R230 SL washer bottle leaking

[SL63 Mark]

Hi there the leak has got so bad that I am thinking of doing something about this.

Where is the bottle located please, and how do I get at it. I am hoping it is not an engine out job. I cannot see the bottle anywhere. Hopefully it is just a loose hose connection. I am hoping it is accessible from the top of the car.

Thanks in advance

 

[drmw]

Under the front wheel, so wheel off & plastic panel off

 

[EmilysDad]

....

Where is the bottle located please, .....

Opposite end of the filler cap ...

 

[SL63 Mark]

Under the front wheel, so wheel off & plastic panel off

Sorry David which wheel, is it passenger or drivers side (UK RHD)

Thanks

 

[SL63 Mark]

Opposite end of the filler cap ...

I don't think you have seen the 230 SL, there is no opposite end to the filler cap. All is hidden away in the bowels of the car.

 

[EmilysDad]

I don't think you have seen the 230 SL, there is no opposite end to the filler cap. All is hidden away in the bowels of the car.

No .... haven't seen under the bonnet of your car, but I can only see the filler cap end of the washer bottle on all of my cars but I know there is a bottle at the other end somewhere. They are commonly tucked away under the wing of cars these days and hidden by the wheel arch liner.

 

[drmw]

It is the front, drivers side. Mine leaked - it turned out to be the headlamp washer - as I had it stripped down, all I did was screw something that blocked that bit of hose (never used it anyway)

 

[Denis O]

Same as drmw. Mine needed both headlamp washer jets replacing to stop the leak.
Few years ago now so I don't remember the cost. Had my indy do it.

 

[SL63 Mark]

It is the front, drivers side. Mine leaked - it turned out to be the headlamp washer - as I had it stripped down, all I did was screw something that blocked that bit of hose (never used it anyway)

Thanks David I think that is where the leak is coming from, judging by the puddle on the garage floor

 

[SL63 Mark]

Same as drmw. Mine needed both headlamp washer jets replacing to stop the leak.
Few years ago now so I don't remember the cost. Had my indy do it.

Thanks Denis, I think I will block mine off, as you did.

 

[SL63 Mark]

No .... haven't seen under the bonnet of your car, but I can only see the filler cap end of the washer bottle on all of my cars but I know there is a bottle at the other end somewhere. They are commonly tucked away under the wing of cars these days and hidden by the wheel arch liner.

OK thanks, that sounds "do-able".

 

[SL63 Mark]

What is confusing me, is that the puddle is under the passenger side headlamp washer area, so I thought that is where the bottle was. I did not realise the bottle was on the drivers side. I will start from the bottle and work from there. Hopefully I can clamp off the supply to the headlamp washer from the bottle. I have only used the headlamp washers twice in ten years of ownership, they seem to drain the washer fluid really quickly. Good for spraying cyclists, though I would never do that as I am a cyclist.

We shall see.

thanks to all for your knowledgable replies.

 

[Blobcat]

What is confusing me, is that the puddle is under the passenger side headlamp washer area, so I thought that is where the bottle was. I did not realise the bottle was on the drivers side. I will start from the bottle and work from there. Hopefully I can clamp off the supply to the headlamp washer from the bottle. I have only used the headlamp washers twice in ten years of ownership, they seem to drain the washer fluid really quickly. Good for spraying cyclists, though I would never do that as I am a cyclist.

We shall see.

thanks to all for your knowledgable replies.

Good chance the flexible pipe has cracked on the pax side

 

[drmw]

The pipe is much bigger than I had thought - I think it runs from the reservoir to the osf headlight then across to the nsf.

 

[LostKiwi]

Same as drmw. Mine needed both headlamp washer jets replacing to stop the leak.
Few years ago now so I don't remember the cost. Had my indy do it.

Ditto ours and those washer jets are stupid expensive!

 

[EmilysDad]

Should headlamp washers work during the MOT?
I used to pull the fuse for the headlamp washers on my Omega as they washed every time you washed the screen & would very quickly empty the washer bottle. Headlamp washers on my ML just wash the headlamps every so many screen washes.

 

[Chrishazle]

Amused that this one seems to have the bottle drivers side as I have or have had 3 MB's (S203,S204 and SLK) where the washer bottle is behind the front of the wheel arch liner NS (Passenger side)! So far I've had to access the 204 one a couple of times - the first for a failed pump, the second to replace the cheapie Ebay special with an OEM (Febi Bilstein, twice the price but worth every penny) one 2 months later when the cheapie leaked! Also had to replace the OS washer jet on the 204 - and as MB will only supply the full bifta pump to OS jet I bought second hand from a breaker to get just the OS jet!

 

[star]

O/s/f rear of wheel arch but my dads washer bottle was in the middle………… on his ford cortina,