washer reservoir?

[Xcobra]

It is broken on the 1999 corolla...trying to replace it. I found this website, does it look good enough? or should I just go to a pick'n pull?

 

[Xcobra]

neone?

 

[RU482]

epoxy can do wonders

 

[Xcobra]

it leaks pretty badly though...not a big hole and also, the plastic on top seems to be degrading, getting very crusty...

 

[RU482]

I should elaborate. Go to any hardware/lowes/walmart type store. Find a 5min epoxy. It usually comes in a plunger, as a two part mixture.

Whatever is broken on the washer fluid reservoir (be it a crack, broken tube, ect) you should be able to patch/piece together with this stuff.

the tube has instructions for mixing, and it kinda works like anything you would glue together just make sure iy hold or support the parts for the first couple of min.

give it a day to fully cure before installing back into the car

 

[Xcobra]

ill look into it. cool sig btw

 

[RU482]

there is also car-part.com, similar to the site you quoted

 

[Xcobra]

Can you buy directly from the website?

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: RU482
I should elaborate. Go to any hardware/lowes/walmart type store. Find a 5min epoxy. It usually comes in a plunger, as a two part mixture.

Whatever is broken on the washer fluid reservoir (be it a crack, broken tube, ect) you should be able to patch/piece together with this stuff.

the tube has instructions for mixing, and it kinda works like anything you would glue together just make sure iy hold or support the parts for the first couple of min.

give it a day to fully cure before installing back into the car

This will probably work (JB Weld would be good for this). Although it can be very difficult to get adhesives to stick to HDPE (high density polyethylene) which is likely what that tank is made out of.

Make sure that if you attempt to patch it with epoxy, you clean the tank surface VERY WELL. Rough it up some with some coarse grit sandpaper where the epoxy will go to help with adhesion.

Alternately, you could try using silicone sealant instead of epoxy. This would give some flexibility to the joint while still keeping it sealed (a good thing on an HDPE tank). Cured epoxy by comparison is very rigid and brittle and may simply detach from the surface if it is flexed or jarred.

Good luck with it.

 

[Xcobra]

Originally posted by: Black88GTA

Originally posted by: RU482
I should elaborate. Go to any hardware/lowes/walmart type store. Find a 5min epoxy. It usually comes in a plunger, as a two part mixture.

Whatever is broken on the washer fluid reservoir (be it a crack, broken tube, ect) you should be able to patch/piece together with this stuff.

the tube has instructions for mixing, and it kinda works like anything you would glue together just make sure iy hold or support the parts for the first couple of min.

give it a day to fully cure before installing back into the car

This will probably work (JB Weld would be good for this). Although it can be very difficult to get adhesives to stick to HDPE (high density polyethylene) which is likely what that tank is made out of.

Make sure that if you attempt to patch it with epoxy, you clean the tank surface VERY WELL. Rough it up some with some coarse grit sandpaper where the epoxy will go to help with adhesion.

Alternately, you could try using silicone sealant instead of epoxy. This would give some flexibility to the joint while still keeping it sealed (a good thing on an HDPE tank). Cured epoxy by comparison is very rigid and brittle and may simply detach from the surface if it is flexed or jarred.

Good luck with it.

That is what I was afraid of Black88. The plastic on the reservoir has become very old and has started to stiffen. Im not sure if the epoxy trick will work as it should. They tried putting tape over a crack (due to plastic's brittleness) and there is another crack forming next to that. This does not include the crack where the leak is coming from. It is messed up. Buy new one?

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: Xcobra

Originally posted by: Black88GTA

Originally posted by: RU482
I should elaborate. Go to any hardware/lowes/walmart type store. Find a 5min epoxy. It usually comes in a plunger, as a two part mixture.

Whatever is broken on the washer fluid reservoir (be it a crack, broken tube, ect) you should be able to patch/piece together with this stuff.

the tube has instructions for mixing, and it kinda works like anything you would glue together just make sure iy hold or support the parts for the first couple of min.

give it a day to fully cure before installing back into the car

This will probably work (JB Weld would be good for this). Although it can be very difficult to get adhesives to stick to HDPE (high density polyethylene) which is likely what that tank is made out of.

Make sure that if you attempt to patch it with epoxy, you clean the tank surface VERY WELL. Rough it up some with some coarse grit sandpaper where the epoxy will go to help with adhesion.

Alternately, you could try using silicone sealant instead of epoxy. This would give some flexibility to the joint while still keeping it sealed (a good thing on an HDPE tank). Cured epoxy by comparison is very rigid and brittle and may simply detach from the surface if it is flexed or jarred.

Good luck with it.

That is what I was afraid of Black88. The plastic on the reservoir has become very old and has started to stiffen. Im not sure if the epoxy trick will work as it should. They tried putting tape over a crack (due to plastic's brittleness) and there is another crack forming next to that. This does not include the crack where the leak is coming from. It is messed up. Buy new one?

If it were mine, I'd replace it. A new tank is less than $40, according to the site you posted, so don't bother with a used one. It even includes a new pump!

That said - if you don't have the money, etc. for a new one, then remove the tank, scuff any cracked areas that would need repair with coarse grit sandpaper, and then clean it very well. Maybe even remove the pump and any small removable parts (seals, caps, etc) and toss the tank in the dishwasher.

Once all cleaned up and prepped, put silicone sealant over all of the cracked areas, even the ones that aren't leaking. Apply it to both sides of cracked areas (inside and out), if possible. If the crack is forming along a mold line, put the sealant along the entire mold line just in case. Allow sealant to cure according to directions, then perform a test fill with tap water. If all looks good, drop the pump back in and reinstall it. A tube of silicone sealant is only a few bucks, so you're not out much if it doesn't work.

The good news is, this isn't a "mission critical" component - plus it doesn't have a really tough job in the first place (never sees high pressure, high temperatures, harsh chemicals, etc) so home repairs are not a bad idea in this case. The worst thing that could happen if your repair fails is that the tank cracks again and all of your washer fluid leaks out.

Now, if this were a radiator expansion tank or something similar that served a critical function, I'd replace it without even thinking about it.

**EDIT: I should add, if you do this, get the clear silicone sealant that's designed for indoor / outdoor household use (I've used GE Silicone II in the past). The colored automotive types will work, but it will look terrible.

**EDIT AGAIN: Missed the part where you said they put tape over the crack before. You need to clean any and all gooey tape residue off of the tank surface before trying to fix it. Use Goo Gone or something similar to get the residue off, then clean the surface with rubbing alcohol after that.

 

[Xcobra]

Thanks for all the help Black88. Decided to just order a new one...hopefully the hoses are intact...what should I do about the existing windshield washer fluid?

 

[CRXican]

why do you need one?

 

[Xcobra]

because, like I said, the current one has a crack and is getting brittle. Calls for a new one in my book.