WINDSCREEN WASHER RESERVOIR REMOVAL

[HarryMann]

Those screws go into extra deep inset anchor-plate nuts, a bit like the ones that hold spilers and suchlike on under the front, 'cept even deeper (on Syncro they are anyway)

Jam them up with a screwdriver to stop them spinning (the normal prob) and use a cobalt drill bit, always start with an 1/8" (3 or 3.2mm) and then open out. A 5.5mmm should do the job, if the hole is thro the middle and haven't a bigger drill, they'll then shear off with a good blow from a chisel..

We all seem to getting thos washer tanks out around now, did mine a couple of months back, but cannot get those fancy anchor nuts anymore from VW... but Merc parts do somehting very similar, M6 and nicely finished. I used some deep inset anchor plates from local motofax, and hunky chunky self tappers to hold it back up there, bit of a game though

Alwasy pays to have wide range of fasteners around, apparently some garages have 'a man with a van' comea round monthly or so, just selling specialist motor industry style fasteners - like a Snap-On style franchise from a company in Kent that supplies them all I was told.

Doubt if you wanted to know all that

[Bowton Lad]

Those screws go into extra deep inset anchor-plate nuts, a bit like the ones that hold spilers and suchlike on under the front, 'cept even deeper (on Syncro they are anyway)

Doubt if you wanted to know all that

Thanks HM, so the proper name for a ''square metal thingy with a threaded hole in the middle is ''an anchor - plate nut''.

The trouble was they were very rusty but more importantly it is impossible to see what the bolts are fastened into or to get at them. That is why I had to cut the tabs off the washer bottle to remove it.

VWCampervan, thanks for your advice. The pump is working. Are the pipes visible with the upper radiator grill removed as someone said ''It's a dashboard out job'' to get at them?

Anyway, that's a job for tomorrow & I hope it's not raining too hard once I start work.

[VWCamperfan]

Well... My pipework goes from the washer tank, up behind the front grill and then through the bodywork to the jets. I am ssuming this is the standard way of doing things as I cant see another easy way of getting the pipe from the outside to the inside. It looks pretty standard as well, seems to have been there since the van was built!
Oh, yes, you can see and get to the pipe quite easily from behind the top grill. Its a little on the right hand side looking from the front.
You can get to the jets from inside by reaching up under the dash, just helps if you have 6 elbows!
Good luck.

[HarryMann]

Classy ones are anchor nuts, that take a proper threaded bolt, then there's 'Spire clips/washers' I call them, for self-tappers. Hundreds of different types of both...

If you want a couple of Spire clips/washers that will just about stretch to refitting the washer bottle, PM me your address, I could only get two back on mine but its sufficient for a Syncro that crash bang wallops around the countryside with a full bottle, so should be for you..

Yup, Rivnuts will do the job as well if you've got a Rivnut setting tool, that's what the rear silencer heat shield seems to be bolted up into, which again, get rusted up till they just turn in their mounting plate. Ditto large rivnuts ones in cheap tow-bar plates inside the rear chassis. Everyhting can be fixed but can be a helluva game sometimes...

Cheap cobalt drills from Axminster Tools, two 3.2mm and a couple a bit larger have been a life saver at times, certainly saves on the elbow-grease drilling up from underneath as they really will cut into almost anything.

[Bowton Lad]

Nice sunny day today so I've been outside working on the lack of water to the w/washer jets.

I had the upper radiator grill off & connected my 12v tyre compressor to the pipe once again & left running for 2 minutes. Eventually air was felt coming out of the n/s jet but zilch out of the o/s.

I took the o/s nozzle off using a screwdriver wrapped in a cloth in order to protect the paintwork. I removed a load of black stuff from the short 2'' connector pipe & then I started up the compressor & covered the n/s nozzle with my finger. After 30 seconds or so some black crud oozed out of the pipe & then SPLAT! my T-shirt was splattered with crud. I replaced the nozzle & started the compressor again, at first nothing from the o/s - then some more crud came out followed by air.

Now all I need is to fit a replacement tank because the old one has had the plastic tabs/lugs cut off. Trouble is I have dropped the van off at the garage this afternoon for some work for the MOT re-test. I won't get the van back until Wednesday. The van's having 2 new n/s manifold pipes on the exhaust, a new o/s drop link on the anti-roll bar & some welding to the rear inner wheel arches & cills near the rear jacking points.

[VWCamperfan]

Be as good as new when done!