked out leaving you with pretty much what you had BEFORE you added the new fluid.
The strange thing is that my 2002 E430 did EXACTLY the same thing. How strange. (As am I probably).
Anyone have this problem?
Hi there,
I experienced the same windshield washer fluid leaking problem. It always happens when the temperature drops below -20 C (-4 F) - as my countryman, bha noticed.
Last time, when the temperature dropped down to -22 C (-8 F) 95% of the washer fluid irrevocably leaked out! Bha also mentioned that one grommet is for the sensor and one for the pump.
Does anyone know which rubber grommet is lower? Does anyone have a diagram of the washer fluid container, please?
I was wondering IF you knew the part number of this plastic "elbow."
I decided to change the seal (under the washer fluid pump) and the gasket (under the HCS [SRA] pump) yesterday.
The plastic "elbow" broke off while I was gently lifting the reservoir up - as Bklyn friendly warned everybody.
Please see the attached photos. Pump, clip and the broken "elbow."
Close-up of the previous photo.
The "elbow."
The other half of the broken "elbow" - still in the rubber tube.
Is it possible to buy just this "elbow."
I phoned a few auto parts stores today (Sunday). No luck - as expected.
Just a follow-up.
The connector arrived. I picked it up yesterday.
Officially it is not for my Benz. Not only it fits perfectly my car but it is also a better design. That 120-degree angle is a much better solution that it was before (90 degrees). It is really needed in that tight spot and not much play left there. Finally, paying 11 CAD is cheaper than 285 CAD plus 13% tax AND it takes a few short minutes to install/reassemble all of the reservoir's pumps, sensor, seals, washers and this connector than replacing the whole headlamp washer system.
The one on the left is old. The one on the right is new. The one on the left is old. The one on the right is new.
Look at the internal diameter. At least 1 mm difference. This will certainly do to have all of the windshield washer fluid leaked out when the temperature drops down in Winter.
good fix guys, mine was never fixed! traded the car before i fixed it.
I want to thank all of you for your replies and insights.
On the other hand, I guess my problem lies in the belief that people like us; you and me, we should NOT, be spending time on forums and websites because those at MB are incapable of creating a container that holds and sprays washer fluid without failing in so many vehicles.
Complex engines, air suspensions and 4Matic transmissions; maybe. Just maybe that is OK to discuss because of the stunning complexity of the beast but this endless annoyance that leave wet spots on my driveway? It is far more than a failure of engineering. Anyone can fail there but this leaking seems to never change and THAT, is the most dangerous failure of them all; the failure to give a damn, the failure to take the bull by the horns and decide to just sit down and FIX IT.
The one on the left is old. The one on the right is new. The one on the left is old. The one on the right is new.
Look at the internal diameter. At least 1 mm difference. This will certainly do to have all of the windshield washer fluid leaked out when the temperature drops down in Winter.
Thank you,
Pitek
Hi everyone,
I am almost finished with my promised write-up on reassembling the Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. I will post it very soon.
02-27-2019, 01:48 PM
The same washer fluid leaking problem
Part Number needed
Perfect match
