During a drive home, I tried to use the windshield wiper fluid to get rid of some bugs. The headlight power washers sprayed, but the windshield washer did not. Any ideas why it's not spraying (besides the obvious...out of washer fluid)? I doubt the sprayers are clogged, as I only have 8k miles on the car. Is it an electric pump that sprays the fluid?

Thanks for any insight,
Gary

 

The bottle that contains wash fluid for the headlights and the one that contains it for the windshield are separate bottles located on opposite sides of the car. They are rather small and really do run out quickly. The first thing to check, as you've stated, is that both are not empty.

The assumption then is that there are 3 pumps for washing. one for the headlights, one for the front windshield and one for the rear. If your rear does not work, (but the wiper works) then it is likely you might have forgot to check the fluid level in the bottle for the windshield. It is unlikely that both pumps are failing unless you have an electrical problem somewhere. It is not an easy task, on my car, anyways, to check the level of fluid in the windshield washer bottle. There is no dip stick for the windshield bottle. But there is one for the headlight washer bottle. Later build 05's have a light that comes on when the level gets low.

I'd say fill up both bottles to the filler neck with wash fluid and then try again. If still not working and since you only have 8K miles on your car, it's time to pay your dealer service a visit for some warranty work.

 

As above, probably the empty windshield bottle.

Just to correct - the SAME pump does windshield and read wiper, but the electrics runs it forwards for one and backwards for the other!

 

Thanks for the correction.
I should have reasoned that out as the pump probably is attached to the bottle itself as in other cars.

One question I have is how does our cars keep the fluid heated? or from freezing? I was told the fluid is keep warm so it wouldn't freeze. If the pump is close to the bottle, there's a long tube it must run through to get to the rear windshield.

 

It doesn't.

You use washer fluid with additives so it won't freeze till REALLY cold - much colder than any air temp except maybe Alaska (or Hudson Bay!)

But the washer jets where the water comes out are in moving air and subject to additional "wind chill" type effects; thus the water can freeze there and so the jets are heated. But only the jets.

 

Good explanation. Thanks Ian.

 

Thanks all! I didn't realize the headlights and windshield used the same bottle. I'll check both of them when I get home.

Thanks again,
Gary

 

That should be used DIFFERENT bottles

 

Doh! That's what I meant to say