Headlamp Washers

A

AndyS

Member
 Gloucestershire
Noticed today that my headlamp washers aren't working.
They were when I bought the car just before Christmas but aren't now.
To elaborate, the headlamp washers pop up from the bumper but there's no water sprayed.
I've searched and read the various posts on here but the symptoms quoted don't fit my problem!
I've checked in both wheel arch hatches. The pipes seem firmly attached, no leaks under the front bumper and the washer bottle level hasn't dropped.
I've checked the fuse behind the glove box, number 40 I think, and that appears to be ok.
I disconnected the motor for the windscreen wash and listened for the headlamp washer motor to run but couldn't hear anything.
I've read that the washer jets are popped up hydraulically but what powers these? Is it pressure from the headlamp washer motor or somewhere else?
If it's pressure from somewhere else I'd conclude it's the washer motor packed up and not pumping water.
If it's pressure from the headlamp washer motor then it must be fine as the jets pop up and it must be something else.
Anyone got any other ideas for things to check?

Thanks in advance once again for your help.
 
think it is purely pressure from the motor pushing water towards the jet thats pops them up...

sounds like blocked jets to me?
 
I guess that's possible.
Just seems odd that all the headlamp jets blocked at once.
How would I go about cleaning them out as you can't get a needle in them!!
 
I'd agree with Gannet that they are blocked as popping up is purely driven by water pressure. I suspect you've drained the washer bottle and sucked some crud through.

Odd that all 4 jets block at once though
 
The washer bottle certainly hasn't been drained since I've owned the car.
It seemed odd to me that all the jets would block at once but I guess stranger things have happened!
Will have to have a better look in daylight and maybe strip the washer bottle/pump/filter assembly down to give it a good clean.
Thanks for your suggestions so far.
 
I'd start at the jet end and work back given that it's purely water pressure raising the nozzles, so it must be getting past the pump and filters.

I suspect a change of washer fluid or the effect of this exceptional weather losening crud.

Interested to hear what you find in the morning
 
It'll probably be the weekend when I get to have a look in daylight.
I will however update this thread with what I find - might be useful for someone else!
 
They don't spray the headlamps every time you use the winscreen wash. It is like every six to ten times, and is reset to this everytime you turn the engine off.
 
MRol said:
They don't spray the headlamps every time you use the winscreen wash. It is like every six to ten times, and is reset to this everytime you turn the engine off.
Click to expand...

op states that they are popping up and are therfore activating, so while your comment is correct about not operating everytime it's not relevant to this issue. They also only activate when the lights are on.
 
Well, curiosity got the better of me!
When I got in tonight I had my son operate the washers so I could grab the pop up mechanism before it disappeared into the bumper once more.
I didn't want to try and lever them up using the caps having read the woes of a couple of people on here with caps falling off!
Anyway, I had a quick look at the jets and couldn't see anything obvious so pulled the mechanism up and down a couple of times in the hope of hearing suction or air. After several goes I had a dribble of water out of the jets.
I tried operating them again from the switch and now I could hear the motor working but nothing else happened.
It would seem I'd made things worse!
At this point I bit the bullet and removed the washer bottle.
The filters on the two outlets and the bottom of the bottle were full of gunk which looked like, and there's no other way to put it, snot!
I cleaned both filters and gave the bottle a thorough wash out, re-assembled everything and refilled the washer bottle.
Now the moment of truth.
First activation of the washer switch and hey presto, the whole front of the car covered in screen wash.
I'm not sure exactly where the blockage was or whether it was multiple blockages but whatever I did cleared it.
Thanks all for your help.
 
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