Front screen washer jets mystery

[Devon Pete]

Hi, my front washer jets don't seem to be firing. They were fine when I parked up a few weeks ago, so not sure what the issue is. The water tank is full, the stalk initiates the motor which then hums away, but either no water or a piddly amount comes through. Bit of a mystery. Has anyone got any suggestions? Perhaps a blockage in the pipe? Cheers

[Dazco]

Make sure you don't have a puddle of washer fluid in the foot wells under the mats , you might have a cracked pipe.

[MidLifeCrisis]

No water in the tank ????

[Devon Pete]

No leaks into the van and a full tank of fluid!

[marlinowner]

Pump impellor slipping on shaft? Not sure of the pump internals.

[MidLifeCrisis]

Blocked jet nozzles - they can get clogged up with gunk (especially if not used for a while)

[Reimotim]

Blocked jet nozzles - they can get clogged up with gunk (especially if not used for a while)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I detached the pipe from the pump and attached a compressor to it, got up to well over 100psi then gave the nozzles a poke with an old guitar string... Face full of gunk, but functioning spray!

Have fun!

P.s. Other possible cause after the recent cold snap may be frozen/icy pipes.

[ghost123uk]

P.s. Other possible cause after the recent cold snap may be frozen/icy pipes.

Is what I was thinking.
Also, if the tank had got frozen at some point, and the pump had been fired up in ice, the impeller shaft might have sheared off.

[Devon Pete]

Thanks for the suggestions. They stopped working quite a while before the cold snap, so I doubt it's related to frozen pipes etc. Lots of food for thought though. Given I sometimes get a dribble through, it sounds as though it could be a blockage. I think that's the next port of call! It's a 1.9tdi form a golf so I'm guessing there's no point asking for more detailed info on detaching the pipe etc and blowing it through...? However, any further advice you can offer is most welcome!

One other option could be slipping some sink hole unblocker in I suppose... Cheers

[kevtherev]

get a pin and poke it into the jet

[ghost123uk]

It's a 1.9tdi form a golf so I'm guessing there's no point asking for more detailed info on detaching the pipe etc and blowing it through...?

I doubt the engine conversion affects the windscreen washer jets Detaching the pipe is a bit fraught with issues as, if you take off the actual jet (twist 90 degrees and pull) the actual pipe is often a bit crumbly at 25+ years old, is often a bit short to handle, and if you allow it to fall back down inside, they are virtually impossible to retrieve without taking the whole dash off Then the jets themselves, the soft seal that prevents rain getting inside goes hard, so re-fitting them can be tricky without damaging them (soaking in very hot water helps). You can buy new ones, but some I have seen are very poor quality and do not fit snugly at all. If replacing them, I would suggest genuine VW ones or at least from a reputable supplier such as Brickwerks.

As Kev says, poke a pin into the jet hole first

[Oldiebut goodie]

Whilst we are poking your orifice, don't use a needle to adjust as they are hard and can snap in there, always a pin. I learnt that the hard way many years ago on other vehicles.

[Jim San]

I heard (so it must be true) that golf ones fit and have the benefit of being twin jet instead of single jet.

I keep meaning to adjust mine, it squirts into the space in front of the van - i've yet had the van going fast enough to catch up with it !
Thanks OBG - i'll use a pin - good warning about needles - it wouldn't have crossed my mind

[Devon Pete]

Thanks for that.

The jets are actually relatively new so I don't think they are the issue. I delved around in the back and had a poke about with the water tank. There's a rubber pipe connecting to the side which goes off to another small tank (orange, with blue lid) but semingly no other pipes coming out of it. Perhaps I need to fish around in the tank and see if the entrnce to the pipe is blocked with debris - just need the right size tool. If anyone could explain how many pipes come off the washer tank and where they go/pathway to the nozzles, that would be really helpful (I'm not that good with enines, yet ). Cheers!

[kevtherev]