Start laughing now...

[tonimus]

Greetings, everyone. I have a friend who thinks the best way to make a first impression with strangers is to make a fool of himself so that he will be remembered. What does that have to do with this forum? I'm getting to that...

I bought my first Mercedes on Sunday: a '92 SL500 . It is a low-mileage (36k) car that came from someone I know and was very well cared for. I have been driving it to and from work this week (about 20 miles each way) and have enjoyed learning little things like how the environmental controls work, and what kind of driving experience I've been missing out on all these years.

My first (albeit minor) technical issue popped up last night. As I was stopping at the end of my driveway to grab the mail, I squirted some wiper fluid onto the windshield to clear away a little bit of grime. A few seconds later, after the windshield wipers were done with their 2 or 3 swipes, I noticed this misty spray visible in front of the headlights. I got out to look and sure enough: the headlight sprayers were stuck ON. I got back in, hit the sprayer lever a couple times... no change. I turned the lights off... the spray stopped. Lights back on... headlight spray resumed momentarily until the reservoir was emptied. After fiddling with the sprayer and wipers for a while (from inside the car) I was able to get the sprayer to quit dry-running when the lights were on.

So, I figured I would refill the reservoir and have my local MB technician take a look at the sprayer on Friday (tomorrow) when I bring it in for some repair work. I popped the hood-release lever in the cab, walk around to the front of the car, feel under the hood, and ... I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE DAMN HOOD OPEN!!!

As soon as you all pick yourselves up off of the floor, I could use a little help here. I'm not what you would call mechanically inclined, but this is ridiculous

Thanks,

- Tony

'92 SL500 (36k miles, white, finger-prints on hood)

[chad500sl]

In the center of the emblem, bottom hole should have a release level. Pull it towards the front of the car. When I first got my car it took me forever to find it.

[deanyel]

BTW, you just disable those headlight washers unless you live in Port........ never mind.

[tonimus]

Heh. Thanks Chad - the emblem was the key, alright. In my defense (or perhaps to further illustrate my ineptitude), it was dark last night...

Deanyel: do you know any easy way to disable the lamp-wipers? they share a fuse with the main windshield wipers...

- Tony

[G-Benz]

The hood release is the same for the ML...

...saw an elderly gentleman try to assist a lady with doing the same to her ML. She had just purchased it and was looking in vain.

I happened to pull up in mine and eased her stress...

[deanyel]

I've disabled them on several E-classes - but it rains about every three years here. You can take them out but will likely entail some cosmetic patching - I can't picture the details of the SL front end. Better to just cut off the fluid supply at the windshield fluid tank and/or cut the electrical source at the motor or anywhere you can access the wire - disconnect the battery first. In this part of the country it really makes no sense to fix things like this because they are completely worthless in the desert. Portland has a more Germany-like climate - but obviously the roads are full of cars that don't have such things.

[Leewolf]

Hood Release. On My 1979 SL and SLC and my 1980 SLC the release was behind the grill at the upper right hand corner of the emblem circle.
Headlight wipers: on my 1988 SEL the washer bottle has two pump motors. I simply unplugged the motor that fed the headlight wipers.

[jjrodger]

Ken Silver (one of the posters here) has removed his headlamp wash wipe altogether. He did a recent post about it. Even in a poor climate, the wee wipers are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard. Better just wipe the lights every morning before setting out.

[Gilly]

The more I think about this problem......
I think you should check with the dealer. I think there may be a recall (at MB expense) for this problem. Call the local dealer and have them run a "VMI" on it and see if there are any outstanding (meaning "not done") recalls on this thing.

Gilly

[bwheitman]

just a quick note, when I got my SL it did the same thing, the washer to the headlights kept runnning, I found that after I checked them out, the wiper arms were very loose, I adjusted them and tightened them down, I have not had a problem since. I don't know how the loose wiper arm effected the water flow, but for some reason it did. Give that a check.
Good Luck
Brian

[deanyel]

Just for the sake of debate, I'm going to take the position that these wipers are worth even less than a chocolate fireguard. But what exactly is a chocolate fireguard?

[jjrodger]

Originally posted by deanyel
Just for the sake of debate, I'm going to take the position that these wipers are worth even less than a chocolate fireguard. But what exactly is a chocolate fireguard?

It is a fireguard made out of chocolate. Not very useful, obviously. Not to be confused with a chocolate teapot, which also is not very useful.

[deanyel]

No comprende "fireguard" - same as a fire extinguisher?

[neileg]

Two countries divided by a common language?

A fireguard is a wire mesh screen that you put in front of an open fire to prevent children falling in and sparks falling out.

Perhaps JJ should have said 'as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike'.

[Momo]

There was indeed a recall which affected the washer fluid pump. I believe it is the only safety recall on the W129. In certain circumstances the pump could keep on pumping and could catch fire after there was no fluid left. I have attached the recall notice. As my dealer in Switzerland had never heard of it, it may have applied only in the USA.

Momo