Repair To A Washer Reservoir

[DerekW]

As reported elsewhere, the windscreen washer reservoir on the V6 developed a leak. Having removed it from its nesting place inside the nearside wing, I found a half inch crack starting from the hole for the level sensor. For those who haven't seen one, these tanks are made from polypropylene which, as you probably know, is virtually unstickable.

Fortunately for me my guardian angel offered to supply me with a replacement so with nothing to lose I thought I'd try to "weld" the split. The softening temperature seems to be about the same as the melting point of soft solder and it was relatively easy to mould the material around the crack using a small point soldering iron, with filler rod cut from a half litre milk container. I didn't clean the tinning off the iron before I started so the repair has a rather attractive speckled silvery appearance!

There is now no obvious leak but of course I don't know how long the repair will last and a replacement is obviously preferred. If you don't have a guardian angel it may be worth trying a repair.

Derek

[Ciaran]

Great advice there Derek. I suspect I will soon be attempting the same, suspect mine is cracked too as I've noticed that I get water from the windscreen washer reservoir exiting under the car when I fill it up beyond a certain height, and recently I'm getting 'FILL WINDSHIELD WASHER' everytime I wash the windscreen....


Ciarán

[DerekW]

Hi Ciaran,

Yes, those were the symptoms that I had.

Derek

[jamieb]

I'm v impressed you got it out as I heard this was impossible (or near enough impossible) without removing the wing. Is there a knack to it? (mine's full of gunk and I wd love to clean it).

Jamie

[techmanagain]

It is not necessary to remove the wing, only the plastic mudshield on the relevant side (and the bolt(s) holding the water container).
The water container for the front and rear screen is on the LH (UKpassenger) side.
The plastic mudshield has to be levered out from the edge of the wing or from its retaining lugs in the centreline of the wing, together with the plastic plugs, and one nut at the base, after the wheel has been removed for easy access. The push-in plastic plugs are easily lost but are obtainable from Citroen (in quantity - usually about 5).Part Number 6992C6.

[rowanmoor]

When I did it I seem to remember that popping the indicator repeater out helped get a bit more space where I needed it. But other than that I managed with the mudshield still attached but just popped out so it was dangling over the hub. It did take a bit of pushing too and fro to work out the right angle etc to get it past things.

[DerekW]

I did it the long way, took the wing off.

However if you are adept at doing jigsaw puzzles in the dark you should be aware that there is a bolt at the front lower corner of the tank with a nut on the engine side of the wing; there is an extension at the back of the tank with a rubber sleeve around it that has to be lifted (or pulled forward) out of a metal retaining clip on the inner wing, the filler pipe stops that so you'll need to remove the filler pipe from the engine side; finally you have three electrical connectors and two water pipes that will make things difficult.

The wing is relatively easy to take off - I'd say a two spanner job - but you will almost certainly break at least one of the retaining clips on the plastic extension to the scuttle. "No nails" anyone?

Either way, good luck.

Derek

This post has been edited by DerekW on December 06, 2007 06:48 pm

[DerekW]

.... and here's a piccy of the reservoir in situ






I think there's an extra bolt under the tank towards the rear that I forgot to mention.

That isn't rust at the back of the wheel arch - it's some sort of sealant I think. Oh, and the car is supported on a stand.

Sorry about the old pyjamas, I get my cleaning rags where I can.

Derek

[dean]

A black V6 exclusive!!! , Very VERY nice sir!

Dean

[Ciaran]

That reservoir is even bigger than I imagined, no wonder it takes so long to fill!

Whats the capacity of it anyway?

Ciarán

[DerekW]

I usually fill it using one of the missus's glass measuring jugs, I think it (the tank, not the jug) holds about five litres.

Derek

[xmowner]

are there 2 seperate pumps on the reservoir , one for the front and one for the rear wash / wipe? My front jets won't work and there dose'nt seem to be any pump noise, but the rear works fine.

[DerekW]

Hi xmowner,

Yes, there is a pump each for front and rear. Each of the four holes in the tank has a rubber sealing grommet fitted and the components (two pumps, one "empty" level sensor and the filler pipe) are then pushed into the grommets. They are all on the hidden side in my photo so I don't think you'll get to any of them without removing the tank.

DErek

[UFO]

Well....

The time is right - out with the tools and whip that tank off and take some photos. Share the joy Derek!

[DerekW]

Sorry Craig, too late. It's all back together now.

But for anyone who's interested, the picture shows three bulges low down towards the front. They mark the positions of the three electrical items. The two lower forward ones are the two pumps, sorry I can't remember which is which, the higher rearward bulge is the level switch. This is simply two prongs across which the circuit is completed by the water.

The electrical plugs are the usual type with a spring wire locking device. The two water pipes run rearwards from the pumps.

At the rear, the swelling at the top is where the filler pipe fits and behind that is the extension with the rubber sleeve that locates and secures the top of the tank.

It was only when I'd put the tank back on that I remembered XMexclusive's comment to me about photographing everything for future reference; I didn't even think about photo'ing the hidden side, sorry.

Derek

PS The parts schedule may show which pump is which, I'll check tomorrow and post the info if it's there.