Was out of country for 2 months and car was not used. I came back.. started the car and the washer fluid low warning light came on soon after having "washed" the front and rear screens. Thought it was odd as I normally keep the level up on a regular basis.

I put fluid in the reservoir..maybe a couple of litres..& the dash warning light went out.

 

Came back to car a few minutes later and there was a steady drip coming from the rear of the front bumper ..but it was on the driver's side (the fluid container is on the passenger side). The low fluid warning light did not come back on but after starting the car and applying several long squirts it did.

 

My guess is that while away maybe a mouse has chewed the pipe that carries the fluid to the driver's side headlamp washer?..or a connector has broken/become detached...but the car didnt move and prior to going away it didn't do this.

 

All washers work fine but I can only put about 500ml of fluid in the reservoir after the warning light comes on..any more than that it will leak away.

 

Any thoughts anyone?

 

Edited 17 February, 20251 yr by armadillo
typo

2 hours ago, armadillo said:

All washers work fine

Including the headlamp washer?

Is the car parked on a camber and it is leaking out running along the front bumper to the drivers side?

 

Could the water have frozen in the last two months?

 

Thanks.  AG Falco

thanks AGF..good point..I think the headlamp washer on driver's side works too..but I'll get the other half to look/help me check tomorrow. The camber is very slight..minimal really.

I should have said "this" happened between mid March and mid May 2024 & I don't think it was cold enough while away to do damage. I've lived with it since then and its gone through an MOT recently as when I top it up with 500ml it's all fine.

I get your drift though and had it been very cold in late March (?..I've no idea I was in the Med.) I guess the reservoir /bottle could have split somewhere near the bottom and fluid just tracks along the bottom of the front bumper??.

We did return to see plenty of mouse activity in the garage (car was not in it..parked on driveway.. garage being full of wood)...which is why I thought "rodent".

I'll wait til it warms up..(June!?) and guess will have to remove bumper & wheel arch cover(s) to look see. Not a job I look forward to I must say.

On 17/02/2025 at 21:14, armadillo said:

wheel arch cover(s) to look see

Don't normally need to remove the bumper.

 

Thanks.  AG Falco