OK, I'm not a real mechanic or anything, but thought I'd share this experience anyway, in case I might be able to "give back" for the help that I've gotten on this forum.
We bought a 2000 Civic LX over the summer, here in Denver, and then the snow came and the mud spray from the streets, and when I tried the windshield washer sprayer, both nozzles on the hood fizzled a little, then stopped completely. It made for a tricky afternoon. I had to grab some snow and toss it on the windshield and use my brush to wipe it around and clean it, so I could drive right.
So I go and check the fluid and it's fine. I pulled the rubber tubes off the nozzles and ran the pump and it gushed like a champ.
Then I went and got a sharp pin from my sewing box and poked all 4 holes in both nozzles, and they opened up. Whoo hoo!, right?
So I go out driving and the nozzles work and then quickly clog up again!
So I figure I'm just going to have to change them. I go over to Autozone and they don't have an exact replacement, just some cheap ones with nuts that have to be screwed on.
But then I had this idea. I removed both OEM ones and ran some super hot water with a little palmolive in it. Then I soaked them in there for 15 minutes, removed them and ran tap water and it easily came out of both holes in each!
So I put them back in and will try them now. My guess is that, over all the years, the washer fluid dries out in them and forms a plug, so when I pushed it with the pin, they opened up, then clogged right up again. The hot soapy water dissolved it.
We bought a 2000 Civic LX over the summer, here in Denver, and then the snow came and the mud spray from the streets, and when I tried the windshield washer sprayer, both nozzles on the hood fizzled a little, then stopped completely. It made for a tricky afternoon. I had to grab some snow and toss it on the windshield and use my brush to wipe it around and clean it, so I could drive right.
So I go and check the fluid and it's fine. I pulled the rubber tubes off the nozzles and ran the pump and it gushed like a champ.
Then I went and got a sharp pin from my sewing box and poked all 4 holes in both nozzles, and they opened up. Whoo hoo!, right?
So I go out driving and the nozzles work and then quickly clog up again!
So I figure I'm just going to have to change them. I go over to Autozone and they don't have an exact replacement, just some cheap ones with nuts that have to be screwed on.
But then I had this idea. I removed both OEM ones and ran some super hot water with a little palmolive in it. Then I soaked them in there for 15 minutes, removed them and ran tap water and it easily came out of both holes in each!
So I put them back in and will try them now. My guess is that, over all the years, the washer fluid dries out in them and forms a plug, so when I pushed it with the pin, they opened up, then clogged right up again. The hot soapy water dissolved it.
carb. cleaner works like a charm to.
good luck with the sciencing =D
good luck with the sciencing =D
Update: I tried it out while driving today and it sputtered and then sort of peed, from all 4 nozzle holes, onto the lower windshield. The nozzles are open now, so the pump must not be running well. Now I need to find out if it's easy to replace myself.
Having a difficult time finding a video for windshield washer pump replacement for a 2000 Civic....
What?...Noooo!...
http://vehicle-maintenance.wonderhow...id-way-241907/
What?...Noooo!...
http://vehicle-maintenance.wonderhow...id-way-241907/
