Windscreen Washers Blocked

[jonnyc]

Trust the washer system to block at this time of year, plenty of salt on the roads eh!

The jets seem clear of blockages, but water is escaping from behind the jets.
I noticed lots of gunk floating in the washer bottle last time I refilled it.

I don't use any additives just tap water, on the last service the dealer added some washer fluid to the solution (blue in colour).

So where do I start fixing this problem?

What's the easiest way to flush the washer bottles?
Whats the best way to clear the pipes?

Thanks

Jonny

PS I have no airline!

 

[andyw]

see here...

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=22644&highlight=washers

 

[tamrsoft]

Probably the same problem I had. I found the tube had come away from the back of the washer jet in one the internal bonnet passageways.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I had exactly that problem, just reconnected the pipes under the bonnet and it was fine.

 

[richard]

I don't use any additives just tap water, on the last service the dealer added some washer fluid to the solution (blue in colour).

Could be it froze up and split the pipes :-( Suggest you use some washer anti-freeze in the bottle each time you refill. MB have pink stuff (which is for cleaning, with a little frost protection, and blue stuff to add if its winter for proper frost protection

R

 

[Shude]

Could be it froze up and split the pipes :-( Suggest you use some washer anti-freeze in the bottle each time you refill. MB have pink stuff (which is for cleaning, with a little frost protection, and blue stuff to add if its winter for proper frost protection

Or use the old-school method of draining the screenwash out after every journey and refilling when starting a journey. Did that when I was a poor unemployed bum and it worked perfectly, just walked out of the house with a pint of water in the morning and held the lever in the screenwash position to squirt it all out every evening

Naturally I never had a problem with it freezing, except when it hit the ground

 

[nigel cross]

I had a similar problem on the firms car. Washer pump pumping away and no water coming out???. I had to remove water bottle in end and the pump inlet was blocked by a slimy film that could be crushed in your fingers, but yet could block the pump inlet. Always allways used screen wash in water, so how or when this gunge got in not sure, perhaps a build up of Thames Water crap. Wonder if same thing perhaps bleach in bottle may cure but not sure if that any good for paintwork?

 

[Shude]

Possibly a drop of Mr Muscle in there might help

Otherwise the washer jets are about £20 to replace, which is something I'm considering anyway.

 

[Satch]

Should use an additive of some sort all year round, especially in summer oddly enough as most will have something to prevent mold & bug growth. Long time ago in a hot summer went away for two weeks. aCame back to Gatwick only to find washers blocked, cause being a nasty black green mold/slime stuff that had flourished in the washer tank & pipes time I was away. Euuuughhhhh!

So vile I had to strip out & clean with bleach solution. Replaced pipes because that was easier than cleaning them and changed the pump because I suspected the bleach would knacker it and did not want to find that out after a painful refitting!

 

[frog1520]

held the lever in the screenwash position to squirt it all out every evening

I heard you can bugger the pump up if you run it for more than 15 secs at a time - or do you reckon thats a myth?

 

[lukebowman551]

Had the same problem on my dad's 210 around christmas time. Turned out the pipe had come off the back off the jet so just reconnected it and it worked fine again.

 

[Shude]

I heard you can bugger the pump up if you run it for more than 15 secs at a time - or do you reckon thats a myth?

I think a pint is gone in less than 15 seconds

 

[GSMGuy]

Should use an additive of some sort all year round, especially in summer oddly enough as most will have something to prevent mold & bug growth. Long time ago in a hot summer went away for two weeks. aCame back to Gatwick only to find washers blocked, cause being a nasty black green mold/slime stuff that had flourished in the washer tank & pipes time I was away. Euuuughhhhh!

So vile I had to strip out & clean with bleach solution. Replaced pipes because that was easier than cleaning them and changed the pump because I suspected the bleach would knacker it and did not want to find that out after a painful refitting!

Satch - how much was the pump - in a vain attempt to cure poor washr performance tonight, I managed to snap the outlut off the pump body without even trying, it was that brittle....

Mike