Headlight washers stopped working (W210)
 

I bought the car ('96 E320) about a month ago and they DID work once, spraying copious amounts on the lights, the hood and into the open windows of the cars on either side of me (I'll not try them while stopped at a red light again ) but now they don't work. I have tried to listen for a sound of the pump, but it sounds like the pump is not running. I would not suspect the switch is worn out, since it gets so little use; I have pushed it a thousand times to try to wear off any oxidation that could be preventing the circuit from being completed, I have checked the fuses, and there is plenty of fluid in the reservoir. Has anyone fixed this problem in their car and if so, what was the cause? Also, where is the pump?
TIA, -Tom

Tom, if the fuses are OK, it could be the wiper/washer relay. Does the windshield wiper/washer work correctly? They share some common circuitry but have separate pumps. On a W124, I'm unsure of a W210, there are two pumps mounted on front side of the reservoir. The lower is for the headlamps; the upper for the windshield. Check the push-on electrical connectors there.

It wasn't clear from your post if the headlamp WIPERS were working or not

And you probably know this, but at least the parking lamps have to on to activate the headlamp wiper/washers when pressing the cleaner switch on your stalk. If you can find the sqare black wiper/washer connector (somewhere around or under the headlamp assembly) and the wires which go into it, two leads (brown-neg, black-pos) should have +12 V whenever the lights are on. The red lead should get a momentary +12 VDC when you press the cleaner stalk. And only on the RH side, the blue lead supplies +12 VDC to the pump at some intervals while the wiper makes its cycle, shutting off when the wiper does.

If it's a wiper/washer assembly problem, one cause is that moisture will get into the wiper motors and over time, if the lubricant inside is inadequate, will corrode and cause it to freeze up. Wear can certainly degrade the components as well and cause misoperation. If this is the case and you want to pursue a repair rather than replacement, see the detailed treatise at http://www.qadas.com/~kanas/300TE_Headlight_Wipers.html

Good luck!

Tried it with lights on and off; wipers on and off; car in drive and neutral; held switch down thirty to forty-five seconds, nothing.
I can't determine if there is a separate pump for the headlight washers. The windshield washer works fine. If there is a relay it or the switch would seem a likely culprit if there are two pumps and or servos for the headlight washers and none is working

Does the pressure from the pump cause the nozzle housings to extend or is there a servo or motor?

Thanks again,
-Tom

There is a separate pump for the headlight system.