Windscreen Washer Stopped Working After Low Fluid Level

sharpyboy

Member
 Cornwall
Hi Guys

I found out my windscreen washer was not working yesterday so thought it just needed topping up but after I did this it was not working. I thought maybe the pump motor had blown a fuse so took the connector off the pump and checked with multimeter and it was ok so then put back the connector and the pump was working but the fluid was just trickling out and hitting the bottom of the screen. I don't think all the washer Jets could be partially blocked so does the pump need replacing?
I also noticed wires going to the washer jets under the bonnet, what are they for? Are they heated to prevent them from freezing in cold weather?

Any ideas
 
Just took out the washer bottle rinsed it out and cleaned the filter and put back and all appears to be normal. Lots of strange black blobs in the bottle that was blocking the filter, don't know where it came from as the internal of the washer bottle looked spotless. :thumbsup:
 
Be sure to use washer with anti fungicide. Otherwise those black blobs could be growing in there and causing blockages :o
 
Had one fail in another BM, you'll realise it's the pump if you can't hear it prime when you pull the stalk. Either way dead easy to swap or even clean :)
 
BMWs seem to be prone to gunk building up in the reservoir that gums up the filters on the motors - I've had to clean filters and flush reservoirs on both my current E46 and E86.

Having done them I just use the same fluid in them each time I top up - I think using different additives tends to exacerbate the problem.

Glad you got it sorted OP. :thumbsup:
 
To follow from Mr Tidy also don't use those dissolvable tablets (they do washer fluid tablets that dissolve in water) cool right? But they blocked up the e46 and never again!!
 
kis said:
To follow from Mr Tidy also don't use those dissolvable tablets (they do washer fluid tablets that dissolve in water) cool right? But they blocked up the e46 and never again!!

+1 on that - I'd never use those either.
 
Never had this issue on my last car.

Then again, it also had a washer bottle that must have been the size of a soft drinks bottle and needed refilling every week in winter!
 
Back
Top Bottom