Heated washer jets?

[stuartmac]

Hi,

2000 W210 E320CDI

Firstly, I sort-of remember reading somewhere about heated windscreen washer jets. Last weekend, searching for the cause of non-squirting washer jets, when I popped the 'jet blocks' (?) from under the rear edge of the bonnet, I noticed two wires into an electrical plug into each 'block'.

If I haven't lost the plot completely, does this mean the car has heated washer jets? And, if so, how do I check if they're working, given that the washer jets have been freezing this winter, despite using MB washer fluid concentrate.

Regards,

 

[jberks]

yes - all MB jets are heated afaik.
They can still freeze as they won't heat up much - so ice formed outside the jets could still block them - its just that they will thaw out internally.
The fact that you have additive should also help so I suspect it's not the actual washer fluid that is freezing but ice forming on the bonnet and around the jets.
Funny though I have 25% additive in mine but on Monday I washed the screen on the motorway and it froze as it hit the glass (the jets worked perfectly)! I pulled up the Outside gauge and it read -5 - so it shouldn't have. I could see through the gaps and 10 secs on full demist sorted it but it was scary for a moment. I've upped the concentration now.

 

[television]

With the correct ratio of screen wash they do not freeze, I lived in Sweden for some years, and had them working down to -50c

 

[stuartmac]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies - once again, I can laugh in the face of MissusMac's attempts to get to me to sign the power-of-attorney documents.

had them working down to -50c

In the last few years, I've become a regular winter visitor to Finland and it occurred to me the Finns would be mightly unimpressed with washer fluid freezing at the sort of temperatures we've had recently.

Regards,

 

[Alex M Grieve]

I've upped the concentration now.

That'll teach you - you should have been concentrating in the first place!

 

[television]

That'll teach you - you should have been concentrating in the first place!

You are right Alex,he should have been sent to a concentration camp

 

[rf065]

With the correct ratio of screen wash they do not freeze, I lived in Sweden for some years, and had them working down to -50c

Mine have never frozen, I think the fact that the water bottle is heated too helps a great deal.

Russ

 

[jberks]

Sorry guys I don't get it. I normally set the cruise and then pop in the back for a nap - am I doing something wrong?

 

[television]

Sorry guys I don't get it. I normally set the cruise and then pop in the back for a nap - am I doing something wrong?

Wait till you get distronic, and then take the Lexus follow the white line steering and you can sleep longer

 

[turnipsock]

I think the windscreen washer heater comes on with the rear window heater, but I may be wrong.

Most of the anti freeze screen washes in this country seem to talk about -5C. I'm going to stock up on some decent stuff on my Sweden trip.

 

[rf065]

I think the windscreen washer heater comes on with the rear window heater, but I may be wrong.

I though they were on when the ignition is on.

Russ

 

[television]

I think the windscreen washer heater comes on with the rear window heater, but I may be wrong.

Most of the anti freeze screen washes in this country seem to talk about -5C. I'm going to stock up on some decent stuff on my Sweden trip.

You could be right there turnip, re Sweden you do not have to do anything about stocking up, they do not have that much snow and even when 10 meters deep in snow, everything carries on as normal

 

[Alex M Grieve]

I though they were on when the ignition is on.
Russ

I recall having a modification made to the heated screenwashers on my 190, many years ago. They were on the same fuse as wing mirror heaters (on continuously) and (IIRC) the rev counter.

Worth looking at the fuse map and checking the function of anything else on the same fuse. I think the 190 problem was something shorting in the washer heater and causing the fuse to pop. It seemed a well recognised problem and the fix was cheap and permanent.

 

[rf065]

I had heated washer jets on a GSi2000 years ago and they were wired with the ignition on continuous, but at very low voltage was used, just enough to keep them above freezing point.

Coming on with the heated window would mean they would be frozen most of the time.

Russ

 

[Xtractorfan]

Sorry guys I don't get it. I normally set the cruise and then pop in the back for a nap - am I doing something wrong?

A lady in america actually did this and then sued Winnebago for making her believe she could use cruise control and the vehicle would drive itself...

 

[television]

A lady in america actually did this and then sued Winnebago for making her believe she could use cruise control and the vehicle would drive itself...

Yes I read about that one, she went into the rear to make a cup of coffee

 

[rf065]

Yes I read about that one, she went into the rear to make a cup of coffee

If they drank coffee in smaller cups over there, she may have made it back to the drivers seat before she crashed.

Russ

 

[television]

If they drank coffee in smaller cups over there, she may have made it back to the drivers seat before she crashed.

Russ

No Russ, she was as big as they come:Oops: