When I got the 190E in July the windshield washer pump did not work. I replaced the pump and the gunky fluid that was in the reservoir. The new pump works fine, but the emitters seem to be clogged. I tried an in-situ fix with the straight pin and rubbing alcohol trick, which sort of worked, but now they are clogged again. I have taken one of the units out to try soaking it in the isopropyl alcohol (70%).

The emitter assembly has wires that were plugged into a circuit. I don't have the electricals; are these heater wires? Could they be making matters worse re the clogging? In southern Arizona do I even need these wires?

The emitter unit housing is plastic so I cannot use anything too strong such as methyl ethyl ketone to disolve away whatever is inside.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

If you have access to an air compressor, try blowing high pressure air through the emitter in the reverse direction...

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Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

I do not have a compressor. Should I just replace the emitter assemblies? What is the reason for the wires?

The wires are for heater elements to preclude freezing up in colder climates. You may not care to hook them up again.

I am curious about how you get them out. My 1986 190E 2.3-16 has poor flow out of one assembly and none out ouf one of the nozzles, making the spray pattern a poor compromise for slow and high speed driving. I tried to coax them out and felt like I was going to break the things or leave marks on the hood. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Replacing them will certainly fix the problem. Be sure to flush the lines before you install the new ones. The wires are for the heating elements inside the emitters...

__________________
Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

Soak the emitters in vinegar (acetic acid) or weak muriatic acid (swimming pool supply) overnight and it will dissolve the calcium carbonate that is the likely cause. Rinse and clean 'em up with an old toothbrush and thin wire. Flush system with the emitters out (just let it run after cleaning tank as best you can. Worked for me.

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

jbaj007: Thanks - I will try the acid route. There is pool acid around because we have a pool.
How many parts pool acid to water? (Always pour acid into water, water might spatter as it can do when poured into a hot skillet. Never pour water into acid.)

JimSmith: Thank you as well. The trick to get an emitter assembly out is to slide it toward the front of the car before lifting up out of the hood. It is easier to do it with the hood all of the way up in the verticle position; then you can get one hand on one side and one hand on the other side. Getting the emitter assembly off of the hose fitting that is the right-angle piece means
holding the right-angle piece in one hand on one side of the hood while holding the emitter assembly with the other hand on the outside of the hood. Of course this means you have already performed the trick of getting the emitter assembly out of the hood. Then just worry them apart pulling in opposite directions with your hands. This will ensure that you do not mar the hood since all that will be near it are your hands and the plastic pieces of the emitter function. The electrical connections come apart fairly easily, then there is a way to slide the positive terminal's electrical connector/insulator passed the tube steel so as to slide the wires out through the emitter cutout in the hood.

Richard, thanks for the clues. I got them out and kind of backed off at the idea of working those electrical connections out as I live where it is cold in the Winter a few days a year and like the heated nozzle feature. I am sure they come out, but not so sure they go back as my fingers don't fit in the holes and spaces too well. The units are now dangling out the hood holes and soaking in vinegar (one is in wine vinegar the other in apple cider vinegar). I have two glasses propped up on the windshield and hood. I will work some fine wire backwards through the nozzles and pump the junk in the lines out a little later.

Thanks again, Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Jim,
My hood pad is missing, so maybe it was easier for me to get at the wires because of that. I had the emitters soaking in isopropyl alcohol already from an off line suggestion. I will post how that works out. I kind of wonder how much calcium buildup could be coming from the washer fluid. Whatever the buildup is might respond to acid. Off the car the alcohol seems to have cleared up the ports. I will flush the lines, install the emitters, and test them now.

I have to thank you for the tips! I got the little buggers clean and put back n place with only minor trimming of the hood pad. They spray gobs of fluid all over the windshield now. Thanks again. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Soaking in isopropyl alcohol worked also. I reconnected the wires even though I may never need the heater function. Having them hanging there made me concerned about possibly shorting out.