Windshield washer fluid reservoir. 2013 LT

[2013 Blue Topaz LT]

The neck of the reservoir comes off to allow servicing/replacing the driver's side headlights.

Mine leaks right through if filled over the bottom of the reservoir neck, quite a disappointment to find another poor, cheap engineering flaw.

I may have to "fix" it by keeping the fluid level well below the bottom of the reservoir neck, I will also ask the dealership to take a look when I go in for my first service, it has a rubber band inside that perhaps can be replaced by a thicker one and hopefully create the seal necessary to stop this leak.

 

[ColonelPanic]

I have been in the habit of filling the washer fluid up to the top of the filler neck for as long as these fancy hidden washer fluid reservoirs with the really long necks have been around. Apparently that is a bad habit with this car.

I don't think it used to leak but now it does. I filled it to the top last week and had a puddle of washer fluid under the car a few hours later. I suppose the extra fluid doesn't really make that much of a difference and I top it off anyway during my weekly obsessive vehicle checks so I'm not going to run out. I guess I just need to be more careful and not let it get into the neck. opcorn:

The manual does warn about filling the reservoir too full in freezing weather, but it mentions nothing about bringing the level up to the neck.

 

[Palmaris]

I thought the neck came off so that you could see how full the liquid was inside!

Its nice to know its real purpose. Either way, your going to have to be careful with it for now.

 

[2013 Blue Topaz LT]

Yeah, you guys are right.

The manual does say to fill up to 3/4 only in expected freezing temps (10-20 Vehicle care) otherwise no further specifics are mentioned.
They ought to add not to reach the neck of the reservoir. There is something really unnerving seeing a brand new car leaking like that!!! Even if it's just windshield washer fluid.

Wont fill up the neck again, case closed!

 

[Tango71]

I had to bring this thread back from the dead as I just got the most hilarious story from my dealer. Ok so our new factory ordered Sonic LTZ 1.4T 6M finally arrived. Since I'm at work about 3 hours from home I got the wife to find out when it's going to be ready. The dealership told her that it's going to be another week as the windshield washer reservoir neck is leaking and it will take a week for the new one to arrive. I was shocked but something told me to research this and that is when I came across this thread.

I called the salesman back and told him about this, off course he said he had to double check this with his technicians as it was news to him and he's never heard of it before, go figure. I'm thinking at this point, sure don't trust the ex military fighter jet technician. Then I thought ok these guys deal with trucks 90% of the time and maybe sold three sonics including mine (I live in a very small town)"Ok sure I said", so I'm expecting a call back to either myself or my wife with a "hey you were right!" Haha. I'll keep ya guys updated.

Needless to say I can't wait to try out the new ride!