Windscreen Washer Fluid Smelling of Egg

[Jenny]

I recently had my Seat Ibiza serviced at a main dealer garage. It was the first service it has had since I have owned it. I have noticed that, since the service, every time I use the windscreem fluid pump and wipers to clean the screen, a reaaaally bad strong eggy smell is noticable. It is probably worth adding that I have the fans on so I know it is coming in from outside. Does anyone know what may have caused this?

I have done a bit of general searching on the net and a few people have suggested it can be a result of mixing different brands? This is a possibility as I assume the main dealer used the main dealer windscreen washer fluid, whereas the previous owner probably didn't.

Any ideas? Anything I can do, or will it just eventually pass?

 

[matthab]

If it was me theres 2 ways id do it.

1) Let it pass and keep filling it with some hi quality stuff.

2) Pump it all out till its empty and refill it with some good stuff. Even then the smell may stay for abit.

 

[great_kahn]

Hot water into bottle, keep flushing it through, then refill with ready mix.

 

[Jenny]

Thanks for the replies! Do you think it's caused by the mixing of the fluids? I would've thought that they'd fully drain it at the service though. I've bought some VW-Group fluid so I'll try it with that!

 

[techie]

We wont drain it at service. Its usually when the fluid goes stagnent and smells.

Might be worth popping the pump out and flushing it through with boiling water and letting it run out the bottom.

 

[Binz]

had the same on mine after service by official Seat place. I squirted the washers until empty then put in undiluted scented concentrate and topped up with readymix screenwash (both halfords own brand) - smells great now.

 

[HORROX342]

I have also had the exact same problem, followed a few quick steps on this and sorted now

 

[Ibiza Dan]

Havnt had this on my car but have dealt with others.
As said above.

1. Squirt it all out until empty
2. Half fill with warm water and squirt it all through again
3. Refill with a strong mix of screen wash

Job done.

Also there are scented screen washes available if you want to refill with that just incase.

 

[Slimy]

I'm sure there was a BBC news story about most vehicles washer bottles containing legionnaires disease or something. So running it through with hot water would be a good thing.

 

[DEAN0]

My mate used hot water and 6 steritabs ( denture cleaning tablets ) in his washer bottle - worked wonders.

They disolve completely so nothing to clog up the pump.

 

[Rhys_]

I'm sure there was a BBC news story about most vehicles washer bottles containing legionnaires disease or something. So running it through with hot water would be a good thing.

Best way to stop this is just keep your car filled up with screen wash to a good concentration rather than only water, you would only get legionnaires if you kept only water in the washer bottle. Chemicals in the screen wash etc would stop any legionnaires.