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front side marker error and mystery leak 2003 SL55
Had the car a few days. Finding bugs which I guess can be expected for a 15 year old car. Sorry for the largish pics
So I have the side front marker light message. Isn't i supposed to be in this location?
What could possibly leaking here? I didn't pop the hood, I just noticed the puddle when taking the fender pic. You can also see it in the above pic to get an orientation. Our drive is on a slope BTW
Your car has a custom bumper which does not have the side markers. I know a lot of people think the side markers are ugly and want to delete them, but when you do so, you get bulb errors. In some cases, people will keep the bulb and "hide" it behind the bumper. It's possible yours is this way and the bulb is out, so replacing it will fix the error.
The windshield washer fluid reservoir is located in the front bumper in that areas, so maybe that's the leak? if it's oily, then it could be from an ABC hose or valve block.
It might be a leaky headlight washer. If so it will drain the windscreen washer reservoir entirely over time and you get the low washer fluid warning. One of my threads shows a solution for this that will keep you ok without replacing the washer assembly ($225 or so) if that is indeed the problem. If it is oil leaking I agree it may be something about the valve assembly which is in that area that has gone bad. Welcome to the forum!
The leak is oily. Haven't investigated yet but I think I have a leak in one of the top cylinders.The fluid was way low, actually I lowered the top and couldn't get it back up. I added fluid to the pump. Of course that is a tedious process with overflows so I'm curious now if that may have just come from that and happened to drop on the drive as I was driving off..
After adding the fluid and cycling the top a couple of times I noticed the level was down a good bit again. Is it possible for a cylinder to leak that much fluid that quickly or was it just bleeding out air?
My front bumper also has the marker light delete. I also got the side marker light out error.
The bulbs were burning under the bumper, and melted holes in the plastic fender liner!
I put new bulbs in, and tied them up so they would not burn anything. You should do the same.
Your driveway looks to be stained blue, it is most likely just a windshield washer fluid leak. Given the position, the drivers headlamp washer nozzle and hoses should be checked thoroughly. I had a similar problem in my SL causing fluid leak, especially with a filled reservoir. I now have new washer nozzles and hoses installed. No leaks.
The windshield washer fluid reservoir is located in the front bumper in that areas, so maybe that's the leak? if it's oily, then it could be from an ABC hose or valve block.
I thought that reservoir is on the passenger side. Am I wrong?
Time to jack it up. Remove left front tire and the fender well forwardmost liner. You will notice a smaller panel hooked to the liner and the bumper which you might remove. Get plenty of light and look for an assembly crammed in the bumper where all sorts of hoses feed into. You also will see a big can like object (front accumulator) connecting to the valve body and multiple connecting hoses. Look for a leaky hose. This is my first thought of what is wrong. Once you identify which one is shot (if any) come back to the forum and get advice as to where the other end of the line is. Hopefully other members will chime in here and aid in your repair process if it's a hose leak. I had to do an accumulator job but haven't yanked any hoses yet. They can be pretty winded around down there. This process will get you started.
I recently had my front bumper off for a few projects (including accumulator and some ABC front hoses) here is a pic I drew an arrow to the front accumulator which also has the front valve block directly behind it (nearer front tire)
The stain really does not look like pentosin to me, however. You have a light concrete driveway, the pentosin stain would typically remain for a long time with a darker oil spot. I've spilled plenty of pentosin now in my various ABC hose repairs to see the marks It doesn't evaporate near that easily. Wiper fluid, on the other hand, evaporates fairly quick and leaves the blue stain residue you look to have streaking down the driveway from the drip point (from the picture extending over a foot from the drip point) Again I had the same issue with wiper fluid leaks from the hoses and headlamp nozzles in the same location a couple years ago. The fluid would feel oily on ground from the wiper fluid picking up underbody grime trapped on top of the trays on its way out.
Remove the center and side front underbody covers and you can get a good view of everything under there. very easy. Good luck keep us posted.
Be watching carefully that ABC fluid level, if gets too low you can destroy your ABC pump. Big job replacing that and expensive too. If it is a leaky line and it bursts you will lose a lot of fluid quickly and may destroy a good ABC pump. Hopefully it is just a headlight washer leakage instead.
Definitely check the fluid level and don't let it get low. If the level is high, then it's likely a bad accumulator. Either way, you've got some hydraulic parts to repair.
OK. reporting back in. Everything ABC wise looks good. No leaks from from what I can see. Hoses are dry. Everything reasonably clean in that area. After I buttoned it back up. I now have it facing down the slope of the driveway and still a slow leak. So I'm leaning towards the headlamp washer. Did a search and found reference to replacing an O ring. Any other possible causes or does this seem the most likely?
If you get a washer fluid low lite over the next few days it's probably the headlite washer. Until fixed it will drain the whole washer system over time. I turned mine on one day, BOTH broke right then and there, all the fluid drained out completely in 20-30 minutes.
Hmmmm! This one is getting a bit crazy! I'd take the front most belly panel down and check the bottom of the radiator for a small coolant leak, or maybe a very small trans fluid from the trans oil cooler running along the lower part of the radiator?? If it is a washer fluid leak there should be a drop on the bottom side of the assembly where the water line attaches to the nozzle. Get a lot of LIGHT in there! There must be a drip forming from something. Keep us posted!
10-10-2017, 08:11 PM
It doesn't evaporate near that easily. Wiper fluid, on the other hand, evaporates fairly quick and leaves the blue stain residue you look to have streaking down the driveway from the drip point (from the picture extending over a foot from the drip point) Again I had the same issue with wiper fluid leaks from the hoses and headlamp nozzles in the same location a couple years ago. The fluid would feel oily on ground from the wiper fluid picking up underbody grime trapped on top of the trays on its way out.
