MOT Issue - Headlight washer jets not working.. any ideas to fix/replace?

[Ex-User (72296)]

Car is in for MOT, theyve never worked for my 5yrs of ownership and because of the new rules... it's going to fail. It's going in for MOT today, doh.

Any ideas on a work-around? Or anyone near to Portsmouth have any working ones?

Thanks

 

[Mr Trailer Man]

More than likely it's the pump.

Remove them and fit blanks.

 

[Ex-User (72296)]

Two new pumps fitted. As it's pre 09 it shouldnt be tested anyway, so may have solved the issue!

 

[Mr Trailer Man]

Your MOT tester must be Adolf Hitler if he fails you on something like that lol

 

[clio_ross]

Mines failed it’s MOT under the pre-May 20th regs for the headlight washers being inoperable. I’m under the same impression as you @Davyy that new regs meant headlight washers were now only a test requirement after 2009, but I could well be misunderstanding the new rules (that said, I don’t know if they would still fall under the old “if fitted, must work” type mantra).

In the end my issue turned out to be that the lines were clogged with crud and dirt as one of the previous owners had looped the supply lines from the washer bottle, due to the age old problem of the jets themselves leaking, then when I reconnected the washers up, all the crap in the lines just stopped the fluid getting thro. Could be worth a check, if your MOT tester is adamant on them working before issuing a certificate.

 

[Ex-User (72296)]

Yeah I showed the MOT'er the legislation and they agreed eventually. All sorted.. just need some attention to the brakes, not too bad.

 

[Short Norman]

More than likely it's the pump.

Remove them and fit blanks.

wouldn't a xenon equipped car fail the test if it had blanks in lieu of washer jets?

 

[Mr Trailer Man]

wouldn't a xenon equipped car fail the test if it had blanks in lieu of washer jets?

No, not there so can't test them.

Also as Davyy said, the pre dates the 2009 regulations.

 

[Ex-User (72296)]

Just in case anyone has a similar issue in the future..