Pong life

I wonder if you can advise me about a problem with the screen wash system on our Colt. The car is a 1.5 D-id, 5 door and is now nearly 2 years old and for the last few months we have been getting a strong "rotten eggs" smell from the screen wash whenever we have washer fluid added to the bottle. The Dealer has replaced the bottle under warranty, and whilst we have fresh water only in the reservoir there is no smell. Once a fluid is added (and we have tried 3 different ones, including Mitsubishi's own), after about 3 weeks the smell returns. This seems to percolate through to the air-con as well, so that cooling ourselves in the recent hot weather is a nasty experience. The dealer is at a loss as to why we get the smell and we would value your suggestions. Otherwise, we agree with you that the car is an un-sung gem. Versatile and economic (65mpg overall).

Asked on 18 July 2009 by

Answered by Honest John

I can't understand this, but wonder if the two are unrelated. The smell from the a/c could be from bacteria that grow on moisture in the a/c trunking. Running maximum heat through the trunking usually kills it. But if the smell is picked up from screenwash running back down the screen into the vent well, then the problem is the screenwash, and it could be that some kind of bacteria has got into the tubes. This then reproduces in the screen wash reservoir. So maybe you need to try a disinfectant in the screenwash.

Tags: unpleasant smells technical issues owning

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