The cleanliness of a car windshield is a parameter on which traffic safety and driver comfort directly depend. Glass contaminated with dust, snow or insects tires the driver and reduces visibility. This may lead to an accident. To keep it clean, every car has windshield wipers (“windshield wipers”) and windshield washers. Previously, windshield washers were a thin tube from which a stream of water flew out, less often - two. Along with the simple and reliable design, this system also has disadvantages. So, the jet hits a small area of glass and flows down. Therefore, the first few strokes of windshield wipers are made on dry glass, smearing dirt and leaving scratches. The solution to this problem was fan-shaped washer nozzles. Let's look at how the windshield washer nozzles are adjusted.
Features of work
There is nothing complicated about the operation of the injectors. This device is designed to supply water or a special washer fluid to the windshield of a car.
All nozzles are divided into two types.
- Jet. They release a stream of water and that’s it. Basic principle, nothing special. Mainly used on older cars;
- Fan. Their feature is the uniform distribution of water or liquid over the surface of the lobovka. Such devices extend the life of the wipers because they allow them to glide over a constantly moistened glass surface.
They are characterized by several situations that require mandatory driver intervention.
- Lack of liquid. Usually it simply runs out in the tank, and the driver simply does not notice this and does not add a new portion in time. Check regularly how much liquid is in the container and monitor the level;
- A hose that has come off. I think you won't need instructional videos or photos with instructions here. Just put the hose in place and that's it. The renovation is complete;
- Freezing of liquid. Usually occurs due to low temperature and the use of ordinary water instead of a special washer. Warm up the engine more. Due to the generated heat, the liquid will defrost;
- Clogging. The most common trouble that you can deal with yourself. Everything is done quickly and without any difficulties.
Installation
Installing and adjusting fan nozzles is a simple task that any car owner can handle. You will need the injectors themselves, a check valve (can be purchased at any auto parts store), a knife, a screwdriver and a little time. Procedure:
- Dismantling old injectors. This may require removing the hood trim. See vehicle repair manual.
- In front of the tee (the place in the water supply pipe where it is divided into two), we retreat 5-10 cm to the washing machine tank, cut the pipe and insert the check valve into the slot. The arrow on the valve should point in the direction of fluid flow. If the valve is present, skip this step.
- Installation. It is more convenient to remove the tube and put it on the nozzle, and then insert it into the socket. Not another one!
- Before reassembling, check for wrinkles and fluid leaks.
Adjustable nozzles allow for better glass cleaning
Cleaning methods
Now about how to clean the windshield washer nozzles. There are many methods that were invented by folk craftsmen. They are effective and easy to implement.
I'll tell you several methods. And you decide for yourself which path to take.
- Application of a compressor. It is considered the most useful and fastest cleaning method. But you will definitely need the compressor itself. It’s not worth buying it just to clean the device. The compressor hose is connected to the nozzle nozzle and the air supply is turned on. Literally 30 seconds is enough to blow out all the dirt.
- An ordinary medical syringe. It is inferior in efficiency to a compressor, but consumables and tools cost pennies. Water with a small amount of citric acid is poured into the syringe. All hoses from the nozzle are disconnected. It is better to read in advance in the operating manual of your car how to remove the sprayer on it. A special feature of the method is that the syringe is inserted where the water comes out and does not enter. That is, on the back side of the nozzle. This will make washing more effective.
- A simple pin. Some people believe that you should not use pins and needles, since they can damage the glass washer spray. Well I do not know. I have used this technique many times and have had no problems. The main thing here is to be careful. Please note that pins only remove minor dirt. This is a kind of road method when you don’t have a compressor or at least a syringe with citric acid at hand. A pin or needle is inserted into the nozzle and the dirt is carefully picked out. Only those contaminants that have accumulated near the nozzle are cleaned. There's no point in going deeper.
- Detergent and cleaning agent. The method is effective, but will require quite a lot of time when compared with other methods. Remove the nozzle and place it in a container with water and cleaning agent. Sometimes it is enough to hold the sprayer there for a few minutes. But after that you still have to wash it. With a syringe or a compressor, decide for yourself.
Checking washer fuses
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About the expert:
Renault car expert
I own a Renault Megane 2, before that there were Citroens and Peugeots. I work in the service area of a dealership, so I know the car inside and out. You can always contact me for advice.
Of all the fuses, two are responsible for the operation of the washer - F03 and F27. The first of them is usually checked like this: they press the brake, and if the “stops” are on, they conclude that it is working properly. In addition, you need to put the vehicle in reverse and check if the light turns on. If not, then fuse F27 has blown.
Location of fuses in the main unit
We were talking about the main fuse box mounted on the dashboard on the left.
Checking the operation of the windshield washer pump
Try disconnecting the pump connector, which is located on the washer reservoir, and measure the supply voltage. Sometimes the Renault Logan glass washer may not work because the motor has burned out. But this is from the realm of fantasy. More often, the cause needs to be looked for in the wiring.
The only connector on the tank
So, we will disconnect the connector:
- Disconnect the hose going to the washer reservoir from the tee;
- We remove the rubber seal on the “grid”, and then the plastic “grid” itself.
Access to the connector is now open. Disconnect the plug by pressing the locking tab.
Check six lines
Three power lines are connected to fuse F03 - they power the brake light lamps, the reverse lamp, and the washer motor. The fuse will blow if even one wire comes into contact with ground. The same applies to fuse F27 - it supplies power to several lines at once. Let's list them:
- Reverse switch mounted on the “box” housing;
- Headlight washer pump;
- Steering column switch module (where the washer is turned on);
- Rear windshield wiper motor (sedan cars do not have one).
We need to look for what exactly causes the current to exceed in the circuit.
Fuse ratings: F03 – 20 A, F27 – 20 A.
One little trick
Let's look at how to deal with a typical fault in a switch module:
- On the casing under the steering wheel, unscrew the three screws;
- Separate the upper and lower halves (it is better to remove the upper one first);
- The steering wheel must be turned to the right from “zero” by 90 degrees. Then a window will open on the module. Thin spring wires will be visible there. They touch the contact blades.
The petal that switches the washer circuit must be cleaned with cologne or alcohol. Then everything starts to work.
An interesting case from practice
The owner discovered an interesting effect after scheduled maintenance with clutch replacement. On his Logan sedan, the windshield washer did not work immediately upon returning from the service. Of course, the problem was in the wiring of the sensor installed on the “box”. It turned out that both wires were crushed when installing the “box” in place. The result was that the fuse kept blowing.
Traffic regulations prohibit driving with washers not working, so, for example, the loss in price when selling such a car will be significant.
Adjustment
Another important element of maintaining your car's windshield washer system is adjusting the nozzles. It is required if the jet coming out of the nozzle is directed in the wrong direction.
The process itself is simple and will take just a few minutes. And how to adjust? There is no need to remove or dismantle anything. Just do the following:
- take a regular needle or pin;
- insert it with a sharp edge into the nozzle (there are 2-3 nozzles in total);
- depending on where the jet is directed, start turning the needle in the required direction;
- if the jet goes above the glass, we turn it down, and if it sprays very low, we move up;
- left and right are adjusted in the same way.
Such manipulations are possible due to the fact that the sprayers themselves have the shape of a ball rotating inside a plastic housing. Therefore, a simple needle can act as an excellent adjustment tool.
As you can see, cleaning and adjusting the windshield sprayers on your car is very simple. You just need to monitor their condition and carry out preventive measures on time. But if the injectors completely stop working, then you will have to spend from 60 to 600 rubles, depending on the car, and replace the old devices with new ones.
Read this article on how to choose windshield wiper blades.
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It’s unlikely that anyone would argue that the windshield is an important part of a car. After all, it provides good visibility, if, of course, it is in perfect condition. All drivers use a windshield washer to remove any dirt in bad weather, this increases the level of safety.
Content:
Of course, sooner or later the injectors fail and they must be adjusted in any case, since this is for your safety. It may seem that you can do without them, in most cases this is true, but in bad weather you will regret your decision.
Subtleties of glass washer repair
Intensive use of the system leads to wear and clogging of important components. The recovery process depends on the type of fault.
How to eliminate the main defects with your own hands:
- Clogged injector jets and filter. To gain access to the filter element, you first need to remove the tank. Then, having removed the filter, it is thoroughly cleaned. Injectors become clogged not only with dust and dirt, but also with wax, other compounds, and car cosmetics. In this case, windshield washer repair involves removing external contaminants. If the blockages are deep, use a pin or needle. In advanced cases, in the lower zone of the nozzle, disconnect the hose and insert the wire, moving towards the nozzle (the use of guitar strings and stripped wires is allowed).
- If there are problems with tightness due to a violation of the integrity of the hoses, they are replaced.
- Pump malfunctions are often caused by clogging. What to do if the pump breaks down? First, it needs to be dismantled, inspected, cleaned of dirt and traces of rust (use an eraser). The integrity of the wiring and contacts is also checked. If the above manipulations do not give the desired result, most likely the pump is completely faulty and requires replacement. To do this, first turn off the power supply and wires. Having removed the tank, you need to disconnect the hose and fitting and remove the working fluid. Then, by pushing out the intake, it is easy to gain access to the faulty unit and change it.
Attention:
Car owners quite often encounter the fact that the VAZ windshield washer motor does not work. In search of a solution to the problem, you can visit a forum where similar problems are discussed.
To replace the unit, simply turn off the power and fluid supply hoses. Then, using a flathead screwdriver, you can easily pry up the element, remove it and replace it.
Pump check
Determining the cause of a windshield washer malfunction begins with checking the functionality of the pump.
To do this, with the ignition on, briefly press the corresponding switch on the steering console. If the brushes begin to work and the pump drive does not make characteristic sounds (you will have to resort to the help of an assistant), the pump or electrical wiring may be faulty.
If the brushes also do not move, the fuse is most likely blown.
Checking the windshield washer fuse
The most important thing is to correctly determine which fuse is responsible for the windshield washer. It can be located either in the engine compartment fuse and relay box, or in the steering column (on the side of the dashboard)
To more accurately understand where the fuse for the windshield washer is located, you can use the diagram in the operating manual or find it in a search engine by creating the query “fuse location diagram + car make, year of manufacture.” If the fuse box has a decoding in English, it is designated by the word “washer”.
If the body control unit is faulty (this is the most serious fault), several fuses may be responsible for the washer's functionality.
You can verify that the washer pump is working properly by directly connecting it to the battery terminals. This can be done without removing it from the tank, using temporary conductors, by disconnecting the chip.
If the pump “buzzes” and fluid does not spray out, you need to disconnect the outlet tube from the pump. If in this case, even when the tank is filled, liquid does not flow, the membrane may be faulty or the channels in the pump are clogged.
The pump cannot be repaired, its cost is small (about 1,500 rubles, you can get it from other car models).
Video - how to change the windshield washer pump on a Volkswagen Bora:
Checking pipes and injectors
If the pump is operational and liquid does not spray out of the nozzles, it is necessary to check the integrity of the tubes and the absence of clogging and freezing of the nozzle. The easiest way to do this is by blowing.
If the nozzle is frozen, you can defrost it by placing a warm, wet cloth on it. It can be heated on a hot radiator of the engine cooling system. Minor freezing can be eliminated by sprinkling the outlet hole with a pinch of salt.
If the car is operated in particularly harsh conditions, heated injectors can be installed.
Video - how to clean windshield washer nozzles:
What types of malfunctions are there?
In fact, there are not so many problems, and they are divided into electrical and mechanical. Most often, problems arise in the mechanical part. Mechanical problems are simple, the first problem is lack of fluid. That is, it either simply ran out in the tank, or froze due to the low temperature. In the first case, you just need to top it up, and in the second, warm up the engine well, and its heat will defrost the liquid.
The hose could also have come off; it needs to be installed back, and the problem is solved. And the most common problem is clogged injectors. They can become clogged due to the use of low-quality fluid or due to the ingress of dust and weight.
Poor flow can also be due to problems with the pump or seals, so you should find out what the problem is.
Selection of wiper check valve
The standard washer design may not have a check valve, which is designed to prevent liquid from flowing from the hoses back into the reservoir when the suction pump is turned off. The valve ensures continuity of liquid supply, especially when the pump is turned on, since air does not enter the pipelines through the nozzle holes. The valve is a regular spring-loaded ball that closes the nozzle hole in the absence of liquid pressure.
The system can also be used without a check valve. Then it is necessary to provide a mechanical or electrical circuit for delaying the start of movement of the wipers relative to the moment of water supply.
The liquid must have time to pass through the hoses from the reservoir to the nozzles before the wipers start working. Here you can use a check valve for Zhiguli models 8 and 9. You can also use imported valves, for example, for Volvo brands or for Toyota brands - 85321-26020. As an alternative option, the use of a ready-made tee with a built-in check valve for Mitsubishi is worth considering.
A non-standard, but acceptable solution is to use a check valve used in an aquarium air compressor. It is usually located in the outlet pipe of the compressor and is highly reliable and efficient. In addition to this, you can also purchase a flexible silicone tube at the pet store for making pipes for the check valve and nozzles, which are used to supply air to the aquarium. In terms of adaptability to temperature changes and service life, this tube is much superior to the standard hoses used in Zhiguli cars.
Cleaning injectors
If you determine that the problem is due to simple blockage, you can clean it in several ways.
Compressor
This is the most effective and fastest way, but only if you are at home and have a compressor. Disconnect all associated hoses and wash the injectors with soapy water. Now you need to take the compressor hose and connect it to the nozzle. Why turn on the compressor for 30 seconds?
Syringe
A very simple method, but not as effective as the previous one. Pour plain water into the syringe; it will be good if you add citric acid there. Of course, we disconnect all the hoses and then wash them in the opposite direction. That is, the syringe must be inserted from the water outlet side, not the inlet side.
Pin
This method will not save you if the pollution is very strong. You can use it on the road. Your task is to take a pin or something similar and clean out all the dirt near the nozzle; unfortunately, you won’t be able to go deeper.
The best way
The best option, but it takes quite a long time, is to remove the nozzles and soak them in water with a cleaning agent. Leave them like this for a few minutes and then rinse them anyway, in some way.
Adjusting the nozzles
So, if the fluid is supplied poorly or there are problems with the direction of this fluid, then it is necessary to make adjustments. It's not that difficult and you can do it yourself without any problems, you just need a pin or a needle.
Everything must be done very carefully, as the plastic case can be damaged. First you need to insert the needle into the nozzle hole and then start making adjustments. You need to use careful movements to achieve the correct position so that the stream has the correct direction.
If you have a foreign car, then you need to be more careful here. The fact is that the nozzle supplies several jets in different directions and this should be taken into account when adjusting. The reason is that if you don't take this into account, three or four jets will be sent in one direction and less of the windshield surface will be affected.
Video
The safety of a vehicle depends on many factors, including visibility. The driver must understand what is happening around the car at 360 degrees, and glass and mirrors are used for this. The driver receives most of the information through the windshield, which should not have cracks, chips, refract light rays or otherwise interfere with visibility.
During rain or snow, visibility through the windshield is reduced due to contamination. To clean the windshield, a suitable agent is supplied from the washer barrel through the nozzles, which is picked up by the wipers and spread over the surface of the glass, cleaning it. It is extremely important that the nozzles, when spraying, fall into the operating area of the wipers and do not block the driver’s visibility with the stream of water. To do this, they need to be adjusted, and in this article we will look at how to do this.
Dismantling
It will be much better if you remove the nozzle, as this will be more convenient for adjustment. This will also be useful if you just want to replace it with a new one. In order to do this, you must first remove all suitable hoses. There is a nut for fastening, you need to unscrew it and then calmly remove the washer.
If it gets hard, it’s better to spray in WD-40 and wait a little, as too much force can break the washer. Putting it back is more difficult and you need to be even more careful here than when removing it.
New injectors will cost you about 300 rubles, and for AvtoVAZ models you only need to pay 60 rubles. The price may be slightly different due to the brand of the car; of course, they will cost more for expensive cars.
Adjusting the windshield washers is not difficult, but the main thing is to do it all carefully. For more information, watch the video instructions.
