Windshield wiper fluid issue

[Platypus]

As topic says, when I go to activate my wiper fluid I do not hear any sort of motor and no fluid comes out. I've tried all the obvious stuff like making sure there is fluid and that there are no obvious hoses disconnected or anything. I checked the fuse as well.. but there's one fuse for the wipers and the fluid dispenser and the wipers work so that's not the issue.

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[shabby]

Either the lines are blocked or the motor is dead.

 

[Platypus]

If the motor was dead wouldn't the blades not move too? They're on the same fuse...

 

[shabby]

I dont think the motor drives both the wiper's and the fluid, normally the reservoir has its own pump inside and its most likely dead.

 

[aleckz]

How cold is it? My girlfriends Kia had a full tank of ice and thats why it wasn't pumping any fluid. We took it out and let it defrost and it worked like magic, also had to clear the lines of ice too though ;/

Kind of a hassle but it was worth fixing ourselves.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Platypus
If the motor was dead wouldn't the blades not move too? They're on the same fuse...

no....you are simply trying to power a dead motor. That will not effect the fuse.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: aleckz
How cold is it? My girlfriends Kia had a full tank of ice and thats why it wasn't pumping any fluid. We took it out and let it defrost and it worked like magic, also had to clear the lines of ice too though ;/

Kind of a hassle but it was worth fixing ourselves.

what? you put just water in there?

 

[Demo24]

I had an issue with this on the same car. It's actually quite easy to remove that tank as only a couple screws are holding it in, once you undo those screws you simply have to unclip the the wires and the tank is free! What you can do here is clean out the tank, but also check the lines. If you have a wagon you can change the wires so you can power the front jets using the rear washer button.

As for lines, its pretty easy to follow the lines from the tank so work your way up them until you get to the nozzles. You can take some small pins and shove them in the nozzles(there's a plastic backing so you won't rupture the hose) to break up any debris or ice.


I ended up having dirt in my tank because of a stupid decision once during a snow storm.

 

[SigArms08]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: aleckz
How cold is it? My girlfriends Kia had a full tank of ice and thats why it wasn't pumping any fluid. We took it out and let it defrost and it worked like magic, also had to clear the lines of ice too though ;/

Kind of a hassle but it was worth fixing ourselves.

what? you put just water in there?

During the coldest months in the northern states, normal windshield washer fluid does freeze.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: SigArms08

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: aleckz
How cold is it? My girlfriends Kia had a full tank of ice and thats why it wasn't pumping any fluid. We took it out and let it defrost and it worked like magic, also had to clear the lines of ice too though ;/

Kind of a hassle but it was worth fixing ourselves.

what? you put just water in there?

During the coldest months in the northern states, normal windshield washer fluid does freeze.

Are we talking Maine?

 

[Demo24]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: SigArms08

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: aleckz
How cold is it? My girlfriends Kia had a full tank of ice and thats why it wasn't pumping any fluid. We took it out and let it defrost and it worked like magic, also had to clear the lines of ice too though ;/

Kind of a hassle but it was worth fixing ourselves.

what? you put just water in there?

During the coldest months in the northern states, normal windshield washer fluid does freeze.

Are we talking Maine?

Mine froze in temps ranging from the low 20's to high teens.

 

[postmortemIA]

my lines work at best half of winter days...

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: DEMO24

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: SigArms08

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: aleckz
How cold is it? My girlfriends Kia had a full tank of ice and thats why it wasn't pumping any fluid. We took it out and let it defrost and it worked like magic, also had to clear the lines of ice too though ;/

Kind of a hassle but it was worth fixing ourselves.

what? you put just water in there?

During the coldest months in the northern states, normal windshield washer fluid does freeze.

Are we talking Maine?

Mine froze in temps ranging from the low 20's to high teens.

really? What are you guys using? even the cheap stuff says it will work at -30 degrees F. I have never had my lines freeze....even when teh weather was in the single digits.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: DEMO24

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: SigArms08

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: aleckz
How cold is it? My girlfriends Kia had a full tank of ice and thats why it wasn't pumping any fluid. We took it out and let it defrost and it worked like magic, also had to clear the lines of ice too though ;/

Kind of a hassle but it was worth fixing ourselves.

what? you put just water in there?

During the coldest months in the northern states, normal windshield washer fluid does freeze.

Are we talking Maine?

Mine froze in temps ranging from the low 20's to high teens.

really? What are you guys using? even the cheap stuff says it will work at -30 degrees F. I have never had my lines freeze....even when teh weather was in the single digits.

Just mix a bottle of rubbing alcohol in with the fluid.

Weird, I'm still seeing "summer" blends around that are only rated to 32.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Originally posted by: shabby
Either the lines are blocked or the motor is dead.

Disconnect the hoses and blow through them to rule out a plugged hose or nozzle. If the lines are clear, use a voltmeter to confirm the pump is getting voltage from the switch. If the lines are clear and the voltage is there, get a replacement pump.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: DEMO24

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: SigArms08

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: aleckz
How cold is it? My girlfriends Kia had a full tank of ice and thats why it wasn't pumping any fluid. We took it out and let it defrost and it worked like magic, also had to clear the lines of ice too though ;/

Kind of a hassle but it was worth fixing ourselves.

what? you put just water in there?

During the coldest months in the northern states, normal windshield washer fluid does freeze.

Are we talking Maine?

Mine froze in temps ranging from the low 20's to high teens.

"Normal" washer fluid will not freeze until -20 Fahrenheit. The "low temperature" fluid is usually good until -40. I've never seen anything for sale that had a freezing point higher than -20. Maybe they sell crap like that in places like Florida or Arizona, but I've never seen such a thing in Seattle or in Ohio/Pennsylvania where I grew up.

ZV

 

[Platypus]

turns out it was a pump, thanks guys.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: SigArms08

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: aleckz
How cold is it? My girlfriends Kia had a full tank of ice and thats why it wasn't pumping any fluid. We took it out and let it defrost and it worked like magic, also had to clear the lines of ice too though ;/

Kind of a hassle but it was worth fixing ourselves.

what? you put just water in there?

During the coldest months in the northern states, normal windshield washer fluid does freeze.

Are we talking Maine?

it happens in all northern states where it can be sub freezing for a long period of time

Happens at least once every year in upstate NY

 

[LTC8K6]

"Normal" washer fluid will not freeze until -20 Fahrenheit.

The bottle says that, but it's not true. My fluid has frozen here in central NC and I assure you it was nowhere near -20F. 😀

It also likes to freeze on the windshield after you spray it. Possibly the cooling effect of spraying it and the temp of the windshield.

So you think it's fine because it does spray, so it did not freeze, then suddenly your windshield is covered in ice and you can't see, and damn! Just damn! 😀

 

[CallMeJoe]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
It also likes to freeze on the windshield after you spray it. Possibly the cooling effect of spraying it and the temp of the windshield.
So you think it's fine because it does spray, so it did not freeze, then suddenly your windshield is covered in ice and you can't see, and damn! Just damn! 😀

Been there, done that.

Prestone Windshield De-Icer is your salvation.