headlight washers not working

paddy wright

paddy wright

Elite
 south yorkshire
Site Supporter
My headlight washers started to leak out the bottom of the bumper- I opened the arch liner hatch and found one of the pipes was not connected. I re attached this- no more leak- but th washer dont pop up- the motor can be heard but no pop up!
Help!?
 
I've got to ask....Is there water in the reservoir?

OK - a bit more sensible - do you realise they only activate once every so many cycles of the washer (5 I think) and of course only once the headlights are on
 
YES- I REFILLLED THE RESERVOIR- THE WASHERS MOTORS WIR AS THEY SHOULD FOR COMING UP BUT NO MOVEMENT! sorry for all the capital letters just realised caps lock was on
 
There are 2 motors - 1 for the screen and 1 for the headlight washers. Are you sure that both are running as they are close together?
There are of course no motors in the jet themselves, they are just hydraulically operated and rise under pressure.

Beyond that you have to be looking for the pump impellor broken, blocked or kinked pipe, etc.
 
Paddy, once when my washer reservoir ran out, it obviously air-locked the headlight washer lines. It took a few days (a few squirts a day) for my headlight washers to start working again. Just keep giving them a blast and the water should eventually get back through :)
 
EdButler said:
Paddy, once when my washer reservoir ran out, it obviously air-locked the headlight washer lines. It took a few days (a few squirts a day) for my headlight washers to start working again. Just keep giving them a blast and the water should eventually get back through :)
Click to expand...

That's a good point Ed given that the hoses and then the jets themselves hold a high volume of washer fluid and they only operate intermittently every so many cycles and only while the headlights are on.
 
paddy wright said:
ill keep trying - have used two reservoirs worth now and still no rise!
Click to expand...

Disconnect the screen pump so you know only water is going to the headlight washers. If the level does not go down then you have pump or hose problems
 
cheers ed and cj- disconnected the window washer motor, the headlight one out to clean- fair few basts to clear the airlock adn away we go- back and working fine!!!!! :D
 
Looks like i might have this fun and games to play with too as one of mine started to leak but i hadnt gotten round to investigate it yet.

Good to know you can see some of the workings taking off the arch liner hatch. i was thinking it was going to end up being a bumper off job.

Fingers crossed it will not....................
 
pvr said:
Your next problem will be the disappearing washer covers :D
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Since I don't have xenons I decided to disconnect my headlamp washers to avoid the disappearing cover issue :D

(AFAIK the washers are only necessary for xenons, not regular lamps, but I found them effing useless anyway)
 
Right - only mandatory in the UK for xenon lights.
I believe it's due to possible refraction of the beam caused by dirt particles that could cause glare to other drivers

Lots disconnect them as all they do is mess the whole front half of the car when all you really wanted was a simple screen clean
 
cj10jeeper said:
Right - only mandatory in the UK for xenon lights.
I believe it's due to possible refraction of the beam caused by dirt particles that could cause glare to other drivers

Lots disconnect them as all they do is mess the whole front half of the car when all you really wanted was a simple screen clean
Click to expand...
I was too embarrassed to say that that's one of the other reasons i disconnected them :oops:
 
Try it at the lights when you clean the screen, headlight washers cut in and dump a pint over nearby cars, cyclists, passers by, all getting soaked...lol
 
I had a VW Golf R32 that lost a plastic headlight washer cover when a Pheasant hit the car. VW wanted some £80 to replace it. I paid 57 pence & popped it on myself after a quick colour/laquer spray....
 
If you fire your washers really quickly in short bursts, the headlight motor wont fire :) The only problem is neither do the wipers unless you have rain-sensing on :P
 
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