Windshield washer
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Windshield washer
Sorry for the long winded text. My first post on this site and wanted to share. I hope someone might find it useful someday.
Had windshield washer problems with my 2017 civic (love the car). -25*C in Ontario yesterday.
Looked online to try and diagnose the problem. Read about clogged nozzles, freezing fluid, washer pump failures and split lines. With no time to try anything and not being able to clean my windshield I decided to leave the car in the driveway until it warmed up in a few days and use my wife’s car instead.
Luckily the temperature was warming up to +6*C in another day, so I figured that would be a good time to bring the civic into the garage and try a few things.
No low washer fluid indicator on the dash. Decided to fill the washer tank with -49*C washer fluid to the top anyways. No luck. I figure it was not clogged nozzles because the civic has two, one for each wiper and it seemed very unlikely that both could be clogged at the same time. The pump seemed to be working because I could hear it running when I activated the washer fluid lever. No fluid leaking on the garage floor either. So perhaps a clogged line somewhere between the spray nozzles and washer pump. I decided to disconnect the hose at the point before the junction that runs to both nozzles - located just at the driver’s side hood hinge. Leaving the end sticking out of the hood and pulling the washer lever to release fluid, nothing came out. Hmmmm
Next decided to drain the washer tank with a small diameter fish tank hose. Out came some orange summer washer fluid. So maybe it was frozen somewhere down low in the tank.
Next I still had some -49*C washer fluid left. I decided to heat it up in my microwave and pour it into the tank. Was not boiling but hot. I also left a heater pointed at the front fender near the front wheel to try and warm up that area of the car. Thinking if it got hot enoug, the washer tank would defrost. I also used and air compressor to blow air into the disconnected line to see if that would help. Left the heater on for a few hours and tried pulling the washer lever again. Wow still not working after all that.
Oh well I guess its time to drive the car to the dealer in the morning. Luckily under warranty so I was fine with giving up and letting the pros take a look.
Go figure next morning while driving to the dealer I tried the washer and ‘Vwala’ it worked. So no trip to the dealer needed. It warmed up in the evening and the morning drive was up to 0*C. Must have been enough to defrost the frozen tank / lines overnight. Now Its time to push out any leftover summer washer fluid and refill with a good quality winter washer fluid before the temperature drops too low again.
Lesson learned – if you run out of washer fluid in the fall, always replace with winter fluid at that time.
Odd that I've never had this problem with any other vehicle I have owned.
Had windshield washer problems with my 2017 civic (love the car). -25*C in Ontario yesterday.
Looked online to try and diagnose the problem. Read about clogged nozzles, freezing fluid, washer pump failures and split lines. With no time to try anything and not being able to clean my windshield I decided to leave the car in the driveway until it warmed up in a few days and use my wife’s car instead.
Luckily the temperature was warming up to +6*C in another day, so I figured that would be a good time to bring the civic into the garage and try a few things.
No low washer fluid indicator on the dash. Decided to fill the washer tank with -49*C washer fluid to the top anyways. No luck. I figure it was not clogged nozzles because the civic has two, one for each wiper and it seemed very unlikely that both could be clogged at the same time. The pump seemed to be working because I could hear it running when I activated the washer fluid lever. No fluid leaking on the garage floor either. So perhaps a clogged line somewhere between the spray nozzles and washer pump. I decided to disconnect the hose at the point before the junction that runs to both nozzles - located just at the driver’s side hood hinge. Leaving the end sticking out of the hood and pulling the washer lever to release fluid, nothing came out. Hmmmm
Next decided to drain the washer tank with a small diameter fish tank hose. Out came some orange summer washer fluid. So maybe it was frozen somewhere down low in the tank.
Next I still had some -49*C washer fluid left. I decided to heat it up in my microwave and pour it into the tank. Was not boiling but hot. I also left a heater pointed at the front fender near the front wheel to try and warm up that area of the car. Thinking if it got hot enoug, the washer tank would defrost. I also used and air compressor to blow air into the disconnected line to see if that would help. Left the heater on for a few hours and tried pulling the washer lever again. Wow still not working after all that.
Oh well I guess its time to drive the car to the dealer in the morning. Luckily under warranty so I was fine with giving up and letting the pros take a look.
Go figure next morning while driving to the dealer I tried the washer and ‘Vwala’ it worked. So no trip to the dealer needed. It warmed up in the evening and the morning drive was up to 0*C. Must have been enough to defrost the frozen tank / lines overnight. Now Its time to push out any leftover summer washer fluid and refill with a good quality winter washer fluid before the temperature drops too low again.
Lesson learned – if you run out of washer fluid in the fall, always replace with winter fluid at that time.
Odd that I've never had this problem with any other vehicle I have owned.
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