a Most insignificant Mod
#1
Lubricious
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a Most insignificant Mod
It really bugs me that the windshield washer resevoir is opaque black. Yes, it fits in with my car's yellow/black theme, but dang, who wants to consult a dipstick just to see how much fluid's in the thing?
So, here is my humble modification. Basically just a bit of clear plastic line run from the bottom of the tank to the top to give a "sight glass". The connections with the tank were 90deg 1/4in drip irrigation connectors. They're engineered to work with a specific thickness and compressibility of irrigation pipe, so they don't seal the tank directly. For that I used and adhesive/sealant called "Marine Goop". The connection underneath the tank is actually 2 90deg connectors joined by a short piece of tube, to make it around the sharper bend at the bottom. All of these bits were at the local Home Depot.
I drilled holes just large enough to push the connectors in. Sanded an area around each hole with emery cloth and cleaned. Put a blob of "goop" over the hole and pushed the connector through. Held on with painter's tape while it set. luckily realized that the goop was about to do a wonderful job of sealing the inside openings of the connectors so attached some tubing so I could blow out the passages. After an hour or so removed the tape so that more air could get to it for curing. Everything was pretty solid by the next day.
Removal of the tank is easy. Disconnect the wiring connector at the base of the tank, disconnect the black tubing where it joins a connector on the frame. Remove the 2 10mm bolts at the top of the tank. The tank then just lifts out (the bottom of the tank has a protrusion that fits through a hole in the sheet metal and holds it in place). After assembling the mod, washed the tank out a couple of times to remove any lose shavings from drilling the holes.
I'm curious to see how the "goop" holds up in this application. It's pretty tenacious stuff though. Only concern may be the heat. We'll see. At least now I can see :D
With more effort could probably have found some proper compression fittings/etc
So, here is my humble modification. Basically just a bit of clear plastic line run from the bottom of the tank to the top to give a "sight glass". The connections with the tank were 90deg 1/4in drip irrigation connectors. They're engineered to work with a specific thickness and compressibility of irrigation pipe, so they don't seal the tank directly. For that I used and adhesive/sealant called "Marine Goop". The connection underneath the tank is actually 2 90deg connectors joined by a short piece of tube, to make it around the sharper bend at the bottom. All of these bits were at the local Home Depot.
I drilled holes just large enough to push the connectors in. Sanded an area around each hole with emery cloth and cleaned. Put a blob of "goop" over the hole and pushed the connector through. Held on with painter's tape while it set. luckily realized that the goop was about to do a wonderful job of sealing the inside openings of the connectors so attached some tubing so I could blow out the passages. After an hour or so removed the tape so that more air could get to it for curing. Everything was pretty solid by the next day.
Removal of the tank is easy. Disconnect the wiring connector at the base of the tank, disconnect the black tubing where it joins a connector on the frame. Remove the 2 10mm bolts at the top of the tank. The tank then just lifts out (the bottom of the tank has a protrusion that fits through a hole in the sheet metal and holds it in place). After assembling the mod, washed the tank out a couple of times to remove any lose shavings from drilling the holes.
I'm curious to see how the "goop" holds up in this application. It's pretty tenacious stuff though. Only concern may be the heat. We'll see. At least now I can see :D
With more effort could probably have found some proper compression fittings/etc
#6
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Originally posted by BlueThunder
Very nice. However, I thought the car has a ww light that comes on when it runs out right?
Very nice. However, I thought the car has a ww light that comes on when it runs out right?
I have definitely run out of fluid and have never seen a light.
mm
#8
"...I'm a Dapper Dan man"
They actualy marketed something like that as a fuel level indicator for motorcycles around 20-30 years ago. You removed the fuel line at the petcock and inserted a Tee fitting then you ran the vinyl tube (which had a self adhesive backing to attach it to the tank) up the side of the tank to just about the same level as the gas cap. Worked like a champ! Good to see some one thinking on his feet. Good Job!
#9
"...I'm a Dapper Dan man"
Originally posted by Positron
I think the TPMS light took its place bcs the Canadian cars seem to have a ww light in that place.
I have definitely run out of fluid and have never seen a light.
mm
I think the TPMS light took its place bcs the Canadian cars seem to have a ww light in that place.
I have definitely run out of fluid and have never seen a light.
mm
#10
Originally posted by Rotary Nut
True that is because they have mandated headlight washers in Canada (for HIDa at least) and those headlight washers will eat up fluid. Since we do not get the headlight washers we do not get the idiot light.
True that is because they have mandated headlight washers in Canada (for HIDa at least) and those headlight washers will eat up fluid. Since we do not get the headlight washers we do not get the idiot light.
Washers(HID) stop working before you run out of fluid, saves the last part of the tank for the screen.
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