Washer Failure

[sl500amgsport]

I have experienced the first fault on my R231 SL500 in 4 years. The washers do not seem to be carrying water to the wiper blades, but the powered headlight wash is still working.

With ptevious vehicles I would simply test the jets with a small pin for blockages but this model delivers to the wiper blades....Has anyone experienced this, the jets are normally silent so I cannot hear if the motor is working but headlamp washer does.

Anyone know where washer motor is located?

Mercedes SL500 R231

 

[LostKiwi]

It's on the washer bottle.



Probably easiest to test where the pipework comes up to the wipers.

 

[sl500amgsport]

It's on the washer bottle.

View attachment 60658

Probably easiest to test where the pipework comes up to the wipers.

Thanks looks like lots of filters and tiny pipes to block..

Mercedes SL500 R231

 

[EmilysDad]

Is it not a different pump for the headlights from the windscreen? On my previous cars there have been 2 seperate pumps ... high pressure headlight & a standard low pressure screen washer pump.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Is it not a different pump for the headlights from the windscreen? On my previous cars there have been 2 seperate pumps ... high pressure headlight & a standard low pressure screen washer pump.

Yes, correct although HLC is usually the higher pressure as it has to extend the nozzle out against spring force before squirting.

 

[Botus]

my washer pump died....

50 quid merc, same as every other VW for 12 or 7 on ebay

the only difference is the cheap ones last 15 years and "the special merc one" only 7 to 9 years !!!

 

[EmilysDad]

my washer pump died....

50 quid merc, same as every other VW for 12 or 7 on ebay

the only difference is the cheap ones last 15 years and "the special merc one" only 7 to 9 years !!!

Sounds like a Smart Roadster wiper motor. From Mercedes only available with all the wiper mechanism at £100+ but the motor itself is a VW motor available separately for less than £40

 

[Craiglxviii]

my washer pump died....

50 quid merc, same as every other VW for 12 or 7 on ebay

the only difference is the cheap ones last 15 years and "the special merc one" only 7 to 9 years !!!

That level of special quality costs!

 

[star]

Part 60 is the grommet for pump to washer bottle and has a fine mesh in it that blocks.

 

[Botus]

Sounds like a Smart Roadster wiper motor. From Mercedes only available with all the wiper mechanism at £100+ but the motor itself is a VW motor available separately for less than £40

Lamborghini inlet manifold sensor £490
same component on jaguar £46

 

[Craiglxviii]

Lamborghini inlet manifold sensor £490
same component on jaguar £46

They have to rebadge it you know!

I have a direct parallel.

Volvo XC90 wiper motor £15.60

Same part delivered to taxi factory +25% (as Volvo supplier refused customer account, so bought from aftermarket distributor...)

then

+£3.00 to replace the part label from Volvo badge to taxi badge.

 

[EmilysDad]

Lamborghini inlet manifold sensor £490
same component on jaguar £46

Wow!

 

[sl500amgsport]

Well my friendly mechanic tested the motor and it was burnt out.New motor ordered from MB £26 and he fitted it. The motor now makes a noise and water is reaching top of engine bay but stopping at the heating component.

Friendly mechanic is scratching his head saying this is the first time he has seen the blade delivery system used on the SL so is going to ask his mate at MB if the heating component requires replacement to enable water to pass through.

I am taking it back Monday but noticed the fill water warning light was on.

Will post update on Monday.

Mercedes SL500 R231

 

[Craiglxviii]

Well my friendly mechanic tested the motor and it was burnt out.New motor ordered from MB £26 and he fitted it. The motor now makes a noise and water is reaching top of engine bay but stopping at the heating component.

Friendly mechanic is scratching his head saying this is the first time he has seen the blade delivery system used on the SL so is going to ask his mate at MB if the heating component requires replacement to enable water to pass through.

I am taking it back Monday but noticed the fill water warning light was on.

Will post update on Monday.

Mercedes SL500 R231

It’s a Valeo system. I can ask a buddy of mine if you like as he’s just designed it into the new Qashqai.

 

[sl500amgsport]

Wow that is cool, ****** complicated just to squirt the windscreen roof down in a posh way to stop occupants getting wet!

Whatever happened to simple jets you could unblock with a pin lol.

Mercedes SL500 R231

 

[sl500amgsport]

Well it turned out that the pump fixed the issue only the heater unit had become dislodged from its mount crimping a pipe!

Heater unit properly re-seated all working well. Shout goes out to PMW of Chelmsford who discovered and fixed the issue no charge whilst carrying out a B service and oil change.....

They will be my garage of choice when I move to Tiptree!

Mercedes SL500 R231

 

[Craiglxviii]

Wow that is cool, ****** complicated just to squirt the windscreen roof down in a posh way to stop occupants getting wet!

Whatever happened to simple jets you could unblock with a pin lol.

Mercedes SL500 R231

Customers decided they liked fluidic nozzles better than pinhole jets (plus they’re far cheaper to make). Then Valeo pioneered a means of drawing water along the wiper arm of an aero blade without the work- hardening of the tube as seen on many Fords of the 50s and 60s. Then they offered that system for only about 3x the cost of the existing wiper system to the OEMs, who mostly judged it “premium” enough to incluxe in their new model lineups.