[s-cars] Windshield Washer Tank Replacement ?

[chris chambers]

Joe,

My tank cracked on the very bottom of it, the only place I could find a
replacement was the dealer. They want ~ $80 for this tank.
I chose to repair mine with plastic epoxy that I purchased at Home
Depot for $3.97.

The procedure for removing and replacing your tank is quite easy and
straight forward. When working in this area just remember that the
plastic windshield washer line can be brittle. I cracked mine and has
to repair it with vacuum line and clamps.

Here are the steps as I recall:

Slide the hydraulic fluid resevoir up and out of it's metal bracket, so
you can get to the screws that hold the washer fluid tank. I moved my
Resevoir over in front of the engine and held it in place with rubber
straps to keepit out of the way.

Now unbolt and remove the hydraulic resevoir bracket (place it out of
the way) and unbolt the top Windshield washer fluid bottle bolt. The
bottle also has two lower "ears" with one nut holding each onto a
threaded stud.

Now that the bottle is loose you can remove the windshield washer pump
and headlight washer pump. If you are standing at the driver's fender
as you look down at the bottle on left side you will see the pump.
Using a blade screwdriver gently pry the top portion of the pump out of
it's rubber grommet, then pry up from the bottom side of the pump and
remove the pump from it's bottom grommet.

Now tilting the bottle towards the engine you can remove the power
cable and plastic hose from the windshield washer pump. The pump can
now be removed from the car..BUT the two "ears" may have wires routed
over the top of them, I used a long screwdriver to pry/push them out of
the way.

Now just lift the bottle out.....If you have a leak clean and inspect
the bottle. I was able to repair mine quite easily with the 2-part
plastic epoxy. My crack was on the bottom of the bottle, I degreased
thte bottle, filed some grooves into the plastic of the bottle around
the crack (for the epoxy to grab) and applied several layers that
covered about 2" beyond the crack.

After the epoxy has cured you can test the bottle for leaks and
re-install. Remember when testing for leaks that there are factory
holes in the tank for the pumps that you will have to plug otherwise
water will leak out quickly! :o)

HTH

Chris

--- Joe Petersack <joe at kansack.com> wrote:
> Any write-ups or web sites that detail this procedure?  Also, any
> good 
> sources for the part?
> Thanks a lot.
>    Joe
>   
> 
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