Help with a leaking windshield washer tank?

[softwareguy]

Never owned a 7 series before. Just bought a very well maintained 88 735IL but the WW tank (driver's side) just pours out the bottom when you fill it. It doesn't look cracked so my guess is a hose off on the bottom. Is this as easy to get out as it look? Any tips? This newbie thanks you oh learned ones.

[lincolnmaster80]

It's the huge connector at the bottom...there is a seal inside kind of dries out and cracks, believe it or not.

It might also be the hoses themselves. The heat in the engine compartment takes it's toll on them and they become hard and brittle, so the crack might be in the line some where.

If you have headlight washers, there's also a tank for those somewhere near the bumper so this might be leaking...

[softwareguy]

Thanks much for the quick response. Anything I need to be really careful of pulling this thing out? It appears pretty straightforward but famous last words....
Haven't gotten my hands on a manual yet as I literally just got the car.

[lincolnmaster80]

Well, you are lucky in the sence that you have much more room in your engine compartment to work with...unlike my V12, just getting the spark plugs is a 45 minute ordeal...and that's just taking the old ones out, nevermind getting the new ones in.

But it is pretty straigh forward. The tank is basically held in place by one bolt, which on mine is located on the top. The bottom connector is a huge quick connect...if your washer fluid tank is full...plan on buying a new jug of washer fluid as it will all leak out.

There are two tanks on my set up...a "normal wash" and an "intensive wash" tank...my washer fluid and lines are also heated. There is one connector at the front of the tank for the washer fluid level Check Control in your dash.

It took a while for me to fill up, but my tank would contantly drain...if you have the headlight washers, the tank for that takes a long time to fill up...believe me, I seemed to go through 5 jugs of washer fluid before mine stopped...mind you, I did take the tank out a few hundred times trying to fix my miss idle (which is now sorted), so maybe I managed to reseat one of the hoses just right...

Try following the lines if you can and see where they go...some will go into oblivion (and there's lots of things that run into oblivion on these cars).

Over all, I think you will be very happy with the car. It might take a bit, but if you are a do-it-yourselfer, it makes the car that much worth while...

Any questions, we're more than happy to answer!

[softwareguy]

Thanks again for the help. I really appreciate it.
I'm pretty much a DIY'er so I will have plenty questions. I've owned 3 series cars before but this thing a real piece of work. Searching the posts, I can see that all the little things (torqued seats, funky OBC, etc.) are going to keep me busy. The guy that owned this appears to have been a fanatic about PM so nothing major wrong with it. Bone stock but very pretty inside and out. Pictures soon ;-)