Heated washer jets - fact or fiction

[Guest]

I thought I read in the literature somewhere, that the washer jets were supposed to be heated. (I think they put a wire in the pipe.)
For 6 out of the last 7 days the jets have been frozen for the first 30 mins of driving.
I'm talking about the screen jets, not the headlights, which I did not try.

Did I image it all, or is the screen wash solution as delivered by the OPC too weak to avoid freezing solid.
Do you guys see the same?

It's getting serviced in 2 weeks, so I'll ask anyway.

 

[Elliot Davies]

Dont they only work with the rear window/mirrors switched on Stuart ?
That was the norm in my other cars

 

[Mark_Bennett]

I think they are heated all the time - I had to have one replaced as the element overheated and melted the nozzle.
As I don't have a heated rear window I have never used that switch (I know it heats the mirrors as well, but I don't think I've ever needed them[])

 

[Guest]

Dont they only work with the rear window/mirrors switched on Stuart ?

I don't know. The rear window tends not to mist up much, and the frost is melted off with a minute or so (since it is too efficient?).
In this time it didn't seem to affect the jets.

I can't try now, since it has warmed up. I'll ask at the OPC next weekend, although it's possible they may not know either, so I may have resort to some trial and error.

 

[Diver944]

Stuart I'm sure you've done this but just in case []

Have you checked the manual? My 1989 cars have heated washer jets and they are on whenever the ignition is on (well the drivers side is, the passenger sides have packed in - something else on the maintenance list [] )

 

[Guest]

That's what I expected, but if it is the case, then they don't work, since I have to have the ignition on (and driving about) for 30 mins.
I need to check the user manual more carefully, but I don't remember seeing it, since I think I read it had them listed on a feature spec list, rather than in the manual. I haven't the time to look.

 

[garyw]

I have had the same problem, the rear screen was on and after about 30 minutes the water did start to trickle through, whether this was down to the heated jets or not I have no idea. This was when the car was pretty new so it may have been a weak mixture of washer fluid frozen in the pipes, Not even getting to the jets.
garyw

 

[Guest]

I've just checked the manual.
Unless it is hidden, there is no mention of them being heated. Perhaps I dreamt it.
The manual just mentions to change the mixture in the winter and to follow the instructions on the bottle.

 

[garyw]

Stuart, you didn't dream it, as per 911 Turbo brochure;
Electrical system;
"Front windscreen washer system with two wiper speeds, intermittent wipe and heated washer jets"

garyw