Washer & Overflow Reservoirs Flaking/Deteriorating

[ARCHINSTL]

Who else has experienced this? Both tanks are showing the crazing and flaking and the washer tank in particular has a "top layer" of the plastic missing. I'm hesitant to poke them for fear of perforation. Note that this seems to be only on their tops - the sides seem to be OK.
Any comments on how to "conserve" them? I thought about Bondo, but I'm sure that would be messy, even with care. The Bondo Glass I just used on the fender (thread on this later) has fibreglass threads, but is hairy and goopy and difficult to apply smoothly - let alone sand.
Any other suggestions? Some kind of clear/translucent plastic that can be "layered on?"
Does anyone know if other Toys of that era use the identical Siamesed reservoirs?
Thanks,
Tom M.

Left-click to enlarge - sorry about the crummy pix - they kept reflecting the flash.

[tercel4wdrules]

Who else has experienced this?

I have in multiple Tercels. I wonder what could help them stay together? Usually the ones that I've seen at the yards aren't that much better than the ones that I have. Also, I've noticed that the arrangement of the reservoirs is different on the Tercels that don't have the rear window wiper. I just thought I would point that out.

[Petros]

That kind of thing happens to sun exposed plastic, odd it is in the engine compartment, perhaps the heat caused it. Never seen it on a car in the PNW. I can find you good ones if need be, but I will double check, I likely have one or two in boxes of old Tercel parts in my garage.

There is no way to save it. I have some really old but expensive ski boots that started cracking, the plastic gets brittle and large pieces break off. I did some research to see if there was a way of chemically treating it to restore it. No such luck, with plastic there is a slow chemical break down that occurs as it ages. It is chemically altered as it ages, the car restoring folks just paint over crazed and cracking plastic, okay for trim but not for ski boots.

Think some kind of toxic chemical may have been spilled on them to cause that?

I think there are plenty around here I can find you if you want to replace them.

[ARCHINSTL]

Well - Goldie lived 20 years in Nashville and then 6 so far in STL; neither are HOT like the SWST.
Nothing dramatically debilitating has spilled on them, at least to my knowledge. I guess it was from the heat in the engine bay.
I must confess I don't know how long this flaking has been going on - I only noticed it tonight when I was splicing washer pump wires (I have the OE rear motor hooked to the front squirts and the OE front motor to the hatch; the former pump is much stronger than the latter).
I guess I'll Look at HD tomorrow for some kind of coating and if nothing is found, will try the Bondo procedure.

Thanks for the offers - I may take you up on that. Incidentally, it might not be a bad idea for you to scavenge these guys, as it seems a lot of us are in the same boat.
Tom M.

[Petros]

I know I have at least one good one in my garage, I found it this morning looking for your grab handle (could not find it, so I may go to the j-yard).