172 headlight washers

[keithjames84@gmail.c]

hi i have searched this forum for information on the head light washers , and it seems this is a common area for faults, most of the time it seems that they end up leaking . mine on the other hand seem to not leak or spray water.

When i have my head lights on and i wash my windows just after the windows are squirted i think i hear a second motor activate , im thinking this could be the one for the headlight washers but nothing not even a trickle comes out of them, any ideas whats going on? is it the washers or do you think it could be a problem with the pipe work ? i dont have any leaks or not that i can tell anyhow. ?

 

[Paul RN]

Both don't work?

 

[keithjames84@gmail.c]

nah neither of them do anything , not even a dribble. have a feeling going to have to strip the wheel arch out track the pipe along disconnecting it at the pump and where ever else it connects or disconnects then try sqwerting it see if the pump works , then the lines then finaly if they both do it will have to be the washers . just have a feeling going to have to wait for a nice weekend . Anyone else had this problem , of complete non working light washers ? and know its more likely pipes or need of new washer jets?

 

[Edamski]

Yea i've got this problem, not even noticed a second motor though. Any conclusion would be worth a shot

 

[keithjames84@gmail.c]

you have to stick your head out the window and listen out for it , happens just after the window wash pump noise , though this may for all i know be completely unrelated noise.

 

[Tigger]

you have to stick your head out the window and listen out for it , happens just after the window wash pump noise , though this may for all i know be completely unrelated noise.

I hear that noise too, and my drivers side Xenon washer isn't spraying, or leaking that I can see :S

 

[nickl360]

Somehow the screenwash works it's way back up the pipes, so the screenwash isn't there immediately to spray out. If you hold stalk to you to spray the water on the windscreen for a few seconds whilst standing leaning in the car and check the jets at the headlights, the water should work it's way through and spray.

Some people have got around this by putting little one way valves in the pipework. I think you can get them from pet shops as they are used in water pumps for fish tanks.

 

[Tigger]

I already tried holding the spray for about 30secs (a few times) no joy
Passenger side and bonnet jets are fine

 

[keithjames84@gmail.c]

same here just went and had ago held it down with lights on till the water ran out and nothing coming out the headlight ones at all

 

[nickl360]

Tried using a needle or cocktail stick to see if the nozzles are jammed?

Either that or a blockage? I'm not sure how easy it is to follow the lines from the screenwash bottle to the front, any ideas?

 

[keithjames84@gmail.c]

Im pretty sure its a case of getting the near side wheel off and the plastics out of the arch then i think they are tracked around there to the front bumper, but not 100% on that but i think will be where i start if the needle trick dont work . prob is when looking at them washer jets there dont seem to be a jet as such like the ones on the bonnet but more like a long thin hole but spose a wiggle about with a needle may free something up in there ill give it ago.

 

[Greeny.]

Have you taken the ball out of the washer to have a look? I wish mine didnt work, would stop one leaking all over my bumper

 

[keithjames84@gmail.c]

this may seem like a stupid question but how do you take the ball out ? i don't want to risk braking them or making them leak that would be going bad to worse!

 

[Greeny.]

I took mine out with a small flat headed screwdriver by pushing it into the end, however it was already screwed so didnt risk breaking it any further, it still works now apart from it leaks

 

[Tigger]

this may seem like a stupid question but how do you take the ball out ? i don't want to risk braking them or making them leak that would be going bad to worse!

+1
Just stick a flat screwdriver in & pull away from the bumper?
Will it pop back in then?

 

[Tigger]

^That right? don't want to make mine worse (likely to happen though) lol