Windscreen washers

Guest · Dec 13, 2006

Well I spent the afternoon fumbling around trying to get my windscreen washers working.
Managed to disconnect and plug the pipe to the headlamp washers so I can now fill the reservoir without it all leaking out through the headlamp washer jets.
All wiring to the reservoir pumps looks OK but when I try washing the windscreen I cannot hear the washer pump running.
I have checked the fuse and it's good.
Is there anything else electrical such as a relay I should check? - seems strange that both washer pumps should stop together.
Don't really want to have to remove the reservoir to sort things as it looks like you need to remove the headlamp motor and coil to get it out.
All help appreciated.... MoT looming on saturday.

random hero · Dec 13, 2006

This happened on my old 84 lux and it turned out to be the column stalk that was faulty !!

dlknight · Dec 14, 2006

Hi Steve,

Have you tried disconnecting all of the plumbing apart from the line which goes from the pump into the reservoir? And then checking if it works? If so its probably one or more of the non-return valves that are attached along the way to the washer jets.

Check the hose that goes into the reservoir as it has a small filter on the end and can get clogged up with the gunk that is in windscreen wash (this happened on mine). Also I have had the pump itself fail after getting clogged up with the same gunk (it was wrapped around the impellor).

Halfords stock the non-return valves and they may also have the filters and a suitable pump (although the non-return valves only seem to last a year at most).

Cheers

Dave K.

pauljmcnulty · Dec 14, 2006

My tube had a kink in it, which was somewhat restricting the flow of water - to the point where it became a useless dribble. [&:]

There was definately noise from the pump, though, so I knew it had to be a blockage.

Guest · Dec 14, 2006

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
Nothing looks blocked and even if so I would have thought you would still hear the pump running.
Dave I would love to check the pumps but it seems a major operation just to get at them, especially the one to the windscreen - can't reach them with the reservoir still in the car.

Guest · Dec 14, 2006

Yeah, you should defo hear the motor running. Try running an alternative feed from somewhere. Maybe even direct from the battery. two long bits of wire, positive and earth, if it works then you'll at least know it's the wiring/fuse/relay. If it doesn't run, you'll be wanting a new motor.