Another issue just turned up! Windshield washers don't work
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Another issue just turned up! Windshield washers don't work
I am feeling frustrated with this car for the first time today. I didn't mind all the little issues, but it's getting ridiculous.
I decided to test my windshield washers today on my way to inspection to get my permanent plates, and they are not working. There is no sound from the pump whatsoever, and the headlight washers do not work. I stopped to fill the reservoir, and after putting in about half a gallon, it still wasn't full but I figured that was good enough and it should work. Nope, still nothing.
I checked the plastic lines behind the battery, and all seem good. There was no fluid leaking from below the car that I noticed, so I don't think the tank is cracked (though I can't rule it out). I checked the fuse in the footwell panel, and it's good.
Where is a good place to start? I am going back through inspection to try and get the car to pass on Wednesday and it will 100% fail for this which is such a small issue it's just annoying me more than anything.
I decided to test my windshield washers today on my way to inspection to get my permanent plates, and they are not working. There is no sound from the pump whatsoever, and the headlight washers do not work. I stopped to fill the reservoir, and after putting in about half a gallon, it still wasn't full but I figured that was good enough and it should work. Nope, still nothing.
I checked the plastic lines behind the battery, and all seem good. There was no fluid leaking from below the car that I noticed, so I don't think the tank is cracked (though I can't rule it out). I checked the fuse in the footwell panel, and it's good.
Where is a good place to start? I am going back through inspection to try and get the car to pass on Wednesday and it will 100% fail for this which is such a small issue it's just annoying me more than anything.
#2
Rennlist Member
I am feeling frustrated with this car for the first time today. I didn't mind all the little issues, but it's getting ridiculous.
I decided to test my windshield washers today on my way to inspection to get my permanent plates, and they are not working. There is no sound from the pump whatsoever, and the headlight washers do not work. I stopped to fill the reservoir, and after putting in about half a gallon, it still wasn't full but I figured that was good enough and it should work. Nope, still nothing.
I checked the plastic lines behind the battery, and all seem good. There was no fluid leaking from below the car that I noticed, so I don't think the tank is cracked (though I can't rule it out). I checked the fuse in the footwell panel, and it's good.
Where is a good place to start? I am going back through inspection to try and get the car to pass on Wednesday and it will 100% fail for this which is such a small issue it's just annoying me more than anything.
I decided to test my windshield washers today on my way to inspection to get my permanent plates, and they are not working. There is no sound from the pump whatsoever, and the headlight washers do not work. I stopped to fill the reservoir, and after putting in about half a gallon, it still wasn't full but I figured that was good enough and it should work. Nope, still nothing.
I checked the plastic lines behind the battery, and all seem good. There was no fluid leaking from below the car that I noticed, so I don't think the tank is cracked (though I can't rule it out). I checked the fuse in the footwell panel, and it's good.
Where is a good place to start? I am going back through inspection to try and get the car to pass on Wednesday and it will 100% fail for this which is such a small issue it's just annoying me more than anything.
#3
Rennlist Member
Dude, as someone (or maybe you) mentioned in a previous thread, it sounds like you "inherited" someone else's neglected project car.. I remember when you were posting prior to your purchase all the red flags that seemingly came up, and multiple people advised against moving forward.
At least you seem to have made peace with the decision and have the right attitude.. good luck sorting it out. You sir have more patience than most.
Take care.
At least you seem to have made peace with the decision and have the right attitude.. good luck sorting it out. You sir have more patience than most.
Take care.
#4
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Dude, as someone (or maybe you) mentioned in a previous thread, it sounds like you "inherited" someone else's neglected project car.. I remember when you were posting prior to your purchase all the red flags that seemingly came up, and multiple people advised against moving forward.
At least you seem to have made peace with the decision and have the right attitude.. good luck sorting it out. You sir have more patience than most.
Take care.
At least you seem to have made peace with the decision and have the right attitude.. good luck sorting it out. You sir have more patience than most.
Take care.
So in the next 2 weeks, I have to:
1. Source an OEM exhaust because my current setup is too loud (over 95dB)
2. Troubleshoot and fix a windshield washer issue
3. Replace two torn front outer axle boots
4. Possibly source some OEM springs to raise the car to factory height (more on that in a minute)
These are just things I know the car will fail inspection for, but that's okay, because I took the car for inspection today and they won't even inspect it, because the car is too low. The lowest part of the car has to be a minimum of 9cm from the ground. I am just below 9cm on the front lip (and the fender liner goes much lower). They won't inspect my car on base until I raise the car up, but even if I install factory springs the car still won't be above 9cm at the fender liner, because Porsche didn't build the car like that.
In addition to all of these headaches, I have a damaged fender that I can't get fixed because the shipping company won't cooperate, and I've had to replace blown fuses and multiple bulbs in the car, not to mention I am trying to troubleshoot an electrical issue with my aftermarket wing that came with the car, and the OEM wing doesn't go up and down and throws error codes. Oh and let's not forget the small coolant leak that I still have to worry about when I get everything else sorted and get it through inspection.
Sorry, this is and irrelevant, but I wanted to share my frustration. I was 100% happy with the car despite all the minor issues but my impending inspection due date and the little issues piling up (the windshield washer fluid and denial for inspection because the car is too low pushed me over the edge) are putting me at my wits end.
I sincerely hope that things turn around soon. I am going to remove the front lip and fender liners Wednesday and go to a different inspection station, and see if they will at least inspect the car so I know what I need to fix to get this thing on the road permanently. Regarding the windshield washers not working, I will take a look at the pump on Wednesday when I get the car on a lift and see if I can troubleshoot it further.
#5
Hang in there bud. I know you have gone through a lot with the car. I was wondering if you might have rodents around where the car is parked. I had a friend of mine who had a slew of issues with his R8 and they were mostly electrical. He finally pulled the motor and found a family of rats living in the car just in front of the motor and they had eaten lots of the wires. I hope that is not the case for you.
#6
Rennlist Member
Here's one OEM exhaust - there were a few more with prices all over the place. Maybe source a new one in Germany from FVD (or others) that is TUV approved for sound?? Good luck.
https://www.ebay.com/p/?iid=11238581...pp=true&chn=ps
https://www.ebay.com/p/?iid=11238581...pp=true&chn=ps
#7
Rennlist Member
Have you checked the fuses?
Edit. Ignore me. Just read your post properly. You could try attach a 12v source to the pump directly to see if you can activate it.
Edit. Ignore me. Just read your post properly. You could try attach a 12v source to the pump directly to see if you can activate it.
Last edited by nzskater; 05-02-2017 at 04:50 AM.
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#8
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Here's one OEM exhaust - there were a few more with prices all over the place. Maybe source a new one in Germany from FVD (or others) that is TUV approved for sound?? Good luck.
https://www.ebay.com/p/?iid=11238581...pp=true&chn=ps
https://www.ebay.com/p/?iid=11238581...pp=true&chn=ps
The fuse in the front driver side panel is good. Not sure if there is another one somewhere.
#9
Rennlist Member
Rat, you are a brave man submitting your US spec Porsche to the German Tüv.
It is mostly the German 19% VAT causing your pricing issue.
It is mostly the German 19% VAT causing your pricing issue.
#10
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Oddly enough, they started working. I pulled the wheel liner out, and tried to test voltage on the connector. I wasn't seeing a change when the stalk was pulled to the rear. Upon reassembling everything expecting I needed a new control stalk I tried it a few more times, and it finally started spraying out water. It's worked fine ever since. My guess is there was a bad electrical connection at the pump.
And on a plus note, I did an off base TUV "inspection" and passed, so I got the car registered and am good to go for another year.
And on a plus note, I did an off base TUV "inspection" and passed, so I got the car registered and am good to go for another year.
#12
Rennlist Member
Oddly enough, they started working. I pulled the wheel liner out, and tried to test voltage on the connector. I wasn't seeing a change when the stalk was pulled to the rear. Upon reassembling everything expecting I needed a new control stalk I tried it a few more times, and it finally started spraying out water. It's worked fine ever since. My guess is there was a bad electrical connection at the pump.
And on a plus note, I did an off base TUV "inspection" and passed, so I got the car registered and am good to go for another year.
And on a plus note, I did an off base TUV "inspection" and passed, so I got the car registered and am good to go for another year.
#13
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
#14
Rennlist Member
Ah the good old days of off base TüV inspection. Took our old Beetle in Nürnberg in 1974, that had an exhaust pipe hanging from a coat hanger. With benefit of a carton of Marlboros, passed.