Washer jets

[Guest]

One of my windscreen washer jets has packed up. No prizes for guessing which one []

First of all when I looked at it I noticed that the pipe had a kink in it. So I replaced that, but it made no difference. Then I checked the nozzles were clear with a pin, and they are. Then I blew some air through it with an air compressor, and I'm getting air through no problem. But when I connect it up again, I get nothing.

I've taken it off to have a look at it, and there are 2 wires leading to it. Now I had always assumed that they were for some sort of heating element to prevent them freezing up in the winter, but I'm beginning to think that they might be something a bit more clever (and a bit broken).

I've searched all over the place and can't find anywhere that sells replacement jets.

Anybody got any ideas? I drive the car every day, so I need to get it sorted out ASAP.

Cheers

James

 

[Fen]

Swap with the passenger one to test? I thought the wires were for heating also (and I still do), but I can't think what else to say except is there a split or something in the line between the failed washer and the pint they separate that is letting the fluid (or even just the pressure) escape more easily than forcing water out of the jets? Perhaps the compressed air has enough volume to mask the leak

 

[Fred Hindle]

It could possibly be a blockage in the 'T' joint where the two jets join the pipe from the resevoir. This also contains a non return valve.

Cheers,

 

[Guest]

Hi Fen,

Those were my first thoughts too. The problems are:

1) The wires leading to the jets are loomed, and won't reach if the jets are swapped.
2) The driver side jet branches off the feeder line first, and there is only a very short piece of pipe between the feeder pipe and the jet (which is the bit that had a kink in and which I have replaced). If there was a lek leading to it, the passenger jet would also be suffering from the same problem of redusced pressure.

There doesn't appear to be a leak in the jet itself. I'm not seeing any water around it.

It's very frustrating. A washer jet has got to be the simplest thing on the whole car, and I've spent about 2 or 3 hours fiddling with the damned things so far.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: Fred Hindle

It could possibly be a blockage in the 'T' joint where the two jets join the pipe from the resevoir. This also contains a non return valve.

Cheers,

Excellent. You know, that could very possibly be the problem. I didn't realise there was a non return valve in the T piece. I'll take it off and have a look tonight.

Thanks

James

 

[Fen]

Can you unplug the wiring and see if the passenger one still works to eliminate that? I wonder if there is a little bit of crud somwhere that causes a restriction in the driver's side and the path of least resistance is all fluid out the passenger side, but again that the compressed air had enough volume that the passenger side couldn't bleed it off quickly enough and the air managed to pass the restriction. As Fred says there is a non-return valve which could have a "bit" in it.

 

[Mikie_gb]

They are heated. I bought a spare set from design 911 which I am yet to fit.

http://www.design911.co.uk/index.htm?Region=UK

£24 each.

 

[eitnurg]

Definitely check that non-return valve -- had the same problem once, and it was the culprit. I simply removed it (fading memory says that I maybe had to juggle around a bit with spare bits of pipe to bridge the gap), lack of it causes no problems - it still squirts instantly when required, & doesn't drain back (presumably a feature needed by the heater element).

 

[Diver944]

That reminds me.

I removed my blocked non-return valve about 5 years ago. I really must get round to replacing it (not that it has made any difference in the meantime [])

 

[Fred Hindle]

I slight delay in the water squirting onto the screen if it is anything like my 924s, but you can live with it...it fact we both have. Should we get stop watches and compare delay times?[]

 

[Siggy]

If you remove the pipe does water spray out?

Dave

 

[944cab]

o

 

[Hilux]

They are heated

What switches them on?

 

[Diver944]

According to my handbook they are on as soon as the ignition is switched on

 

[eitnurg]

By chance I may have come up with a solution to the Washer Jet Woes..........replace the wipers with those from a Renault.

I have long suffered from washer jets that repeatedly clog up & never hit the screen in the same place twice - it's years since I last had all 4 work together. Today I was replacing the wipers on our works hack - a 1998 Renault Master - on which the washers terminate on jets attached to the wiper arm, and which are included with replacement blades. They squirt 4 nicely spaced jets in right in front of each blade - and if they clog up, you get a new one with a new blade...........all of a sudden things started to look familiar, & I thought I would see if they fitted the 44.

Hey presto, they do. They're 120mm longer, but they don't clash and the swept area is all within the screen. Maybe shorter ones are available, dunno........2 extra lengths of tubing and it would seem that you have an uncle called Robert........

 

[Diver944]

Pics please []

Do the rubber pipes chaff against the rear lip of the bonnet, do they look unsightly, how much are these replacement blades?

 

[eitnurg]

Pics maybe tomorrow, it's pi$$ing down at the moment.........Renault p/n 7701051902, 600mm wiper blade, 18.59 + vat. Additional length black rubber tube, black cable tie to attach it to the arm, very unobtrusive. There seems to be ample room under the rear edge of the bonnet for it to wiggle about without chafing on anything.

 

[robwright]

Yes your washer jets should be heated. Have you or someone else been mixing grades or makes of screenwash? If you do this they can react and sludge up in the tank.

 

[AntB]

ORIGINAL: robwright

Yes your washer jets should be heated.  Have you or someone else been mixing grades or makes of screenwash?  If you do this they can react and sludge up in the tank.

Ah interesting,

How is the heat enabled?? or are they always on?

As for mix - erm - possible I guess - but thats never effected our other car.. Interesting tho, will check that out.. maybe when its empty some hot water in the tank may help?

 

[robwright]

I thought they came on with demister/mirrors but not the case. They are always on. As for tank water & bleach mixture, flush it several times through the jets having let it sit for a while. Then flush the whole system with a couple of tanks of clean water. Note to all stick to one grade/make of screenwash. I use winter grade all year round. Probably because I have hundreds of litres of it at work []