Failed MOT - windscreen washers!

[bernard1973]

The Fire truck failed today because the window washers aren't connected up! (the water comes out of the front grill so the pump is working fine). Nationwide AutoCentre were great and were going to sort it free of charge but couldn't get into them.
Has anyone got any ideas? Does the dash have to come off or can you get at it through the grill (even though they tried and couldn't manage). I've got 10 days to take it back, but don't really want to spend the whole 10 days taking the van apart

[CovKid]

A few people claim to have sorted this by removing jets (twist and turn), feeding stiff (coathanger?) wire through the hole and down from outside, feeding into now disconnected pipe and persuading said pipe back up to hole, reattaching jet. Come to think of it, its probably the only way unless you have a pipe off somewhere else? Lot easier with dash out certainly but coathanger trick seems to work if you like fiddling

[bernard1973]

Bugger - sounds like this is going to be a bit of a chew
I would have given it a go tonight but i'm watching Sunderland dismantle Norwich

[skell]

I've done this whilst having the dash out so don't know whether the idea below will work but could be worth a try.
If you can't locate the pipes fishing around from the outside you could try pushing a new length of pipe from the outside and connecting to existing pipe somewhere accessible.
If you have time taking the dash out isn't as bad as it sounds, and worth doing to check/fix any nasty wiring bodges from previous owners, though I have managed to knacker speedo cables on a couple of occasions when removing dash pods.

[bernard1973]

A few people claim to have sorted this by removing jets (twist and turn), feeding stiff (coathanger?) wire through the hole and down from outside, feeding into now disconnected pipe and persuading said pipe back up to hole, reattaching jet. Come to think of it, its probably the only way unless you have a pipe off somewhere else? Lot easier with dash out certainly but coathanger trick seems to work if you like fiddling

I just can't seem to get them off - and they look brand new (that might be the problem - they might have been changed. I've got the front grill off and you can see the water going through the pipe up to the washers, so the problem is definately where they meet them.

[bernard1973]

I've done this whilst having the dash out so don't know whether the idea below will work but could be worth a try.
If you can't locate the pipes fishing around from the outside you could try pushing a new length of pipe from the outside and connecting to existing pipe somewhere accessible.
If you have time taking the dash out isn't as bad as it sounds, and worth doing to check/fix any nasty wiring bodges from previous owners, though I have managed to knacker speedo cables on a couple of occasions when removing dash pods.

The manual says that the steering column has to be removed
If I can get the washers out I'll tap into the pipe further down and use new pipe as you say.

[mr_clarkson]

i found a small flat head screwdriver to prize them out helped alot on mine, just use some cloth and be very carefull not to damage your paintwork.

once off you can pull the pipe off the washers and see if the water is sqirting though the pipe ok, if it is then the washers are obviously blocked, so will need cleening out (i used a pin and wd40) or replacing.

hope this helps

[bernard1973]

i found a small flat head screwdriver to prize them out helped alot on mine, just use some cloth and be very carefull not to damage your paintwork.

once off you can pull the pipe off the washers and see if the water is sqirting though the pipe ok, if it is then the washers are obviously blocked, so will need cleening out (i used a pin and wd40) or replacing.

hope this helps

I managed to get the washers out and there are no pipes connected - and it looks like they never were (they ARE brand new). Theres no way of finding the end of the pipes, never mind hooking them. The only way is the dash out but it looks like a big job (or at least a few hours work best done on a Sunday )

[jamesc76]

How long ar your arms sure i've managed to get to them from underneath the dash once the glove box is out but that was 4 years ago and i cant remember now!

[mr_clarkson]

dash out

theres no need for that.........

if you cant find the pipes, just go under the passenger side footwell and look straight up, that is the washer bottle, you can a) undo the 3 bolts to drop the bottle then you will see the pump on the side wich should have the pipe attached, i would then simply pull the pipe back down (or disconnect it and reconnect some new pipe) then remove the grill from the front, (4 or 6 flat head screws i think turn 90 degrees to release then lift out grill. feed the new/old pipe up to behind the grill, then get some wire (metal coathanger as suggested above probably good) poke that through the washer hole and feed it through untill you find it behind the grill. Now tape on the new pipe and pull back through! push on jets and test the squirter.

thats how mine is anyhow (mine is an Aircooled so no lower grill) dont know if there is any differances on the later watercooled


hope this helps
jon

[bernard1973]

dash out

theres no need for that.........

if you cant find the pipes, just go under the passenger side footwell and look straight up, that is the washer bottle, you can a) undo the 3 bolts to drop the bottle then you will see the pump on the side wich should have the pipe attached, i would then simply pull the pipe back down (or disconnect it and reconnect some new pipe) then remove the grill from the front, (4 or 6 flat head screws i think turn 90 degrees to release then lift out grill. feed the new/old pipe up to behind the grill, then get some wire (metal coathanger as suggested above probably good) poke that through the washer hole and feed it through untill you find it behind the grill. Now tape on the new pipe and pull back through! push on jets and test the squirter.

thats how mine is anyhow (mine is an Aircooled so no lower grill) dont know if there is any differances on the later watercooled


hope this helps
jon

I tried that last night Jon, but I couldn't find anyway of getting the pipe to the washers. I would never have thought such a simple problem would have meant we can't take the van away this weekend

[mr_clarkson]

will going from the other end not work? i.e. feeding the pipe from outside down through the washer hole and then sticking your hand up through the grill? at least you will have gravity on your side then

[bernard1973]

will going from the other end not work? i.e. feeding the pipe from outside down through the washer hole and then sticking your hand up through the grill? at least you will have gravity on your side then

There doesn't seem to be any way of getting my hand up - it seems to be blocked off. Terrible bloody design...

[mr_clarkson]

so if you poke something through like a metal coat hanger it should a- stop when it hits a panel ect and cant go any further or b-keep going down in wich case you will be able to see it behind the grill or c- go to behind the dash (although i am sure mine go straight behind the grill, had no problems changing the pipe) in wich case if you feel around behind you should be able to distinguish the coathanger from wires ect quite easily.



p.s. i just thought - try through both holes as the pipe may just go to the bottle from one washer and route to the other side another way

[bernard1973]

so if you poke something through like a metal coat hanger it should a- stop when it hits a panel ect and cant go any further or b-keep going down in wich case you will be able to see it behind the grill or c- go to behind the dash (although i am sure mine go straight behind the grill, had no problems changing the pipe) in wich case if you feel around behind you should be able to distinguish the coathanger from wires ect quite easily.



p.s. i just thought - try through both holes as the pipe may just go to the bottle from one washer and route to the other side another way

I'll try that tomorrow and post back - thanks for the help