Intermittent windscreen washer jets problem

[programmer]

First of all, hello everyone! This is my first post here. I was advised about using this forum by a person driving Z4 I met while having a stop for a coffee on my Newcastle upon Tyne to London trip by my Z4

Occasionally, windscreen jets stops spraying a liquid. Wipers work at that time and there is no washer pump sound noticeable. It is hard to reproduce the problem, but I can confirm that when it happens, normally I have to turn off and on engine and everything works again. I looks like electrical problem but I left my car at BMW centre (Newcastle upon Tyne) and they were not able to fix the problem and not able to reproduce it - however, they were able to spot it using diagnostics software. They suggested to replace the jets washer pump without giving money back if that does not help - I did not let them do that (this was second visit to fix this problem) as the washer pump was replaced 6 months earlier by another garage (at that time spraying windscreen stopped working at all and only head lights spraying worked).

I looked for a thread describing similar situation but I could not find it. Any ideas?

 

[Anonymous]

A while back I would have read this post and thought, that’s just what I’m experiencing with my Zed. Fortunately before I took it to a dealer for investigation I realised the problem was operator error i.e. me!

I have three cars including the Zed, and the one I drive the most has a button on the end of the wiper stalk to operate the windscreen washers. Without thinking I was doing the same thing in the Zed (button operates intermittent wipe/rain sensor) when I should have been pulling the stalk towards me....doh :roll:

 

[JimsZ]

Is it definately the motor not working, it could be the dreaded blocked filter :?

 

[Mr Tidy]

Yes, I've had the dreaded blocked filter on both my BMWs so seeing as the fix only involves a bit of time I'd probably try that first.

Good luck getting it sorted OP.

 

[Chezsherman]

Sadly can't help with the problem but pleased to see yet another z4 owner up here in Newcastle. It's good to see another owner joining the forum because I often see them kicking about more these days but only a hand full sign up to the website.

Craig

 

[programmer]

Thanks guys for some suggestions. I found a thread describing two ways of cleaning the clogged washer jet system:
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1235500.

I did not want to remove the pump so I decided to choose second method:

2. Leave everything as it is, use a small amount of Mr. Muscle drain unblocker in half a pint or so of water & put mixture into the washer bottle. Activate washers for a few seconds then leave it half an hour. Get a hose pipe ready... Activate washers again. The blockage should have cleared & nozzles back to working. Run the washer bottle empty straight away & refil with hot water. Activate washers to flush any remaining drain cleaner away. This is where the hose pipe comes in... Blast away & thoroughly drench everywhere on the outside of the car to get rid of all traces of where the drain cleaner has been. This must be done immediately & thoroughly. Then you're good to go.

My car has got ceramic coating protection but I chose to follow steps today as it is raining outside and also used a few buckets of water to make sure "Dettol Power and Fresh mixture" does not remain on paint.

Unfortunately that did not help. Moreover I can say that wipers also stop working at that time.
I wish I could ask BMW specialists how wipers and washer jet pump work together - based on my experience with a dealer I am afraid they would not tell me that, but I can say now that restarting engine does NOT help.

I have created an album that presents washer jet system under the bonnet:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6a9PiGUcKr1L7yQo2

If you see something different to your E89 - how the pipes are mounted - or simply something wrong or strange, please let me know.

You can see on this picture: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NbQCUGsxRCTTuYE52 that the pipe is mounted quite tight, nearly squezed (the last holder/band).

I can provide more pictures if you need any.

Does anyone have any idea who would be able to diagnose the problem and fix it in Newcastle upon Tyne or nearby?

ps. I am going to go with "my baby" to a petrol station to

disconnect the hose by the jet (pulls out) and then used tyre inflator to blow air down hose..

and maybe also

.. back to bottle.

 

[philiph]

I have intermittent screen wash failure too.

Seems to fail on motorway most often. (Or I may use it more on motorways?)

I'm sure the headlight wash works on some occasions when the screen wash fails. Am I imagining that or is it possible?

As the car is my on 6500 miles and registered in 2017 clogged filter or blocked lines sound unlikely.

 

[AnubisZed]

Ooooo another little, but annoying, problem sorted thanks to this forum.

This is so easy to do, well relatively speaking anyway.
Both filters removed and cleaned, not that the headlamps were a problem at the moment but worth doing anyway.
All back together and in place.

Oh and for any one who hasn't already tried this, or hasn't already seen these things before....


Pull out the relevant pump and the filter is the rubber "bung" that the pump fits into.
Prise it out, clean it off and push back in place, then refit the pump and put all back together.

 

[Nick9one1]

Thanks guys for some suggestions. I found a thread describing two ways of cleaning the clogged washer jet system:
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1235500.

I did not want to remove the pump so I decided to choose second method:

2. Leave everything as it is, use a small amount of Mr. Muscle drain unblocker in half a pint or so of water & put mixture into the washer bottle. Activate washers for a few seconds then leave it half an hour. Get a hose pipe ready... Activate washers again. The blockage should have cleared & nozzles back to working. Run the washer bottle empty straight away & refil with hot water. Activate washers to flush any remaining drain cleaner away. This is where the hose pipe comes in... Blast away & thoroughly drench everywhere on the outside of the car to get rid of all traces of where the drain cleaner has been. This must be done immediately & thoroughly. Then you're good to go.

My car has got ceramic coating protection but I chose to follow steps today as it is raining outside and also used a few buckets of water to make sure "Dettol Power and Fresh mixture" does not remain on paint.

Unfortunately that did not help. Moreover I can say that wipers also stop working at that time.
I wish I could ask BMW specialists how wipers and washer jet pump work together - based on my experience with a dealer I am afraid they would not tell me that, but I can say now that restarting engine does NOT help.

I have created an album that presents washer jet system under the bonnet:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6a9PiGUcKr1L7yQo2

If you see something different to your E89 - how the pipes are mounted - or simply something wrong or strange, please let me know.

You can see on this picture: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NbQCUGsxRCTTuYE52 that the pipe is mounted quite tight, nearly squezed (the last holder/band).

I can provide more pictures if you need any.

Does anyone have any idea who would be able to diagnose the problem and fix it in Newcastle upon Tyne or nearby?

ps. I am going to go with "my baby" to a petrol station to

disconnect the hose by the jet (pulls out) and then used tyre inflator to blow air down hose..

and maybe also

.. back to bottle.

It sounds to me like a poor wiper stalk connection (inside car) if both washers and wipers aren't working. Maybe the plug on the back is loose?

 

[flybobbie]

I think the problem with this washer bottle is that it's at the back of the engine bay, gets warm and becomes a breeding ground for slime. Constant screen wash is probably the answer, but anyone know of a brand that is clear and not coloured, as coloured brands stain the bonnet on my light coloured car.

 

[programmer]

I ended up leaving my car several times at Lloyd Newcastle BMW. They diagnosed the fault as caused by short circuit. They recommended replacing main unit module. That helped.

 

[philiph]

Mine is still intermittent (from 10 months ago).

I'm sure it is temperature related. On hot days in the Summer it didn't work and on long journeys it stops working when everything is nice an hot under the bonnet. Early mornings in Summer it worked but not when you get into the car at midday after it has had a sunny morning.

 

[Marc.jenkins]

I have this exact same problem. Most annoying recently during the bad weather. I have previously removed the washer bottle rinsed it out and cleaned both filters. Head light wash is fine windscreen wash is intermittent. It’s also very difficult to reproduce as like the other day. Outbound journey of 2 hours no problems. Return journey they stopped approximately 4 times. Turning off the ignition occasionally works it is definitely an electrical fault I’ve confirmed this by removing the pump and running it when the fault is active. Having read the other threads I will go back to my dealer and see if they can trace the fault again. I will update when I have an answer.

 

[programmer]

A late update:

About a year ago the problem was finally solved. A mechanic from Lloyd Newcastle BMW claimed that there was a short circuit and the main unit had to be replaced.

 

[32jonesy]

How was this fault diagnosed and eventually fixed and what was the cost ?