rmorin49

The driver's side wiper doesn't have any fluid coming out when activating the windshield washing system. New wiper blades were installed less than 10K miles ago and the car is always parked inside. Is this a sign that the wiper blade needs to be replaced or is there a problem with the windshield washer system? The passenger wiper works well and fluid is dispensed as the wiper goes across the windshield.

Utopia Texas

Are you sure the hose from the reservoir is connected to both wipers?

rmorin49

Car is in the garage awaiting my new auxiliary battery. I'll try and trace the lines tomorrow but pretty sure I did this several months ago.

I think I remember seeing more than one line going into each blade. Is this correct and how is the fluid heated?

Jcrew

I had the same issue on my 2016 SL. I replaced the washer motor and it improved greatly.
The washer motor is located at the bottom of the washer reservoir which is on the passenger side. I had to take off the front tire and remove the wheel well plastic shield. It’s actually not too difficult and there’s a great YouTube video on it.

rmorin49

Thanks. I am still under my extended CPO warranty so maybe the motor is covered. I'll check that out.

Dr. Manhattan

Well, this is just so timely. Last Saturday I was driving my car to its first visit to a dealer since I bought it a year and eight months ago. It's nearing the end of its CPO coverage, so I made the appointment for a final once-over before it's all on me. There were three flatbed semis with water tanks on them running down the freeway with a police escort, spraying water on the road surface(?!) in all three lanes. I was stuck behind them and needed to clean my windshield, so for the very first time, I pressed the washer button. I had to hold it down for quite a while before any washer fluid showed up at the wipers...and none ever did show up on the driver's side. Interesting...is this a common problem? I haven't seen anything about it here before now, but two in one week...and both on the driver's side? Btw, my car still has the original wipers, as far as I know.

rmorin49

I haven't done anything yet since it has been crappy weather here and I haven't driven my SL in weeks. I do plan to do the same thing when I approach the end of my extended CPO coverage. I am hoping the windshield washer pump is covered since I have relatively new wiper blades but I don't understand why the passenger side wiper would work properly but the driver's side does not. I have looked and it seems that all the lines are attached to both blades. Let me know what your dealer says, please.

Dr. Manhattan

Absolutely

Dr. Manhattan

Well, I just got off the phone with my dealer and the service rep is telling me that, with no effort on their part, both washers are, magically, now working. Of course, he's also telling me that the lights inside two of the back-lighted buttons on the inside of the trunk lid, which are dark as death, are in fact working too...just not anywhere near as brightly as any of the other back-lit buttons in the trunk or anywhere else on the car. Oh, and the noisy bearing in the accessory drive on the front of the engine is perfectly normal as well. So, all in all, this was time well spent getting to know that the close-ish dealership that is supposedly well thought of can now be crossed off my list. Ahhhh, the premium Mercedes experience...

rmorin49

My CPO warranty extension expires in June but I think I've found a competent and reasonably priced Indy shop about 30 minutes away. I had them perform a "B" service last June. I provided all the fluids and parts and the labor charge was $180. I plan to have them perform a transmission fluid change this June. They said I can bring the fluid and required parts for it as well.

Dr. Manhattan, when your SL is out of warranty you might start searching for an Indy as well.

Dr. Manhattan

Yes, I have been thinking about that and have actually solicited recommendations for a good indy in the north Atlanta area, but there's been nothing concrete yet. I will be doing as much of my own maintenance as possible. I recently completed the renovation of an exterior garage into a shop of sorts, but it has a low-ish ceiling, so a full hoist was out of the question. Aa a result, a full trany flush would be rather difficult. That's something that I would farm out, like you. My dealer wants $750 for the full trany service.

Funny that we started this talking about wipers. On my last long drive, my windshield took a small stone hit/chip...but the result is that the top[ right corner of the glass now has a 7" crack in it. I had the dealer give me an estimate while the car was there. Just under $1700 for the window/kit. and another $600 for the installation. A chunk, for sure. It's hard to pony up that amount for something that could happen again right after fixing it.

rmorin49

Windshield replacements have gotten crazy expensive especially if insurance won't cover the work. I just had to replace the windshield on our X5. It is "acoustic glass" with HUD. Erie covered it including using an OEM windshield, new wipers and recalibration of the cameras with a deductible of $150. I asked the tech what it would have cost if I had to pay for it. $4000.
That is crazy!!

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

$750 is probably about right. Parts are about $170 from FCP Euro (Mercedes 722.9 Transmission Service Kit - Pentosin 7229LATE | FCP Euro) and not a difficult job if you have a lift. I wouldn't recommend trying to do it in the driveway on jack stands--it can get messy. (The great thing about FCP Euro is that you buy once and after that they will reimburse any part you need to replace. FCP Euro Lifetime Auto Parts Replacement Guarantee | FCP Euro. Not sure I'd send the tranny fluid back since you have to pay to send the parts back to them.)

You will also need to read the temperature of the transmission fluid in the process of changing it out. I recommend everyone should have a scanner like this anyway if you own a Mercedes. It's small enough to fit in the cargo space in the trunk.

iCarsoft MB V3.0 for Mercedes-Benz/Sprinter/Smart Diagnostic Tool with auto VIN/Quick Test/Actuation Test (amazon.com)

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

I will be getting my wipers from FCP Euro. At $160 a set, I only want to pay for these once. When I need a new set, I'll buy once and hang on to the old set. Then, when the new set needs replacement, I'll buy another set, send the original old ones back for reimbursement. FCP actually encourages you to do this. I have no idea how they stay in business other than being the go-to merchant for euro car parts.

Mercedes Windshield Wiper Blade Set - Genuine Mercedes 2318201045 | FCP Euro

FCP Euro Lifetime Auto Parts Replacement Guarantee | FCP Euro

ram_g

Wow, I had no idea about this FCP Euro program - thanks!!

Jcrew

Bumping this thread as I continue to have windshield washer issues with the drivers side. Passenger side is working fine. Anyone else had this issue and resolved it successfully?

rmorin49

My driver side does not deliver as much water as the passenger side either. Dealer said it was operating within normal parameters. I spent $125 on a new set of blades with zero improvement. I try not to drive in inclement weather so no plans to investigate further.

JettaRed

iTrader: (1)

Nice weather is when you are likely to use the wash feature of the wipers the most. You know, to wash away the smashed bugs.

rmorin49

I've found wipers just smear the guts all over the windshield.

wildta

I recently rented a car and was assigned a Nissan Rogue that had windshield wipers that applied splash-free washer fluid similar to magic vision. It worked really well on a rental with around 25k miles. I was very surprised to see such a feature while cleaning the windshield on a basic vehicle.

ThatsMyDawg

I use to think that my drivers side wiper didn't work as well as the passenger one, so while getting oil change at MB once I mentioned it to the service person. We walked over to my car and we looked at it. He had me watch from the outside as he sat inside the car and activated the wipers. Sure enough I could see the fluid coming out of the drivers side, but it was not quite as much fluid as the passenger side. He said it was normal and that some of the passenger side fluid will go over to the drivers side to aid in cleaning that side, but there is nothing the drivers side has to push over to, so its not as much as the passenger side......((I always thought that the passenger side quirts out more than the drivers side)). I said cool and left it at that.

While at the beach a year, or so later I saw another SL owner. We chatted a bit and then I remembered my wiper concerns. I asked if he would mind if I looked at how his wipers worked to compare them to mine. Our cars were literally parked beside each other. Sure enough his passenger side seemed to spray much more solution than the drivers side. That does mean that something is not wrong with your wipers though, but it is interesting that it's the same side I thought my issue was on and it's also the same side that I confirmed with another SL that was the same as mine..

You are saying that zero fluid is coming out, not that it's just a weaker stream? I had to look hard at mine before I could see there was fluid coming out of the drivers side....I would double check that the hose is connected properly at that side. It may have not been seated all the way and has worked its way off over the 10k miles....

rmorin49

I erred. There is some fluid coming out of the driver side wiper blade. Your explanation does make some sense and this may well be the way MB designed them as it is true that the passenger wiper will push fluid toward the driver's side of the windshield. This also lengthens the time required to add fluid.

ThatsMyDawg

Yeah, who knows for sure, but I have zero issue cleaning my windshield so all seems well and I haven't thought about it again until this thread.

ejvette

I was shocked how much they charged me for wiper blades on the 40K B service !

spinalator

I also had issues with the driver's side wiper not putting any fluid onto the windshield. It turned out to be a kink in the hose that delivers the fluid but the kink was inside the wiper arm. I opened the wiper arm and found the problem. Unfortunately, I broke the plastic tabs that hold the cover onto the back of the wiper arm so I purchased a replacement used wiper arm assembly on e-bay which was extremely easy to change. Now it works like a charm. Check to see if there is a kink in the hose.....