W203 rear screen wash

[TaffH]

This is probably a really noddy question, guys, but I'm having a problem with my rear screen washer on my C32 estate.
During the recent bad weather I managed to empty my washer bottle before i had a chance to top it up and ever since then the rear washer has stubbornly refused to work.
I tried sticking a pin in the end in case it was blocked. I even tried sucking it (not recommended!) but to no avail.
Is there something simple I'm missing here?

Any ideas gratefully received.

 

[brucemillar]

The pipe comes off the motor/pump if the jets get blocked/frozen. I some cases the pipe fixing sheers off the motor/pump. Pull the nozzle out and try the switch if you dont get water coming out the hole then it could be the above problem. You would usually expect to have water coming out of your tailgate if it is at the motor end.

 

[Chrishazle]

Do a search here and on t'other side about W203 tailgate wash problems. There are 3 places it comes loose.
1. Behind the wiper - feel for dampness along the bottom of the tailgate. Have to remove the tailgate trim and panel to get at it.
2. Easiest one - in the storage cubbyhole offside rear. Remove the panel then the plastic bin (1 screw) and look down for the thin blue pipe and the black rubber grommet it comes out of!
3. Most awkward one, behind the glovebox. Have to remove the kickplate to even see it, plus there's so much insulation etc on the back of the kickplate it absorbs a lot of fluid before you se it in the passenger footwell! It's a swine to get at - realistically you need to drop the glovebox, which means removing half the centre console - which is why mine has not yet been fixed!

 

[TaffH]

Cheers fellas.

Posted the thread then disappeared for new year. Will try these out tomorrow and let you know how I get on.

 

[brucemillar]

OK. I am close to defeat here.

My C55 AMG ESTATE has now stopped squirting water on the rear screen.

1) The pump is working (I can hear it running)

2) I have removed the rear nozzle and no water is coming out.

3) The rear tailgate is not wet or damp and no water is dripping out.

4) I have removed the front carpet and foam under the glove box. No damp or drips.

5) I have looked in both rear cubby boxes and clearly see the blue pipe where it enters the boot behind the rear SAM. It then runs across the rear conduit and up the OS light cluster and goes into the pillar. I see no black grommet or water or any sign of a leak.

Any clues?

Bruce

 

[Chrishazle]

Bruce, I'm assuming your C55 is a W203.
The washer pump and bottle is nearside, behind the front wheel arch liner, so if something has come loose in there you'd see the fluid on the ground just in front of the wheel.
Pipe runs from there up the front wing to behind the battery, where it goes into a rubber grommet to get through the firewall to behind the glove box.
The other side of this grommet is where I had the big problem. There's a load of insulation and foam on the back of the kick plate, so you don't see the fluid coming into the passenger footwell until that has absorbed loads of fluid. Removing the kickplate is easy - except you need to be upside down in the passenger footwell to see what you're doing (pull the carpet back first). If the pipe has popped out of the grommet there, it's a swine to get back and properly secured, you really need to drop the glove box to get adequate access.
Not sure how the pipe gets from there to the rear of the car, but next problem places I found were as in my post above.
Harsh lesson I learnt from my first winter with a W203 was keep laods of "anti freeze" in the washer fluid so it can't freeze!
Hope this helps.

 

[brucemillar]

Chris

I can hear the pump running and the blue pipe feels like it has a water flowing. There are no obvious drips or leaks under the car anywhere? I also suffered from the rear motor seal breaking in my C240 estate (W203) so have checked for any water in the tailgate - none. What I cannot find is the grommet that is referred to in the boot OS cubby hole. All I can see is the blue pipe running up the rear of the lights.

Any clues where that grommet is supposed to be?

 

[Chrishazle]

ISTR it's below the level of the lights, slightly towards the centre of the car - I could see it when I removed the plastic liner thing from the bottom of the cubbyhole.

 

[brucemillar]

Hi

On my car the tube runs along the boot floor (under the rear stainless trim plate) it then goes straight up behind the rear lights and into the pillar (no Grommet) or Wallace.