Dissappearing screenwash fluid

F

ferrelscent

Active member
 South East London
My screen washer reservoir is mysteriously emptying. I have no idea when. If I fill it to the brim and watch it there is no obvious drop in level/drainage. I am not really using the washer fluid much since its been fairly clear weather,.. but after a few days the reservoir is almost completely empty (proably after only 3 to 5 uses).

I've read a few threads on here about similar problems. But I'm struggling to visualise the various pumps, tubes, hydraulics etc. that are described.

Does anybody by any chance have a diagram that they could share ? It would be nice to try to fix this myself if its something simple.
 
Easy to remove and check, just one 10mm bolt and it lifts out ,on my brother in laws it was the seal on the pump that was causing the problem cleaned and resealed job done hope this helps
 
I think I have seen that bolt on the top. So I can just remove that bolt and lift out to take a look ?..no need to disconnect battery etc if this is all I am doing >
 
As Paddy says if you have headlight washers it is most likley to be the hoses to the washer jets.

The water often drops into the various parts of bumper cover/undertray and not visible until you drive off and it spills out.
 
cj10jeeper said:
As Paddy says if you have headlight washers it is most likley to be the hoses to the washer jets.

The water often drops into the various parts of bumper cover/undertray and not visible until you drive off and it spills out.
Click to expand...

Agree with the above. I had the same problem when one of my washers failed. It cost around a £100 for BMW to replace the washer jet.

Cheers
C
 
cj10jeeper said:
As Paddy says if you have headlight washers it is most likley to be the hoses to the washer jets.

The water often drops into the various parts of bumper cover/undertray and not visible until you drive off and it spills out.
Click to expand...

I take your point and thanks. What I don't understand is that after filling the reservoir I can visibly see, looking in through the filler cap, that the fluid level is not falling/draining. This leads me to believe it's something that is happening when I'm driving.
 
The hose to the washer jets will let the water out at a very slow rate but will empty it over a day or 2 when it's loose, easy check- turn steering look in access hatch in whelarch both sides!
 
paddy wright said:
The hose to the washer jets will let the water out at a very slow rate but will empty it over a day or 2 when it's loose, easy check- turn steering look in access hatch in whelarch both sides!
Click to expand...


Will do thanks
 
paddy wright said:
The hose to the washer jets will let the water out at a very slow rate but will empty it over a day or 2 when it's loose, easy check- turn steering look in access hatch in whelarch both sides!
Click to expand...

When I lock the steering and look in front of the wheel there is a sort of square section at the rear of the bumper that you might be referring to as the access hatch. I just want to check before I start pulling things off.

Also, I've noticed that the nearside headlamp washer does not come up when the offside does. Am I right in saying that the upwards motion of these is driven by hydraulic pressue,..as this might support he suggestion that the hose has detached.
 
ferrelscent said:
paddy wright said:
The hose to the washer jets will let the water out at a very slow rate but will empty it over a day or 2 when it's loose, easy check- turn steering look in access hatch in whelarch both sides!
Click to expand...

When I lock the steering and look in front of the wheel there is a sort of square section at the rear of the bumper that you might be referring to as the access hatch. I just want to check before I start pulling things off.

Also, I've noticed that the nearside headlamp washer does not come up when the offside does. Am I right in saying that the upwards motion of these is driven by hydraulic pressue,..as this might support he suggestion that the hose has detached.
Click to expand...

Yes - those are the inspection harches. Turn the steering onto lock for better visibility.

I'd be certain that if one jet is not rising the water is leaking at the connector to that one or it has so much air in from prior draining out that by the time you stop the washer the air is not yet through.

Pull the bumper cover off is the only way to get to these bits to see them, else possibly through the access hole if you're real lucky.
 
Thanks. Will whatever holds the bumper cover on still be intact after I pull it off or will i need new fixings ?
 
I had a leak on the front passenger side headlight washer, but it wasn't the hose after thorough inspection. All I did was got a mate to fire the jets and I grabbed them. After making sure everything was clean and checking the mechanism, they no longer leaked! Im sure it was just some grit or something stopping the nozzle a fraction from its seating position... Maybe worth a try :)
 
ferrelscent said:
Thanks. Will whatever holds the bumper cover on still be intact after I pull it off or will i need new fixings ?
Click to expand...

Def try anything easy liek Ed suggests first.
Bumper cover is a 10 minute job. All fixings are reusable. Search the forum for a DIY guide if needed
 
EdButler said:
I had a leak on the front passenger side headlight washer, but it wasn't the hose after thorough inspection. All I did was got a mate to fire the jets and I grabbed them. After making sure everything was clean and checking the mechanism, they no longer leaked! Im sure it was just some grit or something stopping the nozzle a fraction from its seating position... Maybe worth a try :)
Click to expand...

Ed,...when you had the leak did the headlamp washer not emerge from its hole at all, or did it pop up but not squirt any fluid ?
 
It popped up and squirted fine mate, it just leaked the full tank within an hour as it wasn't seated correctly. The washers are popped up with water pressure so i doubt its possible for them to pop up and not squirt unless totally blocked!

Also its worth noting, you can see the passenger side pipework behind the washer by just opening the Fog Light inspection hole in the wheel arch liner. Just make sure you have full right lock on your wheels.
 
EdButler said:
It popped up and squirted fine mate, it just leaked the full tank within an hour as it wasn't seated correctly. The washers are popped up with water pressure so i doubt its possible for them to pop up and not squirt unless totally blocked!

Also its worth noting, you can see the passenger side pipework behind the washer by just opening the Fog Light inspection hole in the wheel arch liner. Just make sure you have full right lock on your wheels.
Click to expand...

Mine does not pop up or spray. So I guess I have no water pressure..and so probably some hose come loose. The 'Fog Light inspection hole in the wheel arch liner' sounds like what I was trying to describe earlier. Will have to investigate tommorow. Cheers.
 
.... in fact now I am convinced its something to do with the headlamp washers. This will explain why sometimes the tank does not drain for days but other time its gone within 24 hours. I noticed the headlamp bit only operates once every 6 or 7 skirts. And I can easily go 3 or 4 drives with only one squirt per drive...then when i get to the headlamp part of the cylce I guess it all pisses out.
 
OK I've been into the foglight inspection hole. I found that both the headlamp washers pop up as they should, but that both of them are leaking. The one on the nearside is by far the worst, leaking so much that very little makes it out the proper end and onto the headlamps. The one on the offside just drips a bit after use.

Its definateky not the hose that is the issue, they are attached very securely and are bone dry. The leak is at the base of the pump itself.

So I guess my options are

1) Go to BMW and get ripped off
2) Find an independant (will they be able to get the pumps and fit ?)
3) Buy the pumps myself, work out how to remove the front bumper and try to fit them myself
4) Try to get some duct tape around the base of the pumps to see if I can seal them

Any opinons on these,.. and does anyone have any idea on costs ?

Meanwhile I think I can mitigate the problem by only pulling the screen wash lever when the lights are off as that way the headlmap washers don't activate.
 
The pumps themselves are £43 (when I replaced one of them)

Taking the Bumper off sounds scarier than it is... There is an excellent how-to on here by mister_roger :D

I have a perfectly good one in the garage, with a broken bracket on the top, that I could let you have for the postage (or where are you?)... you would need to butcher your existing ones and I suppose it depends on where it is leaking from...

Don't think they are side specific but mine came from the right hand side...
 
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