After I had driven the car today for a short journey, on the drivers side by the front bumper there was a pool of washer fluid- well, I am pretty sure it's washer fluid. It was dripping down the bumper by the wheel arch at the front and had collected inside the bumper. Is this just a washer fluid leak? Or is there something more sinister?

 

The bottle had needed topped up more quickly than I thought, so hopefully that is all it is. My car has the fluid bottle at the back on the passenger's side- you have to open the boot to fill it. That's not the same as UK cars I don't think. I just don't understand why it's coming out where it is- I can see the small hoses going up to the bonnet, but there does not seem to be any wetness around the engine bay at all.

 

Any ideas? Anyone experienced this problem (??) and is it a pain to find the leak and replace the hose.

Just underneath the front drivers side plastic wheel arch liner, there is a second washer pump!! which boosts up the water flow on its way to the windcreen washers, if you turn the wheel out of the way, (although might be easier if it's off) you can access this with removal of a few screws, bet you've got a hose come loose off this, or pump body has started to leak!!

 

Paul N

Many thanks. I will have a look at the workshop manual and see what I can do myself, although I am about to have it serviced anyway. At first I worried that it was engine coolant, but when the initial panic was over I realised that it must be washer fluid!!

 

Thanks- it's obviously a well hidden away part.