Windscreen Washer Stopped Working After Low Fluid Level

sharpyboy · Post by **sharpyboy** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 1:48 pm

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

Post by **srhutch** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 2:51 pm

Probably the filter on the pump in the bottle that's gunked up.

sharpyboy · Post by **sharpyboy** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 3:41 pm

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.

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 11:08 pm

Be sure to use washer with anti fungicide. Otherwise those black blobs could be growing in there and causing blockages

kis · Post by **kis** » Tue Jun 27, 2017 9:59 pm

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

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Tue Jun 27, 2017 10:05 pm

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.

kis · Post by **kis** » Tue Jun 27, 2017 10:11 pm

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!!

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Tue Jun 27, 2017 11:42 pm

kis wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2017 10:11 pmTo 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.

mjennings23 · Post by **mjennings23** » Thu Jun 29, 2017 2:07 pm

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!

Silverzedtom · Post by **Silverzedtom** » Fri Jun 30, 2017 6:13 pm

As the washer bottle is pretty big I only top up to half way. Avoids stagnation

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