windshield washer nozzles broken?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,413
Likes: 8
From: San Diego, CA
windshield washer nozzles broken?
My windshield washers don't work (no spray).
I've pulled out the headlight, and the pump, ensured it pumped (spraying my friend that was helping me in the face while I worked the safe end, the steering column stalk... Mildly humorous, however.
) I get water all the way up into the hood water fittings. So its pretty much narrowed down to the nozzles.
I've poked the nozzles with a sewing needle to try and clean them out, but they seemed fairly clean. Is there a better way to clear them? More aggressive needling? Soaking in _____??? Or are they just dead?
Such a simple question, I figured it would have been answered, so I searched, to no avail.... Argh!!! Stumped on my first "this should be easy" DIY project...
Thanks, in advance, for the help!
I've pulled out the headlight, and the pump, ensured it pumped (spraying my friend that was helping me in the face while I worked the safe end, the steering column stalk... Mildly humorous, however.
) I get water all the way up into the hood water fittings. So its pretty much narrowed down to the nozzles.I've poked the nozzles with a sewing needle to try and clean them out, but they seemed fairly clean. Is there a better way to clear them? More aggressive needling? Soaking in _____??? Or are they just dead?
Such a simple question, I figured it would have been answered, so I searched, to no avail.... Argh!!! Stumped on my first "this should be easy" DIY project...
Thanks, in advance, for the help!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,413
Likes: 8
From: San Diego, CA
ARRGGHHH !!!
A simple (yet VERY annoying) explanation for the washer failure.... The hoses in the hood were hooked up incorrectly when the car was put back together following its repaint last year by the PO. I'm guessing since we are in SoCal, he would have never used the washers, so never noticed they didn't work.
For others future reference, there are two one way valves going the the two nozzles. Driver's side is a T-fitting (with a pass through to the passenger side) and passenger side is a straight through. There is a little arrow showing the proper direction of water flow on the valves....this was my clue....after disassembling the entire system and testing all along the way and soaking the nozzles in vinegar, it was this simple screwup. Bummer I didn't notice earlier...argh!
Got is all back together and tested it.... Only to find that the cable/zip ties I used to hold the hoses to the fittings were not adequate under pressure and leak like a sieve. So it will be back to the auto parts store to find some better clamps next weekend. Originals were squeeze-on clamps.
A simple (yet VERY annoying) explanation for the washer failure.... The hoses in the hood were hooked up incorrectly when the car was put back together following its repaint last year by the PO. I'm guessing since we are in SoCal, he would have never used the washers, so never noticed they didn't work.
For others future reference, there are two one way valves going the the two nozzles. Driver's side is a T-fitting (with a pass through to the passenger side) and passenger side is a straight through. There is a little arrow showing the proper direction of water flow on the valves....this was my clue....after disassembling the entire system and testing all along the way and soaking the nozzles in vinegar, it was this simple screwup. Bummer I didn't notice earlier...argh!
Got is all back together and tested it.... Only to find that the cable/zip ties I used to hold the hoses to the fittings were not adequate under pressure and leak like a sieve. So it will be back to the auto parts store to find some better clamps next weekend. Originals were squeeze-on clamps.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 140
Likes: 8
From: Radnor, PA
While we're on the subject, I have a driver's side nozzle that's come loose in front of the headlight. I have a new nozzle and the grommet behind it ...but now how do I get at the back of the nozzle hole, take off the wheel liner?
Thanks in advance, tfm
Thanks in advance, tfm
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Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,876
Likes: 8
From: Shrewsbury MA
Can you get at it by removing the headlight? When I replaced the bad nozzle on my car, I only had to crush the grommet from above. (The original nozzle lies out on Mt Tremblant somewhere.)
