Windscreen washer pump issue

[Aberdeen23]

Hi folks, first time on this website, so go easy!! The WW pump on my wife's SLK (2015) is making a different noise and not giving me water to windscreen. I thought it might be with the frost we've had lately but today it was 5 degrees and still no water coming thru! The WW is working fine on my car so frost is not the problem. TIA for any advice given.

 

[Mr Greedy]

Do you have headlamp wash or rear window wash and if so are these still working?
Does it have screen wash in the tank?
What do you use for screenwash? Good screenwash has bacterial growth inhibitors.

Likely to be either:

1. filthy bacterial slime jelly or general muck congealed in the bottom of the tank, around the gauze at the entry to the washer pump or in the washer pump.
If a lump of congealed filth in the tank, you might be able to rush and drain.it out with a fluid vacuum extraction pump from Amazon for £10-20.
If it's gunked up the gauze or the pump you will definitely have to drain the tank and then remove the pump to clean. Usually accessed through the wheel well by removing the wheel arch liner.

2. The pump is worn out. As above for pump removal.

 

[Janchee]

Hi folks, first time on this website, so go easy!! The WW pump on my wife's SLK (2015) is making a different noise and not giving me water to windscreen. I thought it might be with the frost we've had lately but today it was 5 degrees and still no water coming thru! The WW is working fine on my car so frost is not the problem. TIA for any advice given.

I think you would be surprised at how long it can take for the nozels to defrost. If nothings coming out, I would use precautiously as it could either:

1. Coming out somewhere else and produce another fault
2. Burst a pipe due to pressure and need new parts

As it's been quite cold for a few days on the trot, the frost goes 'deeper' if you like as it doesn't get a good chance to defrost during the day. If the motor is running, that's a positive step!

 

[Aberdeen23]

Do you have headlamp wash or rear window wash and if so are these still working?
Does it have screen wash in the tank?
What do you use for screenwash? Good screenwash has bacterial growth inhibitors.

Likely to be either:

1. filthy bacterial slime jelly or general muck congealed in the bottom of the tank, around the gauze at the entry to the washer pump or in the washer pump.
If a lump of congealed filth in the tank, you might be able to rush and drain.it out with a fluid vacuum extraction pump from Amazon for £10-20.
If it's gunked up the gauze or the pump you will definitely have to drain the tank and then remove the pump to clean. Usually accessed through the wheel well by removing the wheel arch liner.

2. The pump is worn out. As above for pump removal.

Thanks both for replies. The sound from the pump is not a clear single tone like normal it's like a stuttery sound now!!

 

[EmilysDad]

Thanks both for replies. The sound from the pump is not a clear single tone like normal it's like a stuttery sound now!!

try a kettle of warm water in the tank and see if that makes a difference. As above, I wouldn't be surprised if the pump & pipework is still partly frozen

 

[Janchee]

Thanks both for replies. The sound from the pump is not a clear single tone like normal it's like a stuttery sound now!!

As with the first question, are the headlight / rear washers working? Can you get access to part of the pipe to see if water is being pumped? Or fill the tank to the top, use and see if the waterline drops...

 

[Mr Greedy]

If you find it stuck with a frozen bottle in future, you can try topping up with this -75c screenwash to melt what is in the washer bottle.


https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/triple-qx-75c-concentrated-screenwash-1ltrs-542771210

£4.49 for 1L, or something similar if not in stock

 

[mioba]

conc should be adjusted for winter. check in your reservoir if its liquid - that said they mostly have kettle type element to keep it liquid.
Best bet its slimed up as above a good clean and disconnecting pipes at jets to run through clean to prevent jets blocking. if that doesn't work new pump

 

[eman]

I thought all later mercs had heated washer bottles. My E cab. ML. And GLE all had heated washers.

 

[EmilysDad]

I thought all later mercs had heated washer bottles. My E cab. ML. And GLE all had heated washers.

You've made me want to go & look at the bottle on mine

 

[Ron240]

I thought all later mercs had heated washer bottles. My E cab. ML. And GLE all had heated washers.

Is this a thing? I have never heard of a heated washer bottle/reservoir but heated nozzles are common.
I always thought that the reservoir itself should never freeze due to the volume of liquid and as long as the screenwash grade and mixture is correct for the temperature. Obviously if it is just plain water it will freeze solid if cold enough.

 

[mioba]

my w124 and w22O do thats why i mentioned it above, cant see on the W215 or W251 due to location, Not only that higher end have headed nozzles.

 

[Ron240]

my w124 and w22O do thats why i mentioned it above, cant see on the W215 or W251 due to location, Not only that higher end have headed nozzles.

Well there you go...you learn something new every day.
I never knew any washer bottle had a kettle type element in the bottom.
I still reckon it should be unnecessary in the UK though as long as the grade/mixture of screenwash is correct. I have never had a frozen washer bottle on any car.
Heated nozzles I know about and is common on many cars.

I remember back to the mid 80's when i had a Rover 216 VP EFi which had headlamp washers. Whenever the weather was cold enough the nozzles for the headlamp washers would freeze (not heated obviously), and if the wash was activated it would blow a fuse every time.

 

[joderest]

Have a look at your car whilst washing the screen, is there water pouring out somewhere ?, could well be the pipe has split or come disconnected.
The none return valve which is in the system somewhere could be blocked.
Its a fairly simple system, so easy to check it out.

Footnote : heated washer jets have been around for years.

 

[eman]

When i was a yoof. I remember my local car spare shop selling a device that was full of liquid and clipped around your top hose then around your washer bottle working on the notion that as the car warmed up the liquid in the device got hot and defrosted your bottle. I couldn’t afford one and looking back probably didn’t work

 

[Blobcat]

When i was a yoof. I remember my local car spare shop selling a device that was full of liquid and clipped around your top hose then around your washer bottle working on the notion that as the car warmed up the liquid in the device got hot and defrosted your bottle. I couldn’t afford one and looking back probably didn’t work

We could probably have a thread of motoring inventions that seemed like a good idea but were absolute rubbish

 

[Chrishazle]

One thing I found out on my car is that with the bonnet open the wipers won't work - they'd foul the open bonnet! As activating the screenwash also activates the wipers, I wonder if the screenwash will operate with the bonnet open - will make looking for a leak even more awkward!

 

[EmilysDad]

When i was a yoof. I remember my local car spare shop selling a device that was full of liquid and clipped around your top hose then around your washer bottle working on the notion that as the car warmed up the liquid in the device got hot and defrosted your bottle. I couldn’t afford one and looking back probably didn’t work

You used to see adverts in car mags for something similar. It was a larger plastic pipe with effectively a screen wash pipe wrapped round it. You cut the top rad hose & fitted the larger pipe into it & cut the screen wash pipe & connected it to the pipe around the larger rad pipe. It warmed the screen wash via the rad hose.

 

[sonic]

You used to see adverts in car mags for something similar. It was a larger plastic pipe with effectively a screen wash pipe wrapped round it. You cut the top rad hose & fitted the larger pipe into it & cut the screen wash pipe & connected it to the pipe around the larger rad pipe. It warmed the screen wash via the rad hose.

I remember those, I didn't buy one either.

 

[joderest]

I had one on a Mk2 Cortina, it was on it when i bought it, i can confirm it was useless !!!