General Where is the washer pump located.

[ee00ffk]

Hi all,

noticed the windscreen washers have recently been dribbling and now I'm pretty much getting nothing. If i blow air down the washer pipe then turn the washers on, i get fully functional set of washers (sadly only for a couple of goes).

Think there must be sludge in the pump itself, had something similar with my other car. Does anyone know exactly where the washer pump is located and the easiest way to get to the actual pump..

do i have to remove the bottle entirely and take the pump out? any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

 

[portland_bill]

The pump is in the bottle, under the right front wing, behind the wheelarch liner. A real faff to get at.

Mixing different screenwash types can sometimes create goo, as can not using any at all. Screenwash contains chemicals to kill bacteria so the goo does not grow.

The pump will have pushed the goo to the jets.
On the side of the jets you will see the screwslot used for adjusting the jet direction. When the jet blocks, turn this 180 degrees so that the little holes are inwards. Inside is a bigger hole, which will be full of goo. Now operate the washers momentarily and the goo will be ejected onto the screen, the bonnet, or into your face. (Nice to have choices)
Downside of this is that the little jet barrel will become loose, and then push out sideways, requiring either gluing in, get the aim right first, or new jets. Quite a common problem on these jets.

 

[ee00ffk]

Thanks allot for your help. I'll give this a try when i get home tonight and see what I do..

could i simply not just pull off the pipe that feeds the fluid to the jets and the blast the jets with air room the outside holes?

not sure if the pipes are meant to be pulled off i suppose.. will have a looksi tonite when i get home and see..

thanks again!

 

[portland_bill]

You can just pull off the pipes, if you can get to them easily. Beware, the jets will be cold and fragile this weather, so the pipe connector is easily broken. Be gentle.

Disturbing the pipe may cause it to leak, requiring new pipes, or at least the last inch or so and a connector.

 

[306maxi]

I'll bet that the issue is the jets falling out rather than the washer pump.

 

[jrkitching]

We also had a major thread ressurection on this very topic yesterday.

Basically the washer system on the 500 is seriously non-frost resistant - if whatever you choose to put in the system ever freezes, something is likely to break, pop out or stop working.

If you always make sure that the fluid in the system contains enough additives to stay liquid in spite of the best intentions of the weather, it'll likely give trouble free service for many years. If you ever allow it to freeze, even just once, you're setting yourself up for issues.

Something worth bearing in mind as we head into what could be the coldest week for several years.

Personally I think it's poor design that it can't cope with a little frostbite without suffering permanent injury, but it's easy enough to take the necessary precautions and it's hardly a major defect.

 

[306maxi]

Yup. If it were me I'd be putting loads of good quality neat screen wash in, going for a long drove to get some heat into the engine bay all after making sure the washer jet barrels are properly seated.

 

[jrkitching]

Yup. If it were me I'd be putting loads of good quality neat screen wash in, going for a long drove to get some heat into the engine bay all after making sure the washer jet barrels are properly seated.

Top quality neat screenwash is good for around -26C - just how cold does it get in Wales?

Not all screenwash is created equal. There's an interesting review of the different brands here.

 

[306maxi]

Yes, but neat screen wash will help to melt the ice in the bottle if there is any.

 

[portland_bill]

If you start at the beginning, the issue is slimy goo blocking the jets. This is a common problem if plain water is used at any time, as the bacteria will multiply and grow. Screenwash helps prevent it.

 

[306maxi]

If you start at the beginning, the issue is slimy goo blocking the jets. This is a common problem if plain water is used at any time, as the bacteria will multiply and grow. Screenwash helps prevent it.

No, they THINK there is slime in the tank. My 500 has never had the same tank of screenwash for this to be a problem. My legacy stands for months not getting driven and has stinky screenwash, but no slime......

 

[typecastboy]

Can anyone advise how to get the tank out. When filling mine yesterday it got to a certain point and started pouring over the floor so there's obviously a crack in it somewhere. There's still water in it, but can't see where its cracked.

Car has had a new wing, so it no doubt got cracked when that happened.

Do I need to take the wheel arch liner off or the bumper?

 

[typecastboy]

Thought to myself . . "why don't you google it".

So I did . . . Jack the car up, remove the front wheel, remove the wheel arch liner, undo the two bolts and voila!!!

Bought a used one from Club500-Italia on Ebay for £20, so will attack it as soon as it arrives.

 

[werdna]

I have on the odd occasion filled it with a hosepipe to disturb the goo and agitate what is left. If I overfill it it comes out of the top and if you leave it running for a minute or two, it seems to clear the bottle.