Owners of 2008 Mercedes A-Class

Groucho · December 3, 2017

Long shot.

The wife has one of these. Perfect. Nice car, small exterior but big interior. I like it, I borrow it whenever I can.

The only issue we’ve ever had with it, is that the screen wash doesn’t function. The pump makes a noise, but no water appears. I’ve filled it with water before anyone asks.

Good folk of EFC Mumsnet (GOT), I ask for help.

I’ve tried;

Sawdust
Going to The Lisbon
Having a jolly good bum
Asked how much for the pair
First
Crap preview

Any ideas?

Seathestars · December 3, 2017

You know that song, hotel California, there's a Lady in that hotel who owns a Mercedes Benz, might be worth calling her.

Groucho · December 3, 2017

Seathestars said:
You know that song, hotel California, there's a Lady in that hotel who owns a Mercedes Benz, might be worth calling her.

She didn’t pick up mate

roydo · December 3, 2017

Groucho said:
Long shot.

The wife has one of these. Perfect. Nice car, small exterior but big interior. I like it, I borrow it whenever I can.

The only issue we’ve ever had with it, is that the screen wash doesn’t function. The pump makes a noise, but no water appears. I’ve filled it with water before anyone asks.

Good folk of EFC Mumsnet (GOT), I ask for help.

I’ve tried;

Sawdust

Going to The Lisbon

Having a jolly good bum

Asked how much for the pair

First

Crap preview

Any ideas?

There will be a split in the small hose that carries the water from the reservoir to the squirty thing. Means the water is either leaking out somewhere, or there is no pressure in the pipe to pull the water through. Being a Merc, I would guess the part needed will be about £3000. Or you could use some tape if you find the split.

roydo · December 3, 2017

Or the squirty bit is blocked. Stab the hole with a pin.

Woolly Blue · December 3, 2017

roydo said:
Or the squirty bit is blocked. Stab the hole with a pin.

This really.
If that doesn't work, take the tube off and make sure it isn't full of muck.

Groucho · December 3, 2017

roydo said:
There will be a split in the small hose that carries the water from the reservoir to the squirty thing. Means the water is either leaking out somewhere, or there is no pressure in the pipe to pull the water through. Being a Merc, I would guess the part needed will be about £3000. Or you could use some tape if you find the split.

I will persevere with tape

roydo · December 3, 2017

Groucho said:
I will persevere with tape

Quick tip. To locate a split, open the bonnet, get Vic to sit in the car and press the button, and you look to see if any drops are obvious. Or the other way round.

But again, being a Merc, I bet the hose is buried in the bonnet casing.

Groucho · December 3, 2017

roydo said:
Quick tip. To locate a split, open the bonnet, get Vic to sit in the car and press the button, and you look to see if any drops are obvious. Or the other way round.

But again, being a Merc, I bet the hose is buried in the bonnet casing.

It’s solidly built aye

larbert toffee · December 3, 2017

Groucho said:
It’s solidly built aye

Both good suggestions from @roydo the problem will actually be one of those he has suggested or the tube going from the reservoir to the jet nozzles maybe trapped/kinked. Pour some boiling water over the jets and clean the nozzles with a pin or such like.
lift the bonnet and if you can remove the tubing from the nozzles, try your washers and if there's water coming out of the tube then the jets will need cleaning/replacing, if the washers are still not working then try and trace back the tubing to the reservoir checking for a split/kink, you may well be able to pick up a length of tubing quite cheap and re-route it from the reservoir to the jets bypassing the original one.
Good luck let us know how you get one.
One question did it originally work during your ownership or has it just stopped working recently?

Groucho · December 3, 2017

larbert toffee said:
Both good suggestions from @roydo the problem will actually be one of those he has suggested or the tube going from the reservoir to the jet nozzles maybe trapped/kinked. Pour some boiling water over the jets and clean the nozzles with a pin or such like.
lift the bonnet and if you can remove the tubing from the nozzles, try your washers and if there's water coming out of the tube then the jets will need cleaning/replacing, if the washers are still not working then try and trace back the tubing to the reservoir checking for a split/kink, you may well be able to pick up a length of tubing quite cheap and re-route it from the reservoir to the jets bypassing the original one.
Good luck let us know how you get one.
One question did it originally work during your ownership or has it just stopped working recently?

Nice one.

She bought it in July, never worked. The rest of the car is spot on.

roydo · December 3, 2017

larbert toffee said:
Both good suggestions from @roydo the problem will actually be one of those he has suggested or the tube going from the reservoir to the jet nozzles maybe trapped/kinked. Pour some boiling water over the jets and clean the nozzles with a pin or such like.
lift the bonnet and if you can remove the tubing from the nozzles, try your washers and if there's water coming out of the tube then the jets will need cleaning/replacing, if the washers are still not working then try and trace back the tubing to the reservoir checking for a split/kink, you may well be able to pick up a length of tubing quite cheap and re-route it from the reservoir to the jets bypassing the original one.
Good luck let us know how you get one.
One question did it originally work during your ownership or has it just stopped working recently?

Prefer squirty thing.

Moomin · December 3, 2017

Put it in a bowl of rice.

chrismpw · December 3, 2017

All good suggestions. If it's blocked by previous applications of sawdust, or if it's split, you can get the flexy pvc pipe by the metre very cheaply on ebay, just measure the inside diameter of it . It'll likey be 4,5,6,7 or 8mm.

If the tube is routed through holes making it fiddly, clean and dry the end one and tape it to the new one so you can use the old to guide the new through holes etc. You'll have to unclip the old pipe though, from where it's supported.

Really, really obvious one .... was it frosty when it didn't work? Water will freeze in the tubes or the nozzle very easily, even with windscreen additive in there.

Groucho · December 3, 2017

chrismpw said:
All good suggestions. If it's blocked by previous applications of sawdust, or if it's split, you can get the flexy pvc pipe by the metre very cheaply on ebay, just measure the inside diameter of it . It'll likey be 4,5,6,7 or 8mm.

If the tube is routed through holes making it fiddly, clean and dry the end one and tape it to the new one so you can use the old to guide the new through holes etc. You'll have to unclip the old pipe though, from where it's supported.

Really, really obvious one .... was it frosty when it didn't work? Water will freeze in the tubes or the nozzle very easily, even with windscreen additive in there.

Cheers.

It’s not an ice issue mate.