windshield washer question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JohnRedman · #1 02-03-2020, 02:19 PM

<1991 350SD> I was trying to remove my washer reservoir yesterday and the hoses to the pumps would not come off so I cut them. That's when I discovered that there some WIRES running inside one of them that lead to a ?temp sensor?. Should I worry about that? Looks like $$$$ to replace that hose. AN-y-how, the reason for the investigation was that all my fluid was leaking out. It turned out that one of the rubber gaskets around the (same) pump stem was shot and leaking. Easy fix on that. But now ???????

Diseasel300 · #2 02-03-2020, 03:04 PM

The hoses are just hoses, there's no sensor in there or any wires. You have 2 plugs on the pumps (one has a stacked plug connection), but the hoses have nothing special in them.

JohnRedman · #3 02-03-2020, 03:14 PM

Wish that were so but the hose to the outboard pump indeed does have embedded wires and a inch and a half long sensor much like the one behind my front license plate that exits and sticks off inboard just inside a squeeze wire clamp. Again, 1991 350SD.
WAIT!! YOU have a '91 350SD.

JohnRedman · #4 02-03-2020, 03:19 PM

PS. Thinking of another visit to Kerrville (Folk Festival) end of May (in this car)

Diseasel300 · #5 02-03-2020, 03:38 PM

Yes, I have a '91 350SD and it has no such thing. It isn't indicated in the FSM either, so not sure what that sensor would be for. The heated washer fluid is controlled by the stainless coil inside the washer bottle, it has a wax pellet style thermostat that controls the temperature of the fluid. My car was built in 10/90 and matches the wiring prints in the FSM, so it's possible that the very late ones got something else that isn't indicated in the factory service manual.

JohnRedman · #6 02-03-2020, 05:27 PM

Well, well. My heater core is the same but with the non-freezing fluids we all use these days, I'm not sure it is needed. For the time being I'll just re-assemble the system without the sensor. Now, my NEXT problem is the wood trim piece that runs at the top of the dash under the instrument cluster. Mine is ruined and a new one coming and I need to find the procedure to replace it. I bought a CD-ROM FSM on the internet but just returned it because it does not run under LINUX Mint and without the index, is useless as the CD-ROM is for ALL models with thousands of files.
So, I think that I asked you where in Hill Country and if memory serves, you are just west of Austin, right?

Diseasel300 · #7 02-03-2020, 06:55 PM

The CD's should work on Linux, they're just HTML files. It's all flash-based and runs off PDF's. It's the same as the Startek site.
ETM: https://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/12253/program/ETM_350SD.htm

We are discussing a W126 and not a W140 right? 1991 should be a W126, though the early 350SD W140s probably were produced in 1991. Just clarifying...

Yes, I live in the Hill Country. I live in the Kerrville/Ingram area.

JohnRedman · #8 02-04-2020, 07:12 PM

Oh, then the other person in Hill Country was on my Honda CX500 forum. The Kerrville FF is about 10 miles south of Kerrville on Rt 14 at the Quiet Valley Ranch. But you prolly knew that.
I spent huge time trying to get Flash Player to work. I finally did get it to seem to work but every time I tried to load the index for the 350SD it circled back to the gif of the car roaring across the top of the page. Today, though, I updated to Linux Mint 19, too late to try on the disk.
Yes W126. I did not know that there were any other 350SDs than our 1991s.

JohnRedman · #9 02-05-2020, 03:21 PM

I found a supplier if the correct hose: Call-out 101 would cost $114.40 and we could have it in 2 business days.
The wires are for a heated washer system. When looking up your vehicle (minus the VIN), it's showing me that 1991 is the only year for the 350SD and it has it's own chassis designation - 126.134. There was a 350SDL in 1990-1991. Also when looking up your vehicle, it shows a standard washer setup as well, so depending on the exact vehicle there may have been two options.
I decided to do without.
I got Flash Player to work on Opera and I opened to page you sent. It is very confusing though, as it mixes up years and does not have a page for the 350SD electrical. Do you have the complete FSM for the 350SD?

Diseasel300 · #10 02-05-2020, 06:26 PM

1991 is the only year for the W126 350SD. Mine has heated windshield washer system too, but the heating in the tank is done with a heating coil from the heating circuit and the nozzles are heated electrically just like the 1986+ models. Yours may have some sort of optional feature that isn't documented in the published FSM.

The Gen II (1986+) W126 didn't change much during its life. The ETM usually shows when things changed and is typically marked such as "From 1988". Other than the Klima relay and the EDS/Tach system, the wiring is much the same between gas and diesel cars.

There is supposed to be a FSM supplement that was printed media only that covers some of the 1991 modifications. If you have a car with a lot of features, it may be to your benefit to hunt one down or call the Classic Center to see if they can procure a copy for you.

JohnRedman · #11 02-06-2020, 08:14 PM

The heater option in mine has the SS coil PLUS the hose line being heated also. The parts guy included a schematic also that showed my particular extra and said that the 350SD came in both versions, maybe a northern climat version. Anyway, I'm not going for the $114 hose and not going to continue to struggle with getting the SS coil properly seated in the reservoir. I'l just use fluid good to 60 below. Back to my question about replacing the wood trim above the steering wheel abd below the instrument cluster. My replacement for that is coming in the mail right now and the original is badly messed up. Does your manual have that procedure?