Windscreen Washer fluid level warning light - MINI Cooper Forum

Daniel · #1 (**permalink**) May 26th, 2003, 12:12 AM

Just found out that there's no Warning Light to indicate low windscreen washer fluid levels when I ran out of screenwash on a long journey! Needed to top up at nearest garage as I couldnt see a thing out the windscreen!

Apart from my rubbish paint job, this is the most annoying thing i've found with the car so far!

tip · #2 (**permalink**) May 26th, 2003, 12:30 AM

Only having a 2L reservoir for the windscreen wash is ridiculous. A light would be on all the time. The reservoir should be at least 4L, I am sure they could of found a spot in the car somewhere that could accomodate it.

This is one of my pet peeves of the car.

Charles

anthonyyule · #3 (**permalink**) May 26th, 2003, 07:59 PM

i must live on a different planet.

ive never come across, or indeed heard of a car that has a warning light to indicate that you are low on windscreen washer fluid....sounds a bit lazy to me.

maybe there should also be an earlier warning for both low oil, and low engine water levels, and an indication that the battery is not in peak, and oh, another warning light for brake fluid which isnt at the max.

and then there would never be a need again to under the bonnet of our cars,

or we could all buy audi A2's......

northandy · #4 (**permalink**) May 26th, 2003, 08:08 PM

Anthony... my old Nissan Almera had a low washer level warning light !, yeah its lazy !, but in my situation of winter commuting through some bloody dirty roads it is very easy to forget to check it frequently enough !!... although when my MCS turns up i'll be more than to open the bonnet and gaze in wonder at the engine every moment I can

cletus · #5 (**permalink**) May 27th, 2003, 09:06 AM

...as did my Jeep Cherokee. Worse, it's stupidly simple technology, so there's no reason *not* to include it. And it makes more sense than cooling the glove box for the odd sandwich. :-7

MiniMan7 · #6 (**permalink**) May 27th, 2003, 09:09 AM

I mentioned this earlier on Mini2.

I really hate how theres no warning light. In the winter I ran out and had to drive at least a half hour with a dirty windsheild hoping it wouldn't get any dirtier.

stryder · #7 (**permalink**) May 27th, 2003, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by anthonyyule
i must live on a different planet.

ive never come across, or indeed heard of a car that has a warning light to indicate that you are low on windscreen washer fluid....sounds a bit lazy to me.

maybe there should also be an earlier warning for both low oil, and low engine water levels, and an indication that the battery is not in peak, and oh, another warning light for brake fluid which isnt at the max.

and then there would never be a need again to under the bonnet of our cars,

or we could all buy audi A2's......

I imagine you're kidding somewhat, but seriously, an 87 rx-7 I've been in recently has every single one of those. Also has an exhaust overheat, as well as water temp gauge, voltmeter and oil pressure. I may even be forgetting some of the lights, there's two whole banks of them.

If Mazda could put that many idiot lights on a car 15 years ago, its not unreasonable for MINI to do it. Even if you check the fluids everytime you get fuel, you can run into a problem with 400 mile range the cars have. Early warning's not a bad thing.

anthonyyule · #8 (**permalink**) May 27th, 2003, 02:34 PM

i agree, totally, that early warning isnt a bad thing,....but where is the line drawn??

an early warning indicator that your seat bolsters are getting worn,

an early indicator that your tires are wearing (not punctured), so you dont have to bend down to check,

an early warning buzzer that your car *may* soon get dirty and need a clean.

i mean, we are still dealing with a supermini here at the end of the day, which im sure was built to budget, and maybe the guys at BMW thought, right, if we do without this, this and this, then we have more money to spend on this instead. and maybe some of the warning lights which featured on an old 87 mazda are not needed nowadays with the advances on technology.

dont get me wrong guys, im gadget boy through and through, and im well excited about getting a new build with the early wear brake pad indicator, but there are some things, which ive always taken for granted, and i wouldnt have ever expected a warning indicator for them - washer fluid being one. heh.

KenL · #9 (**permalink**) May 27th, 2003, 02:50 PM

Why not carry a bottle of water with you if you're worried about your scooshers running out. I do that in the winter when I'm using them a lot.

anthonyyule · #10 (**permalink**) May 27th, 2003, 04:16 PM

now, you see KenL, ....thats a good idea.
why hadnt i thought of that, when i was driving my old XR2i over the winter, trying to wipe the muck off by leaving the wiper blades going,..which just makes a mess dosent it.

Top tip,..but probably just common sense

dco43054 · #11 (**permalink**) May 27th, 2003, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KenL
Why not carry a bottle of water with you if you're worried about your scooshers running out. I do that in the winter when I'm using them a lot.

Me, too. And my Explorer will swallow about a gallon bottle when empty.

But the point is that there are regularly scheduled maintenance items on a vehicle - like checking the oil even though the light hasn't come on, and checking, or filling the washer fluid is right up there.

No malice or sarcasm intended, just that we all, including me, seem to rely on the "idiot lights" a bit too much these days.

Regards,

Dave

snoopy · #12 (**permalink**) May 27th, 2003, 06:17 PM

A bit OT. Why can’t they build the filler nozzle for the washer bottles so we can fill them thru the side vents instead of having open the bonnet/hood?

Imagine the looks people will give as they start to think MINIs run on water as we are pouring the water it into the engine bay.

northandy · #13 (**permalink**) May 27th, 2003, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by anthonyyule
i mean, we are still dealing with a supermini here at the end of the day, which im sure was built to budget, and maybe the guys at BMW thought, right, if we do without this, this and this, then we have more money to spend on this instead.

You know i'd love to think BMW thought that, but at the end of the day its their product and i'm fairly certain they would do everything possible to maximise profit... why would they make them otherwise ?... a couple of pounds saved producing one car turns into big amounts when you multiply it by the number of cars produced... (maybe i'm just to cynical in my old age !) (or too much of a "bean-counter" )!!

anthonyyule · #14 (**permalink**) May 27th, 2003, 08:23 PM

ok, i suppose i can agree there, northandy, but the principle is the same.
maybe they didnt think if they save there, they can add here,...but im sure (if they even considered it), that it wasnt worth adding an indicator light for the washer bottle, to their most 'budget' supermini car.

i think this thread is starting to show that yup, maybe we should all get under the bonnest once and a while and have a look around to see what is needing topping up, instead of waiting for the impending (and probably too late) warning lights to butt in......

Dark Silver S · #15 (**permalink**) May 27th, 2003, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by snoopy
A bit OT. Why can’t they build the filler nozzle for the washer bottles so we can fill them thru the side vents instead of having open the bonnet/hood?

Imagine the looks people will give as they start to think MINIs run on water as we are pouring the water it into the engine bay.

I used to have an old VW Beetle that had a pressurized windscreen washer. Believe me, I got a lot of strange looks when I would pop the bonnet, add water, and then use the air hose. Seems to me that the gas filler was in there, too.