Windscreen squirters not working...

[Johnny C]

A few days ago I went to work (about 50mins, 40 miles). When I started out the squirters were working fine as usual. After a few miles, the pressure got less and less. By the time I got to work, a measly dribble was coming out. The light wasn't on but I checked the water level anyway (i.e. I topped it up until full), still no joy.

I got home, poked them with a safety pin, then squirted water through a syringe/needle, but on both sides the water came out of the other jet, so the jets aren't blocked.

This morning they let out the measly dribble again for a few seconds and then stopped altogether

It's not the fuse, or they'd have just stopped completely.

I checked the hose going up into the bonnet, there's no kinks in it.

So it's either the tank outlet is blocked or else the motor's gone. Any ideas as to how I can check each of those options, and are there other possibilities I haven't thought of?

I don't use propietary screen wash as they dry white on the windscreen (all the motorway salt mixing in maybe) and I spend half the journey washing the smears from the last wash off,. I mix Clearalex powder with water and 10-20% meths at this time of year which leaves no residue.

How much of a job is it to replace the motor if that's gone? I'm a fairly incompetent DIY-er, and I have no garage which isn't pleasant at this time of year. Would I be best taking it into 9M?

 

[Johnny C]

PS, the option of using the headlight squirters as a stopgap didn't work - the headlight squirters only ever worked when they feel like it. Fine on Monday going home, but they decided yesterday morning that they'd done enough for a while and haven't worked since except a sudden blast this morning which lasted half a second

 

[ubertub]

You've just reminded me that my washers have never worked and it's probably time I looked at this problem myself...
As far as I remember the pump is fixed into the washer bottle with a rubber seal. (but I may have drempt this)Then just the two wires to the motor and you're away. The tank is inside the front N/S wheelarch on my car, behind the headlamp. I presume it's the same on yours. If I get around to it before you I'll post again... if not I'll bug you to see how you did it. Chances are I'll have grown a beard before I get on with it...
good luck.
mik.

 

[sspunny]

Got any pictures of your Mk1Golf20vTurboproject?

 

[Mark Elder]

Johnny,
Fact that you sometimes get some water out makes me think it can't be pump- but you have not mentioned being able to hear the pump. Pump sound very obvious with my car. Maybe there is something stuck in it.

You can see it right behind the headlight, but not sure if you'd be able to get it out from that route.

 

[Johnny C]

I can't hear the pump, and I'm sure I used to be able to. I saw it behind the light last time I was in there. Very fiddly!

 

[zrcg1]

I'd be interested to hear the outcome of this....... my squirters packed up around the same time as yours (how bizarre), with exactly the same symptoms. Sometimes a dribble, sometimes nothing.

 

[silver7]

I had this problem, turned out to be the small bore hose that the water runs through. The hose that runs inside the boonet to the jets over time ( with age) gets kinked and blocks flow. I ordered new hose through porsche (about £3 for 2 metres) and changed it. Easy job, took 30-45 mins. The problem I had was with the right hand jet (drivers side on RHD), the way the hose is routed means that it actually has to some back on itself which is where is kinks and blocks flow

Hope this helps

 

[jr2015]

Hi, Don`t know which model you`re referring to, but I`ve sorted a similar problem on several cars by looking for a pipe connector in the near vicinity of the tank, disconnecting it and attaching an electric tyre pump to the pipe back to the tank using the airbed adapter and blowing air back through the pump.If your tank is full it`ll overflow so either partially empty it or surround it with rags to catch the overspill.If there`s anything blocking the pump this should clear it.Screenwash can turn to jelly if its left in the tank for a long time causing the problem.Emptying and cleaning the tank may be necessary.
regards,
jr.

 

[M030]

Remove the left side headlight and then you can access the pump.
Check if you have 12V.
If so, the pump might be blocked .
Remove the pump and rotate the axle via the intake with a small screwdriver till it turns free again.