Front Wiper Jet Pressure

[BeefOlives]

My passenger size wiper jet has become very weak, the driver side is fine and so is the rear. lots of liquid in the reservoir. I gave both jets a brush and it's still happening. Any thoughts?

[trebor1652]

Sounds like you have a partial blockage either in the line or the jet.
Try blocking the working jet and then operating the washer, you may get lucky and it clears that way. If not you will have to disconnect the washer tubing to to flush it through and possibly back flushing the jet.
Best of luck

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[Westy36]

I've had that happen before, and managed to remove the blockage in the jet with a pin. Give that a try first.

[Lord Voltermore]

I agree ,try unblocking the jet with a fine needle  or thin stiff wire.  If this doesnt work  try and find a joint in the tubing somewhere between the washer pump and jet, but not at the jet itself.  Then using your mouth blow through the pipe leading to the jet  , or alternately blow and suck ,to try and  dislodge the obstruction.   Be careful though. Washer fluid   often contains  bitrex and tastes very bitter if you get any in your mouth   

[BeefOlives]

I've had that happen before, and managed to remove the blockage in the jet with a pin. Give that a try first.

Tried a pin in both jets and the driver side is weaker now.

[BeefOlives]

possibly back flushing the jet.

I imagine you have to force water through the jet heads? Is that possible. Looking at the tube from the reservoir comes in from one end only and is encased in metal after a point so difficult how to see flush water the other direction

[Lord Voltermore]

Washer bottles  often has a mesh filter inside at the bottom to stop muck getting into the washer pump jand jets etc.    This might be clogged with dirt, or algae  reducing water flow.   (Algae can  grow in the washer bottle  especially if you dont use enough screen wash)  .       Try directing a a garden hose into the bottle to blast the filter and bottle interior clean, and continue until any loose debris overflows  the bottle. 

Also the rear screen washer  sometimes uses the same  washer pump as the front jets,   and works by reversing the direction of the pump, and directing flow to the rear  using one way valves    You could try  using the rear washer a few times to see if reversing the pump flow  dislodges any blockage or helps with a diagnosis of the problem.      If it does its only a temporary fix and the system probably still  needs to be cleaned out. 

[BeefOlives]

Right time to look into this and get it fixed as my mot is in Feb I've not been prioritising this. I'll give the hose a go, but since I posted now all jets don't work. I get only a tiny spurt out the driver side jet. Problem is everything is so hard to get to I might just take it to a mechanic. Coud it be a fuse issue or is replacing a motor easy?

[Lord Voltermore]

If  the pump is running, even if its badly, I doubt its the fuse.   BTW is the rear washer  working OK?  If so it points more toward blocked front jets.

Try tracing the water pipe from the pump to the jets to see if you can find a joint somewhere.  Disconnect the pipe  at this joint and run the pump.  If you get a good strong flow  it suggests the pump is ok and its the jets that are blocked.   .  I know this sounds crude but try filling your mouth with water  (not washer fluid !) then blow this as hard as you can through the pipe towards  jets . If you get a good spray from each nozzle it indicates they are not blocked and you need to look again at the pump/bottle filter.  If you get no spray  it might just be you were not able to blow hard enough, but does suggest that some cleaning, or replacement of jets might be needed. You might be able to unclog them by alternately blowing and sucking on the feed pipe. Beware of swallowing screen wash, it often has bitrex in it to stop children drinking it.

If when you disconnected the pipe the pump works but the flow seems quite weak   switch it off and try   filling your mouth with water again and blowing hard down the pipe towards the pump.    With luck thjs  will reverse the flow and   flush any muck blocking the pump or filter  back out into the washer bottle.

Sorry I know its rough and ready. I have done these things on a corsa and it worked  . But you  might be able to rig up some sort of  air or other water pump to do the checks. 

If your checks conclude it needs a new pump ,these can be a bit inaccessible and removal might damage rubber seals etc. .  It might be best to find a good second hand pump which is still  connected to its water tank.     

You could also try removing the jets and soaking them in some  kettle/iron descaler.  Especially if you live in a hard water area. But having removed them it might be easier just to replace them with new ones. 

[BeefOlives]

If  the pump is running, even if its badly, I doubt its the fuse.   BTW is the rear washer  working OK?  If so it points more toward blocked front jets.

Try tracing the water pipe from the pump to the jets to see if you can find a joint somewhere.  Disconnect the pipe  at this joint and run the pump.  If you get a good strong flow  it suggests the pump is ok and its the jets that are blocked.   .  I know this sounds crude but try filling your mouth with water  (not washer fluid !) then blow this as hard as you can through the pipe towards  jets . If you get a good spray from each nozzle it indicates they are not blocked and you need to look again at the pump/bottle filter.  If you get no spray  it might just be you were not able to blow hard enough, but does suggest that some cleaning, or replacement of jets might be needed. You might be able to unclog them by alternately blowing and sucking on the feed pipe. Beware of swallowing screen wash, it often has bitrex in it to stop children drinking it.

If when you disconnected the pipe the pump works but the flow seems quite weak   switch it off and try   filling your mouth with water again and blowing hard down the pipe towards the pump.    With luck thjs  will reverse the flow and   flush any muck blocking the pump or filter  back out into the washer bottle.

Sorry I know its rough and ready. I have done these things on a corsa and it worked  . But you  might be able to rig up some sort of  air or other water pump to do the checks. 

If your checks conclude it needs a new pump ,these can be a bit inaccessible and removal might damage rubber seals etc. .  It might be best to find a good second hand pump which is still  connected to its water tank.     

You could also try removing the jets and soaking them in some  kettle/iron descaler.  Especially if you live in a hard water area. But having removed them it might be easier just to replace them with new ones.

Thanks. I will look into all this. To answer your question the rear jet does not work at all. It started as a weak passenger jet, then both front jets then the rear.

[Lord Voltermore]

Sounds like the pump and/ or its filter  may be clogged with dirt or algae  and not giving sufficient flow or pressure.   If its easily accessible and  you have  a few basic tools and willing to have a go you may be able to partially dismantle things ,flush things through ,use a pick to clean things out, bang things to free them etc  etc.  A lot of it is common sense and a bit of ingenuity rather than any great  mechanical knowledge or skills.
   Or you will at least learn if its beyond your ability  or whether you might be able to remove and replace  the whole thing .

When i restored the  washer pump and filter on my Corsa  I found that to remove the washer bottle would have meant drilling out rivets and stuff.   Not beyond my ability  but more work than I wanted unless unavoidable.   I was able to fix  it  by blowing and sucking  through disconnected pipes, and hooking algae out the filter at the bottom of the washer bottle with a stiff piece of wire  poked down the filler tube. 

[ColinB]

There are non-return valves in the piping which can get clogged. Had this with the rear washer on my car; the NRV is easily accessible when the tailgate is opened, got a replacement from Cox and it's a simple push fit. If you can find the NRVs, it's worth just removing them and operating the pump to see if that's the problem.

[BeefOlives]

Righto I had a go. Not fixed.
1)Found no obvious blocks in the tubing, disconnected the tubing in the compartment and water shot out.
2)Reconnected and removed plastic cover on bonnet snapping something off(keeps tubing in place). Disconnected both jets from the tubing and water shot out, but I could not gauge the strength of it.
3)With front disconnected I tried the rear and got a trickle, but not full strength.
4)Examined front jets and tried to blow air through them both directions with nothing coming out the other end. Tried with a can of compressed air. Nothing. Tried a needle in both holes. Same Result
5)So I assume I need to replace all 3 jets. I think I'll replace rather than try the descaler/vinegar with them. I have soft water so could there be something in the screenwash or bottle that is scaling up the jets?

I had a quick google and if I get generic ones from Halfords I have to do some diy so probably will swap like for like

Btw how do I access the rear jet. Looks like I remove the red light casing and maybe removing what looks like x2 circular plastic buttons.

[equaliser]

Pop a Milton sterilising tablet in the screenwash reservoir. This will kill the algae build-up. Flush it out after an hour or so. I've done this on many cars over the years. Once it's clean, keep a strong screenwash strength using only one brand of screenwash and it'll not happen again.

[BeefOlives]

Add a quick look at the rear to see how could access/remove and lost a socket bit down into the inside of the tailgate(impossible to retrieve). You pop two plastic covers off and recessed are two bolts with nut, but it's tight to access and you could easily lose the nut as I did my socket in trying to undo. The jet is visible, but the hole is not big enough to allow you to get to it, especially with the tube there.

Additionally disconnected the jet from the tubing in a more accessible place and no water come out the tube(NRV blocked as previously suggested). This confuses me as I got half strength out the rear jet when I had the front two disconnected. Out of interest would be putting the descaler or even the water with miltons and running the pump to clear through the cars pipework be a bad idea?

Attached is what I'm trying to remove.