Windscreen washer not working

[axw820]

Hi

 

Yesterday I took my Elise S3 out for the first time since the snow a few weeks ago and the windscreen washers were not working. I filled it up with high concentrate fluid before the snow came, which is supposedly good to -45, but when I checked yesterday the tank was empty to just below where the hose comes out. I did not use the washers to flush out the less concentrated liquid which in hindsight would have been a good idea.

 

I've filled the tank and tried it again and the washers worked, so it's not the motors that have gone. I've now taken the tank out and there is no sign of dripping, but it's now sat in a sink so I'll leave it for 24 hours to see if it's a very slow leak.

 

As it doesn't appear to be the tank or the motors, I can only think it's the rubber tubes between the two, but this seems unlikely as I would expect them to expand if frozen, not crack. 

 

Does anyone have any other ideas or experienced similar issues? Any idea how tricky it is to replace the rubber tubes if that is the issue? It's in warranty, but I expect Lotus would not pay out as they would attribute the fault to the fluid being too diluted.

 

Thanks

 

 

[The Cakes]

If it’s under warranty just take it back, how would they ever know about the dilution? Just play dumb and let them sort it 👍🏻

[duncx]

Are you sure it's not the little rubber seal (a fancy shaped rubber grommet) that sits between the motor assembly and the bottle? Mine failed and leaked until nearly empty - funny thing is that you couldn't see the leak underneath the bottle, it dripped onto the undertray and made its way out just behind the drivers door Also, you couldnt tell that the grommet/seal was cracked unless you stretched it a bit to check, otherwise the crack just sort of 'self closed'.

I can't remember why I didn't try to buy a genuine Lotus item but I found one of ebay for £2 that was close enough and it fits/works perfectly. Let me know if that's your problem and I will dig out the ebay item for you

[axw820]

1 hour ago, duncx said:

Are you sure it's not the little rubber seal (a fancy shaped rubber grommet) that sits between the motor assembly and the bottle? Mine failed and leaked until nearly empty - funny thing is that you couldn't see the leak underneath the bottle, it dripped onto the undertray and made its way out just behind the drivers door Also, you couldnt tell that the grommet/seal was cracked unless you stretched it a bit to check, otherwise the crack just sort of 'self closed'.

I can't remember why I didn't try to buy a genuine Lotus item but I found one of ebay for £2 that was close enough and it fits/works perfectly. Let me know if that's your problem and I will dig out the ebay item for you

I feel it is something that simple, but don't think it is the seal between the tank and the motor as I left the tank with the motor attached in a sink for 3 days and it didn't leak a drop.

 

Hoping that it was a one off I tried putting the tank back in the car last night but it has completely emptied overnight... Still no idea where it is leaking to as it wasn't on the bottom of the tank.