Headlamp washer issue.

B

ben g

Elite
 Essex
I removed the fuse which powers the headlamp cleaning system (fuse 40) a few months ago, mainly because I don't see the point in covering the front of my car with screenwash.

I decided to check it still works today, and after removing my washer bottle and both pumps to clean the filters, I replaced everything, plugged both pumps back into their connectors and re-inserted fuse 40.

I then tested it and the headlamp cleaning system is now not working :headbang:

Any ideas as to why this suddenly doesn't work? Is it because the fuse had been removed for a few months, or perhaps the washer bottle pump for the headlamps has given up after not being in use for a while?

A new meyle pump is only £13.99, so I'll be ordering one to check whether this fixes it, but wondered whether there's something else causing it not to function?

The windscreen washer jets work fine. I even removed that fuse (38) and swapped it with fuse 40 to check the fuses were OK and they are.
 
How long did you try to get them to squirt?
Is it possible that the pipework is dry and needs a bit of coaxing to feed the water back through the lines before the washers will extend and work.
It all works through pressure.
 
I don't know how intelligent the Z4 headlight washer control is, but headlight washers tend not to be activated every single time you wash the windscreen. The lights normally need to be switched on, too.

Are the windscreen washer pump connector and headlight washer pump connectors the same? I can't remember. If they are, swap them and see if the headlights wash when you command the windscreen washers to work. It's highly unlikely that you've killed the pump just by removing it.
 
Yes, the headlight washers don't operate every time you use the screen washers - I think I read somewhere it's every 5th time.
 
Mr Tidy said:
Yes, the headlight washers don't operate every time you use the screen washers - I think I read somewhere it's every 5th time.
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The washers activate the first time after ignition is switched on and headlights turned on, so they definitely aren't working for some reason.
 
ben g said:
Mr Tidy said:
Yes, the headlight washers don't operate every time you use the screen washers - I think I read somewhere it's every 5th time.
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The washers activate the first time after ignition is switched on and headlights turned on, so they definitely aren't working for some reason.
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After I stripped and fixed the washers on my X6 it took a few minutes of switching the ignition on and off while pressing the washers in between before the pressure built up to operate the headlight washers.
 
Nictrix said:
After I stripped and fixed the washers on my X6 it took a few minutes of switching the ignition on and off while pressing the washers in between before the pressure built up to operate the headlight washers.
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You make a good point. When Ben said that his headlight washers don't work, I assumed he meant that the headlight washer pump wasn't firing. Perhaps my assumption was incorrect and it's more a case that the jets aren't spraying? Is it possible that the hoses to the jets have emptied and need filling again with a few squirts? Or do we know for sure that the headlight washer pump isn't working? Do we definitely know that we have power at the connector onto the headlight washer pump? Some more info would be good :thumbsup:
 
There must be power of some sort as the front washer bottle pump (the one that controls the headlamp washers) has an electrical connection on top of it, not to mention the fuse which only controls this particular system.

I was out there trying the washers constantly for about 5 minutes, so I reckon that's plenty of time to allow pressure to build in the pipework. I emptied a full washer bottle of water, so they most definitely should've been up and running by that time.

Unsure what else it could be really.
 
ben g said:
There must be power of some sort as the front washer bottle pump (the one that controls the headlamp washers) has an electrical connection on top of it, not to mention the fuse which only controls this particular system.

I was out there trying the washers constantly for about 5 minutes, so I reckon that's plenty of time to allow pressure to build in the pipework. I emptied a full washer bottle of water, so they most definitely should've been up and running by that time.

Unsure what else it could be really.
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Have you tried disconnecting the pipes from the nozzles and activating. Could be an air lock if the pipes have run dry?
 
You need to eliminate the pump from the equation by removing the electrical connector and applying 12v directly to the pump.
 
ben g said:
There must be power of some sort as the front washer bottle pump (the one that controls the headlamp washers) has an electrical connection on top of it, not to mention the fuse which only controls this particular system.
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When I ask if you have power at the headlight washer pump connector, I'm asking if you get 12 V across the terminals of the connector when you pull the stalk enough times to activate the headlight washers. I don't think you've done quite enough investigation work yet to identify the issue. Hopefully our questions and instructions above will get you to that point if you follow them through :)
 
wonkydonkey said:
ben g said:
There must be power of some sort as the front washer bottle pump (the one that controls the headlamp washers) has an electrical connection on top of it, not to mention the fuse which only controls this particular system.
Click to expand...
When I ask if you have power at the headlight washer pump connector, I'm asking if you get 12 V across the terminals of the connector when you pull the stalk enough times to activate the headlight washers. I don't think you've done quite enough investigation work yet to identify the issue. Hopefully our questions and instructions above will get you to that point if you follow them through :)
Click to expand...

As a complete non-electrical guy, I have no idea what you mean when you talk about 12v across terminals :lol:

The sound that is usually made when the headlamp washers are activated isn't being made, so I can only assume the pump is done. I have ordered one so I'll fit it when it arrives and see if that fixes it.

If not, the next step is bumper removal to check the pipes :headbang: I hate this car!
 
Just thought I'd update this incase anyone else has the same issue.

Replaced the pump today (a meyle one from ebay) and they now function correctly :thumbsup:
 
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