Wiper fluid reservoir vent line flaw

5143 Views 14 Replies 8 Participants Last post by kabalah70, Feb 4, 2012

kabalah70

Discussion Starter · Feb 1, 2012

I mentioned elsewhere that I thought I had my fist glitch when my Wiper Fluid Low incon illuminated during a drive. I checked it and sure enough it was low. The tank is really not very visible, so I will be relying on the indicator to let me know when to add fluid. What probably caused the problem in the first place is that the vent line, visible by leaning over the car and looking back under the fender and slightly rearward. The tip from the reservoir that the vent line goes onto is vertical, the line was way longer than it needs to be and needs to bend to hook to the side of the filler port at a horizontal angle. This created a kink in the line. So, when one goes to fill it, it appears that the filler port backs up quickly and you are full. Bad design.

(Fisker Representatives: pay attention, this is for you)
A simple fix would be to have an L-fitting placed directly above the reservoir tip with enough tubing to seal between the two, then a straight horizontal shot to the filler cap tip. There would be no way to kink the line with this config. Something like the little guy on the right in this pic:

I am hoping Fisker does this, because I don't want to have to do it myself and void the warranty. Considering the warning Fisker put in the Owner's Manual about the possible damage that washer fluid can cause, the fact that the reservoir does not fill right, causing it to spill all over the place, is definitely a flaw and should be fixed by Fisker. Because if they don't fix it, and I have a component damaged by washer fluid and they say it was negligence on my part, and therefore not covered under warranty, I will have the documentation (my e-mails to them) that I alerted them to the problem and they decided not to fix it. I'm not saying, I'm just saying. ;-)

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Fabulist

· #2 · Feb 1, 2012

kabalah70 said:
I mentioned elsewhere that I thought I had my fist glitch when my Wiper Fluid Low incon illuminated during a drive. I checked it and sure enough it was low. The tank is really not very visible, so I will be relying on the indicator to let me know when to add fluid. What probably caused the problem in the first place is that the vent line, visible by leaning over the car and looking back under the fender and slightly rearward. The tip from the reservoir that the vent line goes onto is vertical, the line was way longer than it needs to be and needs to bend to hook to the side of the filler port at a horizontal angle. This created a kink in the line. So, when one goes to fill it, it appears that the filler port backs up quickly and you are full. Bad design.

(Fisker Representatives: pay attention, this is for you)
A simple fix would be to have an L-fitting placed directly above the reservoir tip with enough tubing to seal between the two, then a straight horizontal shot to the filler cap tip. There would be no way to kink the line with this config. Something like the little guy on the right in this pic:

I am hoping Fisker does this, because I don't want to have to do it myself and void the warranty. Considering the warning Fisker put in the Owner's Manual about the possible damage that washer fluid can cause, the fact that the reservoir does not fill right, causing it to spill all over the place, is definitely a flaw and should be fixed by Fisker. Because if they don't fix it, and I have a component damaged by washer fluid and they say it was negligence on my part, and therefore not covered under warranty, I will have the documentation (my e-mails to them) that I alerted them to the problem and they decided not to fix it. I'm not saying, I'm just saying. ;-)

Is it possible to fill it up with plain water instead of washer fluid until the problem is corrected?

-- Fab.

kabalah70

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 2, 2012

Anything is possible, but not necessarily advisable, especially in a sub-zero environment. My dealer said he would forward the info to Fisker. As I said before, definitely something they should fix, nuff said.[hr]
Found a better source and pricing:

http://www.fastfittings.com/plastic-union-elbow

A fix that would cost Fisker $1.50 tops plus 5 minutes of labor (which probably is a minimum of 1/2 hour charge, but I am not sure how that works between the dealer and HQ) to pull the line measure, cut, insert the union elbow and reconnect the ends.

bestia27

· #4 · Feb 2, 2012

kabalah70 said:
Anything is possible, but not necessarily advisable, especially in a sub-zero environment. My dealer said he would forward the info to Fisker. As I said before, definitely something they should fix, nuff said.[hr]
Found a better source and pricing:

http://www.fastfittings.com/plastic-union-elbow

A fix that would cost Fisker $1.50 tops plus 5 minutes of labor (which probably is a minimum of 1/2 hour charge, but I am not sure how that works between the dealer and HQ) to pull the line measure, cut, insert the union elbow and reconnect the ends.

We are working on a fix already, actually very similar to what you describe above with the L-fitting. I'm still trying to figure out the logistics of how this is going to be modified on cars already out in the field.

Fabulist

· #5 · Feb 2, 2012

bestia27 said:
We are working on a fix already, actually very similar to what you describe above with the L-fitting. I'm still trying to figure out the logistics of how this is going to be modified on cars already out in the field.

Hello. By "We" do you mean Fisker?

-- Fab.

kabalah70

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 3, 2012

I am guessing so by reference of how they plan on fixing it for cars in the field, for which I have a simple answer. You send the parts and instructions to all the dealers. Once they are ready to execute. You send and e-mail, call the owner, etc and let them know "Hey, we have discovered an issue regarding the washer fluid reservoir vent line that may make filling it very difficult and messy, please call and schedule with your local Fisker dealer to have this issue fixed with a simple 10 minute procedure."

LonePalmBJ

· #7 · Feb 3, 2012

kabalah70 said:
I am guessing so by reference of how they plan on fixing it for cars in the field, for which I have a simple answer. You send the parts and instructions to all the dealers. Once they are ready to execute. You send and e-mail, call the owner, etc and let them know "Hey, we have discovered an issue regarding the washer fluid reservoir vent line that may make filling it very difficult and messy, please call and schedule with your local Fisker dealer to have this issue fixed with a simple 10 minute procedure."

... and the media will pounce on this with breathless headlines like:

FISKER'S THIRD RECALL IN TWO MONTHS TO FIX A POTENTIALLY DAMAGING LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SOLYNDRA! SOLYNDRA! SOLYNDRA! (Obama is the devil)

Sorry, but the preposterous media reaction to the relatively benign issues early owners have faced makes me itch.

Brent

(p.s. I know that "benign" doesn't mean "not frustrating"

)

Brent

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Fabulist

· #8 · Feb 3, 2012

kabalah70 said:
I am guessing so by reference of how they plan on fixing it for cars in the field, for which I have a simple answer. You send the parts and instructions to all the dealers. Once they are ready to execute. You send and e-mail, call the owner, etc and let them know "Hey, we have discovered an issue regarding the washer fluid reservoir vent line that may make filling it very difficult and messy, please call and schedule with your local Fisker dealer to have this issue fixed with a simple 10 minute procedure."

Actually, since we are all heading back to dealers to get 6.14 when it is released, they can just do it at the same time. But speaking of windshields, has anyone else noticed how tiny the wipers are on this car? They barely clean half the glass. I am going to see if I can fit a longer wiper on the driver's side so that I don't have to duck down when it rains.

-- Fab.

dennis

· #9 · Feb 3, 2012

Fabulist said:
Actually, since we are all heading back to dealers to get 6.14 when it is released, they can just do it at the same time. But speaking of windshields, has anyone else noticed how tiny the wipers are on this car? They barely clean half the glass. I am going to see if I can fit a longer wiper on the driver's side so that I don't have to duck down when it rains.

I noticed it as well and lowered my seat the first day it rained. I don't think in will be possible to fit a longer wiper on the driver's side because it is already almost touching the passenger side wiper when in the rest position.

SoCalGuy

· #10 · Feb 3, 2012

Guys, you're not supposed to drive the Karma in the rain. It says so in the owner's manual.

Fabulist

· #11 · Feb 3, 2012

SoCalGuy said:
Guys, you're not supposed to drive the Karma in the rain. It says so in the owner's manual.

Why? Is it made of sugar?

-- Fab.

SoCalGuy

· #12 · Feb 3, 2012

Fabulist said:
SoCalGuy said:

Guys, you're not supposed to drive the Karma in the rain. It says so in the owner's manual.

Click to expand...

Why? Is it made of sugar?

-- Fab.

No, but that's a feature Fisker designed for the 2013 model year =)

Sigurd

· #13 · Feb 3, 2012

Fabulist said:
SoCalGuy said:

Guys, you're not supposed to drive the Karma in the rain. It says so in the owner's manual.

Click to expand...

Why? Is it made of sugar?

-- Fab.

No, but it's sweet!

siliconkiwi

· #14 · Feb 3, 2012

Driving in the rain is supposed to be fixed in 6.13.never ;-)

kabalah70

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 4, 2012

Just Rain-X it. Then you don't need wipers.

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