Windshield washer fluid won't spray...Help!

tcd2004 · 12-10-2009, 10:43 AM

Well it's a nice 15 degree morning here in Michigan and with all the wet snow getting thrown on my windshield I need to use my washer fluid quite a bit. When I left my house I sprayed and it came out just fine. About 15 minutes into my drive I pulled the washer fluid lever and nothing came out, not even a little spray. I can hear the motors going, but absolutely nothing is coming out. Now I just put nearly an entire gallon of fluid into the tank yesterday so I know it's not out, is it possible that the system is frozen? I thought the fluid stayed good until -20 degrees, but I don't know what else could have happened in my short drive. Has anyone else experienced this?

***J-Ro*** · 12-10-2009, 10:49 AM

Maybe a tube came loose somewhere? You could try getting someone to hit the sprayers and check if you can see fluid dripping underneath the car.

fre$h si · 12-10-2009, 10:49 AM

Could be frozen, but there's a good chance the line to the sprayers got disconnected cuz that happened to me. The lines run inside the cowling incase u wanna check

tcd2004 · 12-10-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fre$h si

Could be frozen, but there's a good chance the line to the sprayers got disconnected cuz that happened to me. The lines run inside the cowling incase u wanna check

How hard is it to take the cowl off? Is there a DIY on it?

***J-Ro*** · 12-10-2009, 03:04 PM

There are 3 small clips on the front edge (gloss finish, flat heads)... take those out then pull up!

tcd2004 · 12-10-2009, 08:15 PM

Well There are no tubes disconnected underneath the cowling. I just took off a small cover on the passenger side and saw the tube that connected the two sprayers. I pinched it a few times and washer fluid came out of the sprayers so I know that is connected OK. The reservoir is completely full as well. So basically I know that the motor is going, the tubes are connected to the sprayers, and the fluid is full... could it be that temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees could freeze the line that feeds the pump? I tried finding access to the main line but no matter which way I looked I couldn't find a way. Any input would be appreciated.

adamway · 12-10-2009, 08:18 PM

Pour some anti freeze in your windshield wash bottle. if it is indeed something froze up, then that should help.

tcd2004 · 12-10-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamway

Pour some anti freeze in your windshield wash bottle. if it is indeed something froze up, then that should help.

Is that safe to do?

drivelikeyoustoleit · 12-10-2009, 09:08 PM

check the washer sprayers themselves on the hood this happened to me last year the One time VA got a decent snow.... went inside got hot water then poured hot water on the sprayers worked like new again.... sometimes the washer fluid will freeze up right at the end. Only knew of this because i learned how to drive in snow up in northern Ohio lol.

The Power of Dreams · 12-10-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcd2004

Well it's a nice 15 degree morning here in Michigan and with all the wet snow getting thrown on my windshield I need to use my washer fluid quite a bit. When I left my house I sprayed and it came out just fine. About 15 minutes into my drive I pulled the washer fluid lever and nothing came out, not even a little spray. I can hear the motors going, but absolutely nothing is coming out. Now I just put nearly an entire gallon of fluid into the tank yesterday so I know it's not out, is it possible that the system is frozen? I thought the fluid stayed good until -20 degrees, but I don't know what else could have happened in my short drive. Has anyone else experienced this?

Perhaps there is a clog somewhere in the main line.

tcd2004 · 12-10-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Power of Dreams

Perhaps there is a clog somewhere in the main line.

How would I get to that?

Grim281 · 12-24-2009, 10:06 AM

I get this every winter too. My driver side sprayer doesnt work, but my passenger sprays fine. So I would think that rules out a frozen line, but after the engine warms up, it sprays. So I am at a loss. Maybe one of the lines contracts and pinches off the line until it warms up enough?

12-10-2009, 10:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
tcd2004 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Michigan Age: 25 Posts: 519	Windshield washer fluid won't spray...Help! Well it's a nice 15 degree morning here in Michigan and with all the wet snow getting thrown on my windshield I need to use my washer fluid quite a bit. When I left my house I sprayed and it came out just fine. About 15 minutes into my drive I pulled the washer fluid lever and nothing came out, not even a little spray. I can hear the motors going, but absolutely nothing is coming out. Now I just put nearly an entire gallon of fluid into the tank yesterday so I know it's not out, is it possible that the system is frozen? I thought the fluid stayed good until -20 degrees, but I don't know what else could have happened in my short drive. Has anyone else experienced this?
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12-10-2009, 10:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
*J-Ro* Six eyes Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ontario Age: 29 Posts: 4,882 Jason	Maybe a tube came loose somewhere? You could try getting someone to hit the sprayers and check if you can see fluid dripping underneath the car. __________________ I'm so JDM, my girlfriend is Japanese. 私はあまりにもJDMなので、私の彼女は日本人です。

12-10-2009, 03:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
*J-Ro* Six eyes Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ontario Age: 29 Posts: 4,882 Jason	There are 3 small clips on the front edge (gloss finish, flat heads)... take those out then pull up! __________________ I'm so JDM, my girlfriend is Japanese. 私はあまりにもJDMなので、私の彼女は日本人です。

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12-10-2009, 10:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
fre$h si Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: switzerland Age: 21 Posts: 5,976 Bobby	Could be frozen, but there's a good chance the line to the sprayers got disconnected cuz that happened to me. The lines run inside the cowling incase u wanna check

12-10-2009, 08:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
tcd2004 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Michigan Age: 25 Posts: 519	Well There are no tubes disconnected underneath the cowling. I just took off a small cover on the passenger side and saw the tube that connected the two sprayers. I pinched it a few times and washer fluid came out of the sprayers so I know that is connected OK. The reservoir is completely full as well. So basically I know that the motor is going, the tubes are connected to the sprayers, and the fluid is full... could it be that temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees could freeze the line that feeds the pump? I tried finding access to the main line but no matter which way I looked I couldn't find a way. Any input would be appreciated.

12-10-2009, 08:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
adamway Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Devon, Alberta Posts: 3,237 Adam	Pour some anti freeze in your windshield wash bottle. if it is indeed something froze up, then that should help.

12-10-2009, 09:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
drivelikeyoustoleit Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Colonial Heights,VA Age: 24 Posts: 3,411 Adam	check the washer sprayers themselves on the hood this happened to me last year the One time VA got a decent snow.... went inside got hot water then poured hot water on the sprayers worked like new again.... sometimes the washer fluid will freeze up right at the end. Only knew of this because i learned how to drive in snow up in northern Ohio lol.

12-24-2009, 10:06 AM	#12 (permalink)
Grim281 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 68	I get this every winter too. My driver side sprayer doesnt work, but my passenger sprays fine. So I would think that rules out a frozen line, but after the engine warms up, it sprays. So I am at a loss. Maybe one of the lines contracts and pinches off the line until it warms up enough?

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