Windscreen Washers

It's often at this time of year that a lot of people realise that their windscreen washers seem to have become feeble.

Often the problem is a build up of dirt/ gunk/ bacterial growth/ sludge etc. clogging up the pump pipes and or jets. The obvious answer is to strip the system and clean out all the disgusting slimey mess.

Another problem is the non return valve can if not working properly become a restriction on the flow.


You can buy a replacement, but it's easier to throw it away and join the two pipes up instead. This actually helps keep the system clean as fluid is not held in the pipework. Removal does not have any deleterious effect except that it may take marginally longer for fluid to spray. (I removed the NRV years ago.)Plus it means no fluid held at the jets to freeze solid!
Finally, to help prevent frozen washers use the correct strength fluid.
Also consider my cheap but effective heated washer trick .

Good idea to wrap up the feed - as there is no big engine to warm up the works.

Whilst we are on washers - should the blades wipe when the switch is pulled towards you to spray the window? Or do you spray and then select a wipe?

BarryD wrote: Whilst we are on washers - should the blades wipe when the switch is pulled towards you to spray the window? Or do you spray and then select a wipe?

... for me the water-jet hits the wiper's spoilers... No wiping, no water on the screen.
(I know I know, could be adjusted)

BarryD wrote: Whilst we are on washers - should the blades wipe when the switch is pulled towards you to spray the window? Or do you spray and then select a wipe?

Mine don't wipe while washing.

I wish they did as I've put the Fiat jets in and the spray covers the whole windscreen

Rich.

No auto wipe with washer on any of our cars. :nonod:

David Aiketgate wrote: No auto wipe with washer on any of our cars. :nonod:

I think that's not a bad thing. At least if your washer fluid is frozen the wipers won't come on and smear your windscreen so you can't see anything. :yesnod:

Gee it so prehistoric running an MGF... :woowoo:

That's so simple and so useful, even I could do it... Can I claim an extra 5hp as my car would have an under bonnet mod?

Thanks for sharing.

Hey, don't forget to click Davids' thankyou button too please. After all it was his original modding idea that inspired me to make that first video. :broon:

One of the reasons that I love my little F is exactly because of things like this. There aren't many other cars where I could do things as simply as this. Only bad thing is the factory fitted rust. :whistle:

Well done for another great topic David and Leigh! :clap: :broon:

When I got my F the washer pump wasn't working, I sourced one for a Rover 620 which was almost identical, needed a bit of fettling to get the plug to fit but this may be because it was a pattern part.

I then shortened the length of the hose so it more or less goes directly to the jets, removed the one way valve and fitted genuine citron mist jets, pattern ones have been known to be worse than the O/E pin prick jets.