Headlamp washer jet removal help needed...

1

123BillyB

Member
Hi,

I have a 55 Plate 3.0i Z4 that I picked upo a few weeks ago and loving it!!!

I'm having a Xenon upgrade to my lights next week and to not give MOT stations in the future any excuses, I need to repair one of my washer jets.

The one on the drivers side doesn't activate at all so my plan is to put a 12v tester to the live feed to see if it is getting any power. If it is getting power, that would mean the actual unit isn't working but I cant seem to find any information anywhere on removal of this part.

Has anyone attempted it before and is it a difficult job? Also is the replacement part easy to come by and roughly how much is one?

Thanks,

Billy
 
By upgrade i presume you mean a HID kit? If so then technically still illegal as they wont be autlevelling.

But back to your washer jet problem.... They are not powered... They are pushed up by the water pressure... So if one side works, then it must be a blockage with the side that doesnt.

Easiest way to fix it would be bumper off and disconnect the tube and check for sludge.

Might even be sludge at the bottom of the water resovoiur causing it.
 
Hi,

Thanks for the reply and I know the HiDs wont be auto levelling but that is still a bit of a grey area at MOT stations and most ppl seem to get away with it if they tick most of the boxes i.e the washer jets.

Don't really fancy taking the bumper off but thanks for letting my know they are not powered by a live feed, just pressure. Must just be the small pipe that runs from the main feed to the the offending jet as the washer bottle is on the drivers side and the passenger side jet works just fine so that means the main feed pipe running from one end to the other must be ok?

Again I'm thinking if it was sludge at the bottom of the resovoiur, both sides wouldn't work as the water wouldn't flow to the main feed so its got to be where the main feed branches off and meets that one jet?

What do you think?
 
I would also check the water reservoir first for sludge. if its cleaned, then next move is removing the bumper... Taking bumper off is really not a difficult job... Was reticent the first time i did it, but now am happy removing it if I need to, takes about 10 minutes. As mentioned, to track the issue you will need to remove the bumper, and hoses are easily accessible from there

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Just found another thread and a few ppl mentioned the sludge in the reseviour and one even said his didn't work altogether until after the clean out so defiantly going to give that a go.

Just in case that doesn't work (and I really hope it does), as I wouldn't want to leave the job half done, how would I remove the bumper?

(can't believe I'm asking this... I've only had the car a few weeks)
 
Remove 7 screw at the top of the bumper and the clip in things holding the wheel arch to bumper, then simply unclick the bumper from 2 brackets just under the wings.
 
Thanks for all the advice.

Took the reservoir apart and the filters had a little sludge but not anyway near enough to restrict water flow.

As the passenger side works fine, the pipe leading from one end to the other can't be blocked so it has to be from the T join to the washer jet and if water flows from that pipe when disconnected, it has to be the actual jet so will have to be a bumper off job.

Having said that, taking the bumper off doesn't look so daunting now.

Thanks.
 
Bumper off is pretty easy.

You could prob remove it and leave the washer hose connected to investigate.


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Me Again Guys,

Pulled the offending jet (drivers side) out from the flap and let it go back in slowly and it did feel a bit stiff. Did it a few more times with the cover off the water reseviour bottle and I heard bubbles coming from the bottle so I did the same to the other side that was already working to ensure there wasn't any major air locks in the system.

I then disconnected the windscreen washer pump, turned on the lights and kept pulling the lever to activate the washer pumps, but as they only work every so often, I was there for ages.

After about 4-5 pumps, both sides popped up halfway then after a few more pumps, both sides popped up fully . After a few more pumps, water started to come out of the passenger side again but although the driver side is now popping up fully, there is still no water out of that one as yet.

Is there anyway to clean the actual jets as there must be pressure build up within the unit for it to now pop up or do you reckon it will now just sort itself out as it is used more and more?

See the lengths I have gone to not to take off the bumper!!! LoL
 
If it pops out then maybe its just the jets blocked.

I would get someone to grab it as they pop up. Then carefully unclip it from the base ( easy to break and expensive to replace) then soaking it in soapy water and using compressed air or a needle to clear the nossle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
aquazi said:
If it pops out then maybe its just the jets blocked.

I would get someone to grab it as they pop up. Then carefully unclip it from the base ( easy to break and expensive to replace) then soaking it in soapy water and using compressed air or a needle to clear the nossle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
There you go again telling me to take some part or the other off. What is it with you guys and dismantling your cars. ... Lol.

Yeah I think it's just blocked jets now too as the unit pops up. Gonna grab the jet as it pops up and try a pin plus hot water and good quality, neat screenwash.

Again don't fancy trying to take the jet off if it's that fragile as I'll definitely have to take the bumper off to fix that.

Thanks for all your help on this guy's... Great to have ppl to bounce ideas off.
 
aquazi said:
If it pops out then maybe its just the jets blocked.

I would get someone to grab it as they pop up. Then carefully unclip it from the base ( easy to break and expensive to replace) then soaking it in soapy water and using compressed air or a needle to clear the nossle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
There you go again telling me to take some part or the other off. What is it with you guys and dismantling your cars. ... Lol.

Yeah I think it's just blocked jets now too as the unit pops up. Gonna grab the jet as it pops up and try a pin plus hot water and good quality, neat screenwash.

Again don't fancy trying to take the jet off if it's that fragile as I'll definitely have to take the bumper off to fix that.

Thanks for all your help on this guy's... Great to have ppl to bounce ideas off.
 
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