Windshield Washer Fluid issues...

[VT911scTarga]

1982 911sc

Problem: No windshield washer fluid coming out of either jet.

Details on the pump:

-- It is next to the horn and battery in the driver side (near the bumper).

- One hose from the pump leads into the driver side front wheel well (which is where I assume the reservoir is located).

- The other leads to a "T". One side goes to the windshield; the other side goes into the driver side wheel well (but through a different hole), which I'm guessing goes to the headlamp washers.

- With that said, I do have a headlight washer system that has NEVER worked. It has a separate switch on the dash, but (as I mention above) it doesn't appear to have a separate pump (as there simply seems to be a "T" near the pump that diverts fluid to either the headlamps or the windshield). Maybe this was tweaked with over the years?

TESTING:

- I added fluid (duh!); I think I was out. Do I need to "bleed" the system?

- The pump sounds strong.

- There is some fluid in the lines, but it doesn't seem to be making it all the way up.

- I disconnected the hose leading to the windshield very low down (i.e., near the pump) and when I hit the washer, fluid does NOT spurt or trickle out. Nonetheless, there seems to be fresh fluid in the lines.

Could it be that the pump is starting to fail (i.e. it isn't strong enough)?

---

I read a previous posting about check valves, but it doesn't seem to be an issue because I've disconnected before the check valve and I cannot get fluid to reach that part of the hose.

I also read about the screen in the tank getting clogged. The car does sit for the winter, so maybe it hardened/dried up. With that said, it has never done that in all the years I've had the car. Is there a way to clean it -without having to pull the front wheel, etc.

How do I test/troubleshoot this? I wasn't sure about removing any of the hoses in fear of letting even more air into the system...

Thanks!!

[Targalid]

Had similar issues. I removed the tank, cleaned thoroughly, replaced the line from the tank to the pump with the hole in it (can't suck fluid past an air leak) and all was well. Good luck.

[redranger]

Look for kinks in the line. In my 86, I had no fluid coming out. There was a kink in the line near the fuse box and driver strut mount. Before I found it, I replaced the pump and pulled the tank in wheel well, which was a pain.

[DaytonaCoupe66]

On my '82 the washer system valves where the lines attach to the squirter thingys were the culprit. Take these off and try to clean with vinegar and compressed air. They are also cheap replacement parts at the dealer or our host if they are toast from lack of use.

[VT911scTarga]

Thanks!

Can air get trapped in the pump/lines?

Is there a way to test whether fluid is going through the pump?

Also, how does the headlamp washer system work? Should there be a separate pump? As I said, mine as a switch but I don't appear to have a different pump or separate "plumbing" for it.

Thanks again.

[McLaren-TAG]

There are two separate pumps. One by the front for the headlight washers and one directly attached to the reservoir tank itself.

Don't overlook the obvious, have you checked that the nozzles are not clogged?

[emac]

Wait for rain!!
Ernie

[911carl]

I'm also experiencing some problems with my windshield washer system on my '83 911 sc. I placed a new windshield washer pump and it just doesn't suck any fluid although I can hear it working. When I suck at the tubes, the fluid comes immediately so there is no blockage at the incoming tubes. I'm also able to blow air through the outgoing tubes, so also there no blockage. My tubes are transparent and when the pump works it just doesn't suck any fluid. Anybody an idea about this mystery?

[VT911scTarga]

Thanks again.

2 pumps? I see the one next to the horn/battery, but I thought that was the ONLY pump in the car. I'm a '82 911sc. There are more details above in my original post, but the fluid line from the windshield does connect to that pump; although there is a T that seems to also connect to the headlamps because the line goes into the wheel wheel near the headlamp.

[VT911scTarga]

I've disconnected it close to the pump, and when I try it, NO fluid comes out so I don't think it's the nozzle near the windshield. [I'm assuming that the pump should be strong enough to pump fluid out an disconnected line.]

The lines look ok (at least the ones that I can see ... it enters the wheel well).

Actually, I just had some brake work done on my front .... Could they have done something when working on the brakes?

[msterling]

The pump on mine buzzed but was not spinning. I took it apart (twice) and finally got it to work. It rarely gets used and was just stuck. I think the headlight washer pump is buried behind the bumper and a B*&ch to get at. Thankfully, I don't have that option on my car.

[sugarwood]

I don't think you need to worry so much about letting more air in the system.
If there is a gap of air in the lines, it would just sputter once it reached the nozzles, right?

The 2nd pump is located under the little auxiliary washer tank near the brake fluid reservoir.
I think that was the motor that powered by fluid to my windshield nozzles. (Post above says motor located in bumper is for headlights)
I think that tank was optional, so I wonder where it's located if you don't have that option?

[VT911scTarga]

There is no pump or reservoir near the windshield. My lines run from the windshield nozzle to the driver side and than goes up towards the battery/horn next to the fender (travelling right over/through the fuse box). It then connects to a T. One side goes to the pump, and the other side goes into the wheel well (which I guess goes to the headlamp system). [The other side of the pump also goes into a different hole in the wheel well, which I'm guessing goes to the reservoir.]

[javadog]

Guys, before you get all confused, there's more than 1 version of the windscreen and headlight washer systems. There are differences in some of the components and where they are located. And, that's not counting the separate intensive windshield washer system, which has been alluded to above, and has nothing to do with the headlights.

You might want to look at a PET diagram for your model year, so you know what components are in the system and where they are located.

JR

[javadog]

Originally Posted by VT911scTarga

- The other leads to a "T". One side goes to the windshield; the other side goes into the driver side wheel well (but through a different hole), which I'm guessing goes to the headlamp washers

Nope, that line returns to the tank. On an '82, the two systems are separate.

JR

[VT911scTarga]

I don't do a lot of my own work (unfortunately), but I have the Chilton's guide but they do a poor job for models beyond '74 for a lot of things, including the washer systems.

But ... Ahhh -- that makes more sense (that it is a return line to the tank)!

So, it seems that the fluid isn't making it from the tank to the pump ...

Is there any way to flush or clean without having to pull my wheel.... ?

THANKS again to everyone for the help and insight!

[javadog]

You need to figure out if the pump isn't working properly, or if there is a problem with the fluid feed to the pump. Several ways to do this...

You can remove the outlet hose from the pump and see what you get when you run it.
You can disconnect the inlet hose to the pump and test it for flow. If you get nothing, try it with something like a Mityvac.
You can test the pump out of the car.
Etc.

Once you figure out what your problem is (blocked output, bad pump, or blocked inlet) you can go from there. You may have to remove the tank. It's hard to say at this point...

JR

[VT911scTarga]

Thanks again.

I overfilled the tank .... and now the fluid sits as high as the fill hole (next to the gas tank filler), so it appears that fluid is moving freely up the lines (as far as gravity will allow) and that possibly the pump is pushing it a little bit (or at least not blocking it), but not enough to get it all the way up. So I'm guessing that my pump isn't working. This might be consistent with someone's earlier post that, although the pump was making noise, it was stuck ...

Next step, double check that fluid comes out of both ends of the pump ... and then I'll pull the pump...

[kkkarpuk]

Your pump may be gummed up. You can remove it easy enough clean and reinstall. Mine was all slimy with green stuff and didn't work. Removed it, took it apart and cleaned it and has been working ever since. Careful of the little black gummi holding pins, they are easily damaged.

[wkbergman]

that reply 'check polarity' is one obvious one.
Disconnect the hoses and try various combinations to find the one that sucks water. That worked for me after I forgot what goes where. After a polarity check of course.
Good luck
WB