Rotten Smell from Headlamp Washer

[abmalhot]

I have this strange problem with my C180 (w203), I get a very bad rotten smell when I use the headlamp washer, but no smell when I use the wiper washers. Wiper washers actually give out fragrance of screenwash.. Apparently the tank for both wipers and headlamp washer is same but I only get bad smell when I use headlamp washer spray..

This is what I have tried already:
I used up all the washer fluid, ran water in it and overflowed it for quite some time to run it clean... then used up all that filled water using washers and then filled it with screenwash (in strong concentration) but the problem still persist..

PS. I cant smell anything from the top of washer tank.
Any ideas?

 

[Palfrem]

Your headlights have B.O. (Beam Odour)

 

[horgantrevor]

Run fresh water thought it add some Milton then use the system a few times leave to Milton to do its job then drain refill and it should be ok

Also after you use the headlight washers for a few times with Milton wash the front of the car with hose

 

[Ted]

Perhaps your headlamps are a little high?

 

[abmalhot]

Run fresh water thought it add some Milton then use the system a few times leave to Milton to do its job then drain refill and it should be ok

Also after you use the headlight washers for a few times with Milton wash the front of the car with hose

Can I use Milton tablet or only the fluid?

 

[brucemillar]

Are you sure that it is the fluid that smells?

I ask as you may have a dead animal wedged behind the bumper which releases that whiff when the washer flaps pop up. Your washer tank is the same for both windscreen and lights (although they do use different pumps). That would suggest that the fluid may not be the issue.

 

[0ptic]

Had this on mine. Didn't notice a smell when filling the washer bottle but when I changed the headlamp washer pump it stank of rotten eggs

Just flushed it through with the pump out and refilled. I guess if the headlamp washer isn't used much the fluid in the bottom half of the reservoir goes bad. I give them a blast every week or two and don't notice a smell now.

 

[abmalhot]

Are you sure that it is the fluid that smells?

I wiped the fluid on headlamps after operating washer with a wipe and it smelled horrible. I am not sure what is in the headlamp pump that makes the fluid smell terribly bad. the same fluid from wiper washer smells fresh.

 

[abmalhot]

Had this on mine. Didn't notice a smell when filling the washer bottle but when I changed the headlamp washer pump it stank of rotten eggs

Just flushed it through with the pump out and refilled. I guess if the headlamp washer isn't used much the fluid in the bottom half of the reservoir goes bad. I give them a blast every week or two and don't notice a smell now.

Kinda agree.. I hadnt used the headlamp washer for almost an year and when I did it this month after putting new screen wash, I noticed this..
Should I look at changing the headlamp washer pump? I was looking at adding some disinfectant as suggested in other post and give it a try to see if helps..

 

[Dec]

Mix in a cup of bleach (Milton is bleach) into the washer tank and flush through to the headlamp washer leave for 20 minutes then flush the tank dry and refill with fresh water,
Bleach will kill the bacteria that is causing the bad smell, as advised earlier, hose down the areas that was splashed with bleach as bleach is corrosive to bare metal.

If the smell is still there after the bleach treatment then I think the dead animal idea is very plausible.

Dec
Edit, don’t know how strong a Milton tablet is but if dissolved it may work.

 

[abmalhot]

Is this not the same Milton that you guys are referring to:
Milton | How Milton works

The page says:
Q: Is Milton the same thing as bleach?

No. Bleach is an irritant and can burn the skin and corrode materials. Swallowing bleach can seriously harm human health and absolutely cannot be used to sterilise baby’s bottles or accessories.

Milton is non-corrosive and doesn’t cause irritation. It does not burn the skin, and can be used as an antiseptic in certain dilutions.

The Milton Method can also be used to treat water to make it safe to drink.

Am I referring to a wrong Milton??

 

[Dec]

You have the right Milton, I stand corrected, I always thought Milton is diluted bleach however I’ve no idea if it will be strong enough for the task in hand. I would use bleach and hose off the area afterwards as its corrosive to bare metal.
See… Bleach - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dec

 

[Satch]

" Milton Sterilising Fluid is a 2% aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite that contains 16.5% salt"

But is "not a bleach"

Unless I am missing something here, common domestic bleaches contains 5-6% aqueous solution of Sodium Hypochlorite often with salt as a thickening agent.

So the difference is merely that of concentration?

 

[haggis2768]

Pour some Milton on your clothes first,leave for a few days,look at the results and then decide if you want to spray it all over your car.
I use hypochlorite at work, if you are confident that you know what you are using,then go for it. Personally I would have thought that a high concentration screen wash run through the headlight wash system till empty,then refill washer bottle with standard solution screen wash should do the job.