A 200 CDI washer problems

[ShoeQueen]

morning all from a newbie!

I have been having windscreen washer problems for around a month now on my 06 A200 CDI. The first thing that happened was the rear washer hose became unattached and was leaking into the boot. I took it to the dealer and it was sorted under warranty, but they said the front washers were not covered under warranty due to them normally not working due to road conditions and weather :neutral: so they said they will try to unblock them which they did ... this worked for about a week and it happened again... my dad then had a look took the pipe off, flushed it out and they worked... its mostly the drivers side (which is helpful) the pump is working and there is washer fluid - I wondered if anyone else had been having the same problems
Thanks

 

[Cole@MBS]

Welcome to the site.

The rear washer pipe coming off is normal, as for the front jets blocking, are they the spray jets or just a stream of water, like normaly cars??

 

[ShoeQueen]

Morning! thanks for the welcome.
They are spray jets, heated ones .... 3 holes from what I can see

 

[jberks]

they said the front washers were not covered under warranty due to them normally not working due to road conditions and weather

To use a yorkshire term .... EH??
In 9 years on MB ownership I have never had a washer jet clog up. In fact, the last one I can remember was on my aged ford escort in teh late 80's. I did think I had a blocked jet on my Freelander (also an 06) but even that turned out to be a kinked pipe by the bonnet hinge. The jet was fine. I do 100 miles per day over the pennines in all weather with salt, grit and every other type of muck flying about and never have a problem.

Sorry but IME jets don't block up in normal use, even in this weather. I guess a bit of salt may get on there as a one-off but not enough to kill off the jet entirely and it would just wipe off with your finger, if not be blown off by the other streams.

Anything else is a fault, whether a mechanical one or a design one - and in either case, YES IT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SO BL**DY SORT IT (thats me shouting at your dealer;-))

It is precisely because of the "road conditions and weather " that you need them so to say such a thing would imply that the washer system is not fit for purpose. Speak to the dealer principal - the service guy clearly hasn't had the recent MB customer service memos.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Morning! thanks for the welcome.
They are spray jets, heated ones .... 3 holes from what I can see

Back to basics. Common things are common and it might not be a technical problem. Any chance the jet has been blocked from the outer end with polish?

I have certainly managed that in the past and keep a bubble headed pin stuck into the edge of a sunvisor. The pin can be inserted into the bore of the screen washer jet, either to clear any offending build up of polish, or to move the angle of the jet. And you always have it with you thereafter.

 

[ShoeQueen]

Morning, and Happy Friday!

Thanks for your replies

After reading jberks reply I called the dealer service manager on my way home last night and explained that I am still having problems and that we have various MB classes in the family in none of which are suffering the same plight! He said that it is most common on the new A classes as the jets are so narrow.... he said Mercedes will not change them under warranty as they are aware that the jets are too narrow ... so my question being why fit them to the vehicle then!?! ... any way he said to me to pop in and he would have the jets unblocked while I wait ... I am off there this afternoon after work!

Alex, thanks for your reply. I have tried with a pin but the pin isn't fine enough to fit in the hole... the closest thing i can use to get into just the middle hole is a fine needle ... I have needle holes in my fingers from my antics the night before last. In relation to the polish question.... I haven't polished her since well before the problem began.

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Alex, thanks for your reply. I have tried with a pin but the pin isn't fine enough to fit in the hole... the closest thing i can use to get into just the middle hole is a fine needle ... I have needle holes in my fingers from my antics the night before last. In relation to the polish question.... I haven't polished her since well before the problem began.

Hi and thanks for your reply. I wasn't just suggeting this as an exercise in character building - it honestly has worked for me in the past. It will be interesting to hear how the expert "unblocks" them. :Oops:

 

[ShoeQueen]

If thats character building involves I want no further part in it :lol:
I used to use your trick on my 200E which worked perfectly .... just not so perfect for this one. I will be asking how the 'experts' perform the task

 

[television]

Good luck on your MB trip ShoeQueen, I am so pleased that you asked the right questions to the dealer, that was good and funny

 

[ShoeQueen]

i thought it was a reasonable question... not that there was an answer on the other end of the phone ...

 

[mastereng]

I had my A180 CDI serviced by Mercedes at the end of January. This included, of course, topping up the washer fluid and presumably as they left the remaining contents of fluid additive in the car (for me to use) they had made up the correct mix of water/additive.

In the recent cold weather I had to do a 60 mile drive. The car had been garaged overnight and so was at a temperature of plus 2C when I started. As I drove the car the temperature dropped as low as minus 4C but when nearing my destination at minus 1C I needed to use the windsreen washers. Guess what - nothing! It wasn't till I reached my destination and the car had been parked for a while and ambient came up to plus 1C that I could get them to work.

Deduction? Well, the car has only done 6K miles and the recent service should remove any doubts about fluid/water mix. I think there is a design fault and if my German was better I would look at one of the German MB Enthusiasts forums and see if it has been commented on over there.

 

[louwdj]

..... I haven't polished her since well before the problem began.

Lady's revenge?

Any chance of the washer fluid forming lumps? I had that many years ago with a cheap brand product. Not expected from MB fluid though.

 

[ShoeQueen]

Morning

No lumps in the washer bottle and I have had the hose washed thru this weekend ... guess what ... the driver side washer now emits water but it puddles around the jet

Hi ho hi ho its off to the dealer we go .... after work ...

ps - I do have to admit she doesnt get a polish as often as she should, but I washed waxed and polished this weekend! not that it made any difference now she has been rained on

 

[jberks]

I use normal fluid - not Mb and don't get clogged jets. I'd imagine there is a strainer on the pick up in the tank anyway. It can freeze, even with additive - mine did last week as it hit the screen (jets and tank were fine).
All you can do really is keep hassling the dealer. If they get bored with fixing them thet may be prepared to take it up with MB. I'd suggest a call to MB themselves but I suspect you'll get their stock 'its fine' answer.

 

[ShoeQueen]

Morning J

I thought the same thing... keep ringing the dealer, turning up and having them 'unblocked' while I wait and hopefully he will get bored of spinning me the same line and look into this a bit further. I have thought about contacting MB and will if need be ...

 

[ShoeQueen]

Good morning all from very rainy London

I visited the dealer last night on my way home, and was met by the service manager who has been dealing with the washer problem from the beginning. Took my keys and said they would have it sorted in 10minutes...... 10 mins.... 20 mins.... 40mins.... he came back to me and said they have been trying to unblock them but have had no luck .... so he had e-mailed MB and they have come back and agreed that they will bear the cost of replacing the parts under warranty as this problem is not due to the weather conditions... Woo hoo me! Part should be there 2moro morning

 

[television]

Thanks for the above ShoeQueen, and they all lived happily ever after

 

[jberks]

all's well than ends well. Score another one for perseverance!
well done.

 

[ShoeQueen]

thank you

a gentle shove helps

 

[Alex M Grieve]

thank you

a gentle shove helps

Isn't it always a great relief if you don't manage to do something (like unblock this jet) and then the professionals, with a full arsenal of tools and 40 minutes find that they can't do it either?

Well done you!