Dennis C

Ahhhh the joy of driving a 996 in the winter...

I see in the manual that the winshield washer nozzles are heated. Is this only when the rear defroster is switched on, or is it a temperature activated feature? Does it include the headlamp washers?

Driving in this morning it was about 15 degrees. My driver's side headlamp washer worked properly. The passenger's side washer rasied, dribbled a little, and then wouldn't go all the way back down. I (stupidly) tried to push it back down when I got to work. I broke off the cover. It looks like I'll have to replace the entire nozzle. Is this difficult? Back to my question... I don't think the headlamp washers are heated. Anybody know?

Chaos

I broke mine recently also,little boogers are expensive

Dave!

What's the point of the headlight washers? I've never felt that they needed...washing.

Dennis C

Drive a little in the winter in Indiana and you'll understand. This morning, there was snow on the road that was being kicked up by cars in front of me, causing the entire front of the car to be coated with dirt. There was also freezing drizzle to add to it. The headlights were coated with crap, and the washers remove it fairly well.

Dennis C

I just ordered the new nozzle/cap assembly. It was under $40, plus shipping. I'll have it tomorrow - which is good because we are expecting 6 inches of fresh snow.

Dave!

Why would I ever want to do that?

Dennis C

I ask myself the same question sometimes...

Rob996

I believe the windsheild washers are heated all the time, unless they work based on outside temprature. Since they are not connected to the rear defroster, especially since the rear defroster is on a timer.

My Audi and BMW equally have heated nozzles for the windsheild, and they operate automatically all the time regardless of rear defroster switch. The heated outside mirros work with the rear defroster though.

Hope you have the heated seat option?

ivangene

LOL

Edgy01

Many years ago the windshield washer nozzles were linked to the rear window heater circuit (which did not turn off over time). The 997 manual indicates that they are on whenever the ignition is on. I suspect the 996 cars are wired the same.

rpm's S2

Drive on the autobahn in winter (or I suppose any highway in winter in a northern latitude). The car just gets covered with frozen road grime and it is always gray/dark that time of year. I can remember using a handful of snow from alongside a rest stop to clean off the headlights as what little sunlight there was went down.

Macster

On a related note, FWIW: Not sure about 996s but when I bought new washer nozzles for my 02 Boxster (the nozzles partially blocked with I guess water deposits) the new nozzles are incompatible with the car as it is.

Porsche has a new part number and new nozzles. The new nozzles require wiring harness links ($75 each nozzle) to work right. I balked at buying the wiring harnesses.

Have tried to resurrect the original nozzles with a treatment of white vinegar with some success.

Emptied washer tank and flushed through some distilled water and then ran this empty and dumped in a bottle of white vinegar then worked washers until vinegar flowed. Rinsed vinegar off of car and let car sit a while.

Then ran washers again to flush out vinegar and ran another half gallon or so of distilled water through to remove all traces of vinegar.

Nozzles work a bit better, but not as good as they did and as good as they should.

Really need to when I can get the time remove the original nozzles and soak them in white vinegar solution to see if this removes the deposits and allow the nozzles to work again.

Sincerely,

Macster.

dr_r2r

I thought I read somewhere in the manual that the lights should be in the "on" position before the headlight washers would work. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Edgy01

Macster--get some glacial acetic acid (photographic sources) and you will get done quicker, and more thoroughly. It's is a much higher strength of "vinegar."

Edgy01

That is correct. They will never spray if the headlights are off. Also, the headlight washer automatically cycles once with every ten applications of cleaner to the windshield (with lights on).

Everything on these cars should get regular exercise--or you risk it not working when you do need it.

Halogen headlights have a mandatory clearer/sprayer requirement in Europe (to reduce the dazzle to other oncoming cars if your halogen lenses are dirty and diffusing the light).