W203 Washer bottle warning Light

[nigel cross]

I cant believe it, out today and washers not working. Thought to myself must have been really cold last night and solution not strong enough. Got not better as weather warmed up. Thought that the grommet had come out of the washer bottle again, but no turns out no water in bottle.But I didn't get any warning light. Surely there should be one?, my old escort 20 years ago had that.

 

[duncanh]

W203 washer bottle warning

My W203 (2002) flashes up a message on the little screen in the middle if the speedo.

Something like "Winscreen washer level low"

It does this when there is about 1 litre left in the tank.

It registers as a malfunction, and is repeated every time the engine is started.

Do you get other warnings such as Low fuel, blown bulb etc?

 

[nigel cross]

Right,
get the rest ok, low fuel, lamps etc

 

[partsspecialist]

It could just be a £12 level sensor that lives in the bottle, depending on vin no.

 

[nigel cross]

Anyone got a picture where it sits before I take the car to bits?

 

[kwakdonut]

Why bother??? Just fill the bottle up! Apparently getting to the bottle is a complete PITA....

The 203 registers everything as a 'Malfunction' even low fuel fuel....

and yes, it will tell you when a bulb blows, door open etc etc

 

[partsspecialist]

Anyone got a picture where it sits before I take the car to bits?

This is the picture on EPC

 

[miro]

My W203 (2002) flashes up a message on the little screen in the middle if the speedo.

Something like "Winscreen washer level low"

It does this when there is about 1 litre left in the tank.

It registers as a malfunction, and is repeated every time the engine is started.

Do you get other warnings such as Low fuel, blown bulb etc?

Seeing where the float is that is totally normal. It is about 7cm from the bottom.

Interesting sidenote. I had the problem where it would take me about 3 or 4 presses to get my jets to wash the glass. When I removed the bottle to place a larger version I threw the old one on the grass and a great glob of jelly tried to ooze out of the container.

apparently what had happened is that the Mercedes surfactant had reacted with a generic surfactant and caused a large mass which would obstruct the pump intake. All along I had been told that the hose had a microleak which let air into the hose causing the water to return into the container.

Now I would like someone make an error code for that !

 

[ernie]

Facelift Warnings

My W203 (2002) flashes up a message on the little screen in the middle if the speedo.

Something like "Winscreen washer level low"

It does this when there is about 1 litre left in the tank.

It registers as a malfunction, and is repeated every time the engine is started.

Do you get other warnings such as Low fuel, blown bulb etc?

I notice that yours is pre-facelift....Not sure about the windscreen washer low warning, because mine has never been that low, but the facelift models don't flash up a low fuel warning; only the amber light in the fuel guage comes on without any audible warning. I queried this with my 'local' who confirmed that this feature had been dropped by MB in 2004 when the facelifted version was introduced. And it can't be programmed in, they said. Honestly can't think why they deleted this feature as the amber lamp is so, so easy to overlook in the fuel guage.

Ernie

 

[nigel cross]

Wanted to have a look this weekend, but rain stopped play.
I cant beleive that MB would drop a feature like that, or is it a cost reducing exercise.

 

[nigel cross]

Well why did i bother,
changed the float switch and quess what now its on all the time.
Put it back in as per diagram with float hanging down, but on diagram, it shows a flat side of the rear part. mine is on the other side.
Is the new switch faulty? or have i installed it upside down.
Help

 

[Dieselman]

or have i installed it upside down.

Probably. Just turn it over.