Smoking windshield washer?

[greg.epps]

Wierdest thing I've ever seen. This morning I got in the 88 535is and started her up, then ran back in the garage to get something. When I got back there was smoke pouring into the car from the center vents...then I notice that it's coming in through the fresh air vents in the hood and it's coming from the windshield washer squirter! I don't mean just drifting out of it, it's like it was being pushed out. Being an electronics tech, the smell of the smoke was familiar. It had a very high 'carbon' smell to it, like a blown resistor or capacitor. I've also smelled the same smell from melted insulation on a wire. Now, I wasn't using the washers at the time, like I said, I was running to/from the garage. I haven't done any investigation yet, and the smoke has stopped. All I know at this point is that I can't wash my windshield anymore, and I have plenty of fluid. Right now, I'm thinking the wash pump (p/n: 61661368589) burned up, but given the odor of the smoke, I'm wondering if I burnt any wires. Anyone have any ideas?

[dworthy]

Sound like the heated washer jet got cooked. Was the temp below say 50 or so? That is normally when they kick on for a little while to thaw the jets out.

[greg.epps]

yes, temp was in the low 40's this morning, with rain.

[dworthy]

Yep, I would go with melted, not in a good way , washer jets.

[greg.epps]

And I guess if they melted, that would probably keep them from spraying...so my pump is probably good...

Only the driver's side sprayer worked in the first place, so I need new sprayers anyway...I'm thinking I will probably take this opportunity to replace the wiring for the sprayers as well. I thought about replacing the hose, but it looks 'beefier' than original, I think. It looks like a silicone hose with some type of braiding in it, that's not original--is it?

[dworthy]

Any local U-pull will sell them for 5-10 bucks. I wouldn't worry about replacing the wiring, I am sure that it was a internal short. The braided clear hose, probally yellowed with age, is the orginal that came with these cars. I am sure you can by new one, you will have to pop them out from the inside, towards the front is a wedge/spring clip, push down on it and apply pressure from the bottom. Only take a couple of minutes to replace, and aim them.

[a]

if you go the used route, I suggest getting the tee as well. They have check valves which fail. This may be the cause of malfunction of the other nozzle.BTW, when the tee failed on the Borman6, I replaced it with a plastic hose tee. 50cent hardware store item.

[greg.epps]

Yeah, my tee has a crack in it now...I've ordered all my parts from Brian da Parts Pimp just a little while ago...
Checked things out and the pump is good, but the Tee is cracked and both nozzles don't work

[dworthy]

The Big fat plastic tee have a one-way valve built into it, which keep the fluid from flowing back to the tank. What happens normally is the valve gets blocked, broke or clogged it sprays out the weep hole. You can change to a normal tee, but it takes longer 2-3 sec for fluid to appear on the windshield.

[a]

mine takes a second to squirt. BFD The check valved tee is more Teutonic over engineering IMHO. If you worry about the plastic Tee failing, spend 2$ for a brass 1.