You'd think I could get home for more than 24 hours with my new car before having to post a HELP! SOS! message.
Here goes...
Yesterday (during my harrowing, grueling maiden voyage) my wipers and fluid worked fine. (Thank God, because I don't know what I would be driving right now if they'd quit in the middle of that mess! LOL! )
Alas, that was yesterday. Today, they did not put out any fluid. I naturally assumed (I know, I know...) that I was low on fluid. On to Pep Boys I went, manual in hand to try to figure out how to open the hood and refill the thing, when much to my surprise and chagrin...the tank was nearly full! Rocket scientist that I am , I came to the quick deduction that the problem is not a shortage of fluid rather something far more sinister.
Since I am just in my infancy of training as cool chick MB defect detective, this is above my skill level.
I have searched for clues here, but most related to headlamp wiper motors/pumps etc. This (I ascertained tonight with more swift detective work ) does not apply to me because I don't have headlamp wipers.
I am learning lots here today folks...
Questions are this:
Could this be the pump pure and simple? How do I test for this? (I heard mention of listening for it...I'll have to wait for dh for that.)
Could some other problem be causing this?
Wipers work.
Fluid does not come out of front or rear nozzles.
I was hoping to wait at least a week before putting on my mechanic sleuthing hat, but apparently my silver lady was just way to excited to get started in this love affair. Boy, she moves fast!
Vehicle: 2001 SLK 320(96K Miles), 2002 E320 Special Edition(113K Miles)
Location: South Bay Area,L.A., CA
Posts: 1,175
The easiest initial check is to get hubby to operate the sprayer while you listen or vica verca. If it does not work, check the fuse - not sure whether it's in the one on the side of the dashboard panel or in the one under the rear seat. If the fuse is O.K., then you can either apply 12V directely to the pump after unplugging it from the standard wiring or just take the chance and buy a new one. Normally the pumps are very reliable.
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The pump does not make any noise when called to action. (Sleeping on the job apparently! )
DH took her for a spin (to get me some much needed vino...) and noticed that the high beam indicator also does not come on. (This DID work yesterday too.)
He dutifully checked under the rear seat and the in-dash fuse locations but nothing appeared amiss....
However he tried to find fuses 41,43 and 45 (which by looking at the sticky's are all related to this problem) and was not seeing them. (It is dark outside and he's lookin' with a flash light...plus God love him, he's old! and Blind too! )
Any suggestions here???
Just for clarification sake, is the rear window wiper fluid also regulated by the same pump as the front windshield?
Both are non-functional.
DH is thinking that with the additional symptom of the high beam light indicator not coming on, there may be something other than the pump at fault.
Vehicle: 2001 SLK 320(96K Miles), 2002 E320 Special Edition(113K Miles)
Location: South Bay Area,L.A., CA
Posts: 1,175
It's 5 and 19 under the rear seat. There is also a fuse box in the engine compartment -- also labeled starting from from 1. Some times the fuse may look O.K. but is not working. There should be spare fuses in the box to swap out with. At the minimum pull out fuse and reseat.
I am going to the local Napa store to pick up a range of fuses to replace and have on hand, and a fuse puller which is missing from our tool kit.
When dh pulled the rear seat, a virtual gooey candy store was found under there. Apparently, the detail shop was very thorough with the full clean up they did ...worse yet, apparently the prior owner was very careful about food and beverages ()...this could explain some bad (gunked up) fuses!
I read however on other posts last night that sometimes a bad fuse can be caused by other issues...ie a pump about to go bad. Are there other things we should be investigating or checking on? Dh seems to think that fuses typically blow because of some other fault, or issue and are designed to protect more expensive components.
Are these known MB issues or just more typical 'car' issues. Any insight to W210 specifics for this problem would be great.
Thanks to all for so much fantastic support!!
I am very appreciative of all the great information and humor!
Cyndi
I wouldn't worry about finding the other problem, unless couple of fuses blow up.
It is quite common on electric motors, that when not used for long time, the bearings or pumps seals stick. Than when you try to run it, it blows the fuse. Once the bearing lock gets broken -it works without a problem.
Make sure you buy tester light with new fuses.
was from south,washer worked on way up north,sub 10f temps in the area above bingH ---check that the washer fluid did not freeze in the nozzles and shut the system down by blockage or blowing the fuse. ohlord
In case you didn't know, those cars have washer fluid heaters. Even if the fluid freeze on parking, the heater will melt it right away. Assuming the reservoir didn't break in the process.
The fluid I bought last week in CA was -20F rated. The summer fluid is only 32F rated. Watch what you pour under the hood.
)
, I came to the quick deduction that the problem is not a shortage of fluid rather something far more sinister. 
) does not apply to me because I don't have headlamp wipers. 
)
...worse yet, apparently the prior owner was very careful about food and beverages (
)...this could explain some bad (gunked up) fuses!
ohlord
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