How Do You Replace Washer Tubing and Pump?

[swmhancock]

Has anyone replaced the windshield washer pump and tubing from the reservoir to the nozzles?  Any suggestions/experience you can share as to HOW to do this would be very much appreciated.  My washer reservoir and cap look to be in good condition.  I do not know how to disassemble whatever is needed to replace the tubing to the nozzles.

Also, what tubing do you recommend.  Bud's Benz does not show a part for the tubing itself.  I assume there may be some readily tubing that would serve the purpose.

Thanks.

[66andBlue]

Hi Steve,
welcome to the group.
There is a search button in the upper right hand corner that comes handy to answer some of your questions.
For example typing in "windshield washer tubing" brings up these topics:
http://www.sl113.com/forums/index.php?topic=6036
http://www.sl113.com/forums/index.php?topic=4137
http://www.sl113.com/forums/index.php?topic=4985

But sometimes the most pertinent (and funniest) answers are hidden in other topics and not that easily found    :  http://www.sl113.com/forums/index.php?topic=8832

The short answer is buy some clear "Tygon" tubing at an ACE Hardware store, or Lowes or Home Depot.

[bpossel]

Steve,

You can also buy the tubing from Tom at the Classic Center.  The tubing he sold me seems pretty close to the original stuff...  clear and more on the rubbery side...

The tubing goes through the firewall and up and around the steering column.  It then goes into a hole on the lower left side of the main air vent housing.  Best to remove the air vent cowl, air flapper and dust filter.  This will help you pull the tubing up and let you connect it to the lower side of the air vent cowl (onto the chrome "sprayer").  Someone else may have the correct technical words.

I squirted some silicon spray on my new hose to help it slide through easier.  There is a round rubber gromment that surrounds the hose where it goes through the air vent housing.  If you replace that, it makes it harder to slide the hose through, but provides a better seal.

Good Luck!
Bob

[swmhancock]

You are all an amazing source for information and how to.  I removed the wind cowl and there, in the back, was the original tubing.  A removed the end from the pump and blew through it and it appears to be in perfect shape.

The pump, sadly, is dead (I think).  There are several cracks on the housing.  Also, when I push the washer lever forward, nothing happens in the pump.  How can I test this?

If it is dead, I need 2 parts.  The 90 degree elbow that attaches to the tube and nozzle, and a washer fluid pump.

Can you share any other resources for the pump?

Thanks!

[thelews]

Not trying to be a wise guy, but why do you want to spend the money and time to fix this?  Do you really use your windshield washer in conditions that require it?  I'm not sure if mine works on the 250, disabled it on the 190 SL so that I wouldn't have fluid seeping from the nozzel down the hood and pulled the whole non-working pump system out of my Porsche 356.  But, that's me and I don't drive the car in winter when the windshield gets full of salt.  

If you're just trying to get everything to work, I understand.

[swmhancock]

John,

Thanks for the note.  I did not take it as a wise guy comment.  When will I use it?  I don't know.  It's more a labor of love.  I bought this sweetie 18 years ago, shared ownership with my father (we lost him 11 years ago), and have wanted to slowly get everything working as strong as possible, for me and him.  She is a gorgeous example of this classic and deserves the attention.  She is easily a 3 footer, so I want to address the little things.

At some point I even want to detail the engine compartment.

I drive her only for special days (church, ride in the country on nice days, etc.)  I simply want to have her at her best.

Steve

[thelews]

quote:

I drive her only for special days (church, ride in the country on nice days, etc.)  I simply want to have her at her best.

Steve

Got any pictures?  Well, after you get it all working, you might want to drain the system so fluid doesn't dribble out all over the cowl.

[wwheeler]

When I replaced the washer reservoir, tubing and pump on my 111, I did just what john said. I don't put any fluid in the system because I will never use it for my driving conditions but I wanted it to look original as Steve does. The water will just build up crud if it is never used.

[J. Huber]

When I got around to discovering my pump didn't spray, I took it all apart and cleaned up innerds, the hoses and the nozzles. The problem was likely that the nozzles had become clogged. It works fine now. However, although the wipers get their regions spotless, the fluid makes a big mess elsewhere and invariably I have to clean it by hand. It doesn't dribble on the hood when I don't use it.

I do appreciate Steve's desire to get it working. It the principle of the thing. I also agree that even when its working, you won't use it much. Personally, I use Invisible Glass, a little squeegee and those blue shop paper towels. On the road, I swing in the service station to clean things up.

[jacovdw]

I used my windscreen washer once since I bought my car 4 years ago - got caught in a thunderstorm (not intentional).

As James said, it is a principle matter. Even though I'm not using it, it is comforting to know that it is working...

One bit of critique though, even if you adjust the nozzles as best you can, it leaves a lot of water wherever the wipers don't reach...

Therefore, pump is working, but reservoir is empty.

[merrill]

I replaced the tubing on my 66 230 sl.
I removed the fresh air cowel, removed the tubing from the nozels, glued new tubing to the old, then fed the tubing as far as I could into the dash, then lay on the floor of the drivers side and reached up to continue pulling the tube into the dash then to the engine bay where I contined to pull the tube to the sprayer motor.

got everything re connected, tested, then put the cowel back in.

[thelews]

You could also connect the old tubing to the new to pull through with a barbed tubing connector in the correct size.

Jaco, out of curiosity.  Why would you need windshield washers in a thunderstorm?

J. Huber, my hood comment referred to the 190 SL.  The nozzle is mounted on the hood and not the cowl like the 113.

[J. Huber]

quote:Originally posted by thelews


J. Huber, my hood comment referred to the 190 SL.  The nozzle is mounted on the hood and not the cowl like the 113.

Hey John, I kind of figured that. Thanks. I bet your washer pump does work considering your gem of a Pagoda!

[jacovdw]

quote:Originally posted by thelews


Jaco, out of curiosity.  Why would you need windshield washers in a thunderstorm?

John,

It formed part of the wash and wipe routine...

Seriously though, I was on the freeway when it started raining. With all the passing trucks you get a lot of dirt sprayed on the windscreen.

[thelews]

quote:Originally posted by J. Huber
I bet your washer pump does work considering your gem of a Pagoda!

You are right, it does.  I sucked the soapy water out of the bottle, blew out the lines with an air hose and ran the pump dry.  Now I suppose we can debate which is better for preserving the system/pump, dry or wet?

[Mike Hughes]

Each time I wash the car I lay a bath towel on the windscreen and give the washers a good 3-5 second blast.  The towel soaks up the spray so that I don't have to deal with cleaning up a lot of blue "run off."  This keeps the system primed with fluid, purges any air pockets in the lines, and also gives me an opportunity to top up and freshen the fluid in the washer bottle.