Bizarre windscreen washer failure - please advise...!!!

[Phil B]

Hi guys

Just driving home from work and tried to clear the bugs from the windscreen - no washer fluid. So popped the bonnet when I got home to top her up (was a bit confused that I hadn't had the warning from the car) to find the rubber tubes running into the washer jets are ripped into about five pieces, and there's washer fluid all over the engine bay. It's been a pretty hot day today and the car (JCW) does run hot, so winder whether this has dramatically softened the rubber, but this is the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. They look like they've been cut with a knife on the diagonal, but this is impossible as no-one but me ever goes near the car. I wondered whether an animal had crawled under the bonnet and had a go at them also, but this would be very unusual. So, I'm left thinking that maybe the rubber was a duff batch and the washer pressure has just burst them simultaneously in a few places (maybe the holes have become a bit caked as I haven't used the washers in a few weeks).

This is an utter mystery to me - will take her to the dealer here tomorrow, but does anyone have a similar experience or any ideas what might have happened?

Many thanks



Phil

[Phil B]

OK - no replies from you guys so probably as confused as me, but I've done some asking around here and the general consensus is that they've been eaten by a pine marten (like a weasel or stoat and you do see them nocking around here at night) - they climb under the bonnet and feast on the rubber they find under there and apparently have a penchant for BMW rubber......off to the dealer for a double check and will post the outcome here. If true, this should be a warning to anyone in middle Europe - apparently, it's not an uncommon experience......in Switzerland, they offer special insurance for this to protect your no-claims!!!

[Phil B]

Confirmed - eaten by critters. 11 Euros later and problem solved. Now need to get some anti-critter spray to daub my engine bay. Thankfully, it could have been much worse - I've got mates here who've had brake lines, fuel lines and HT leads eaten by the little buggars. Mini even sell a kit that they fit in the engine bay at high cost which emits a high pitched pulse to scare them away. You have been warned.......

[mella yella fella]

probably rats or mice, i've seen plenty of cases in the past of chewed rubber, usually coolant pipes and the soft rubber that sometimes protects them.
strangest thing i've ever seen though, was an air filter box full of nuts,presumeably stored by a very brave squirrell!!

[DaFlake]

I was going to suggest martin when I saw this. The guys are sneaky and can get into tight areas. They trashed a few things on my wife's car when we were in Germany.