Windshield Washer Fluid Resevoir Temperature
 

Today I went to fix the hoses leading from the washer fluid reservoir to the headlight washers in my duaghter's 89 300TE. The car had just been driven around town running some errands.

When the windshield washer fluid came out of the hose it was HOT :eek: Not hot enough to scald my hand, but hot enough to be uncomfortable!

I never realized that the heating element heated the washer fluid to such high temperature. Next time I'll be more careful!!! :rolleyes:

I just replaced the little black o-ring gaskets between the pumps and the reservoir yesterday.

I discovered something leaking between the headlight washer and the pump. Any typical areas to check? Is this difficult to fix/get at?

The heating element is a wound tube in which the antifreeze/coolant circulates. It can get pretty hot indeed. That's how it works on the 300E anyway.

Take out the front trim pannel under the headlight.

You will find a check valve under the drivers headlight.

There is another one around or near the passenger headlight.

Austin

Egads!!!
 

All of this time I thought that the coiled element going into the washer reservoir was some sort of electrical water heating coil. Of course, there are no electrical lines going to the "coil," there are only rubber hoses. I should have realized that the heat came from engine coolant.:eek:

Boy, do I feel foolish.

Question for OmegaBenz: How do you remove those pesky front panels (under the hedalights) in a car with headlight wipers? In my old 1984 300SD you just pried (carefully) them off. Is it the same in a car with headlight wipers? :confused:

You take a flashlight and study the turn signal, then you realize that you have to push in a tab then push/pull it out. Be gentle.

Take that out. Take out the screw that you will find. Take out the other screw on the inboard side. Pull the headlight wiper down toward the earth. Take off the nut. Take off the wiper assembly. take off the pannel, but you dont have to take it off too far. Its attached to some hoses.

Austin

The heating of the washer fluid with engine coolant lines is one of the most brilliant MB features, period. In cold climates, it is a HUGE safety device that means you can wash the windscreen during winter weather without icing up the glass.

Superb!

That, combined with the heated nozzles and automatically heated mirrors make MB one of the best winter cars. And for those of you from Texas, Germany gets winter...

Winter?

Sounds like too much trouble.