Windshield washers—they help you see better, but they can also break

Windshield washers

Contrary to popular belief, we use windshield washers throughout the year, not just in the fall or winter. In summer, dust and pollen accumulate on the windows, or it rains heavily. An efficient windshield washer system also saves windshield wipers and windows.

Fortunately, the windshield washer system is not very up to date. In any case, its components are also not expensive, and replacing them in most cars is quick and easy. Washer fluid is also cheap. It is worth remembering that the cheaper it is, the worse the cleaning efficiency.

If the washer system fails, driving is dangerous and sometimes impossible. This is especially true when traveling in rain or snow. You should also remember that we may pay a fine for damaged windshield wipers and missing washer fluid or a faulty washer system.

An electric pump wiper system has been standard on many vehicles for many years. Simply push the lever or turn the knob under the steering wheel to spray the windshield or rear window with liquid. Older cars used hand or foot operated windshield washer pumps. The Volkswagen Beetle Type 1 introduced another innovation - instead of a pump, the system could be connected to a spare tire valve, which created the correct pressure to spray the glass.

Before we look at the defects that interfere with or prevent the windshield washer system from working, let's first look at how the system is designed.

Common faults

The main signs of a malfunction of the VAZ 2109 wipers:

• complete stop of the wipers, no response to pressing the levers;
• brushes do not work intermittently;
• wipers work slowly;
• the movement of the brushes does not correspond to the mode turned on in the cabin.

The most common malfunctions of VAZ 2109 windshield wipers are:

• contacts have oxidized;
• fuses are blown;
• electrical circuit breakage, wiring damage;
• the switch does not work;
• the wiper, which worked in one mode, does not switch to another;
• The windshield washer motor does not work;
• The rear wiper of the VAZ 2109 does not work;
• breakdown of the electric windshield wiper motor.

Rear window wiper

Windshield cleaning system - structure and operation

How does the windshield washer system work? What elements are included in its composition? Let's look at a typical solution:

• DC electric motor connected via a special connector to the vehicle's electrical system
• Plastic pump installed at the bottom of the liquid tank. Features a large inlet immersed in a container of liquid and an outlet for attaching plastic pipes
• Plastic tank with lockable filler. The wheel arches of the front wheel are most often located.
• Rubber or plastic hoses
• Cable made of rubber or plastic leading to the rear window or to the rear door in station wagons and hatchbacks
• Two windshield washer nozzles
• Rear window washer nozzle
• Nozzle and mounting hose
• Some cars have an additional washer fluid filter.

The nozzles can be installed separately, but in the case of the rear window they can also be installed in the windshield wiper. Anti-fog nozzles or spot spray windows are used.

Nozzle selection

Today, most car owners use fan washer nozzles. Their advantage is that water does not fall onto the windshield in drops or in a couple of jets of liquid, but at once in a large number of small drops, thanks to which most of the glass is immediately covered. This is the main advantage of fan-type wipers, thanks to which the wipers begin to work on wet glass, carefully removing sediment or dirt.

Of course, this ensures the least risk of the wipers leaving scratches on the surface of the glass, since the sweeps will no longer occur on a dry surface. Many car owners also claim that using this type of nozzle reduces windshield washer fluid consumption. The only drawback is their unusual design, which is why they quickly freeze in the cold season, but in this case it is recommended to immediately select and install elements with a heating function.

There are recommendations that you need to choose original injectors, according to the make of your car. But these can be expensive and, in this case, you can choose non-original ones. The alternative will cost less, but some improvements are possible. The most common injectors, which are suitable for installation on many brands of cars, are from Volvo S80, and an even cheaper option is from SsangYong. Skoda fits perfectly on Daewoo Lanos and Chevrolet Aveo cars. Also, for example, elements from the Mitsubishi Galanta produced in 2008 are suitable for many car models.

Their standard configuration may not include a check valve. Thanks to it, liquid is prevented from flowing back into the washer reservoir if the suction pump does not work.

It is this valve that ensures a continuous supply of fluid. It has the shape of a spring-loaded ball and closes the hole in the nozzle if liquid is not supplied to the glass by the washer.

In general, you can do without this valve, but then you will need to think of another way so that the wipers do not work before the water is supplied to the glass. Such a valve can also be selected from different cars, for example from VAZ 08 or 09, Toyota or Volvo.

How it works

When the lever under the steering wheel is operated, electricity is sent to the electric motor. His work can usually be heard in the car. The engine turns the pump. The pump takes fluid from the reservoir, slightly increases its pressure and directs it through the nozzle lines. From here the liquid falls directly onto the glass.

Newer and better equipped cars use automatic rain-sensing systems. After detecting precipitation, the sensor automatically activates the wipers and washers, adjusting their intensity according to the road conditions.

Windshield washer system malfunctions

Main causes of failures of additional equipment

If the washer on the car does not work, it is necessary to diagnose it using simple techniques. This system may fail for a number of reasons, which are listed below:

1. breakdown of the injection pump;
2. fuse blown;
3. kinking or squeezing of the supply hose;
4. breakdown of the steering column switch;
5. freezing of water in pipelines or other devices;
6. loss of contact in the electrical network.

It is possible to determine the cause of the malfunction and the amount of costs to restore the system's functionality based on the results of a careful inspection. If you need to replace individual parts or elements, you can do it yourself. The device that blows the windshield to clean it from fresh or dried dirt does not work.

Most likely, you will need to replace failed equipment.

In a workshop

• Adjust and clean the washer nozzles
• Removing the pump and cleaning it may restore full functionality of the system.
• Check to see if the engine is in good condition or needs to be replaced.
• Check the condition of the power cord and connector supplying power to the motor.
• Seal connections between the pump and lines that may be a source of leakage.
• Replace the damaged combination switch under the steering wheel if it is responsible for the inability to start the washer system,
• In case of other malfunctions, the parts are replaced with new ones.

Access to the system is easy in most cases. The wheel and wheel arch must be removed. Then unscrew the liquid container. In its lower part there is a pump with a motor, from which lines leading to the nozzle are drawn.

Replacing the tailgate injector power cable requires disassembling a few items, but it certainly doesn't have to be a complicated operation.

Replacement

If the old motor has failed, there is no point in trying to repair it somehow. To buy a new part, you will have to spend very little money. And the replacement procedure on most cars is extremely simple.

I will describe the main stages of work associated with replacing this element of the windshield cleaning system of any car.

Turning off the vehicle's power. A safety measure without which further work makes no sense. Be sure to remove the negative terminal from the car

It's simple but important. Otherwise, you not only risk burning the wiring, but also getting an unpleasant electric shock yourself. Search for a motor

It all starts with identifying where your windshield wiper motor is located. It depends on your car. On some cars, just lift the hood and you will immediately see the washer reservoir. The motor itself is located on the reservoir (partially inside) of the windshield wiper, into which the liquid is poured. Do you see the tank? If yes, then you are in luck. If not, then you will have to look for it by removing elements of the engine compartment. On some car models, the tank is hidden so that the fender protection has to be removed.

• Disconnect the connectors with wires from the motor. Then remove the tank itself.
• The hose and fitting are separated from each other. Don't forget to drain the liquid. Filling a new one will not be difficult. Yes, and for prevention it won’t hurt to do it.
• Using a screwdriver, push the intake seal out of the bushing. This will allow you to completely remove the windshield washer motor.
• Don't forget to install a new bushing when reassembling. This often leads to the washer pump itself breaking down. So the old bushing goes to the landfill.
• Reassemble the assembly in reverse order. Here many craftsmen relax, because they consider the work done. In fact, reassembly causes more problems than disassembly. Advice from someone who made similar mistakes. That is, from me. Do not try to remember the location of parts unless you are confident in your memory capabilities. We got distracted by something, forgot, got confused. This happens to everyone, and there is nothing wrong with it. To ensure proper reassembly sequence, you can record, mark, or label the parts in the order in which they are removed. This will make it easier to put everything back together the way it was before.

The instructions are for informational purposes only, as the procedure may differ depending on the car model. Consult your machine's owner's manual for assistance. This is the best visual aid for self-repair.

There is nothing complicated in this work. Even the car owner who prefers to solve most problems with the help of a car service can easily cope with it. Repairs cost several hundred rubles and take a maximum of a few hours.

How to care for your windshield washer system?

What should a driver remember?

• To ensure that the system always has the required amount of washer fluid
• About using winter windshield washer fluid before the first frost
• About protecting your car from freezing. Using car covers or storing the car in a garage prevents the injectors from freezing and becoming clogged with dust and sand.
• When servicing the seals, you should also be mindful of the ones that protect the fluid hoses at the connections between the hood/boot and body. Lubricating them with silicone spray or wax will give them a beautiful appearance and significantly extend the life of the rubber, which will protect the wires from damage.
• Sprayers should not be operated continuously, for example for several minutes. This may damage the motor and pump.

The windshield washer system is extremely important all year round. So if there are any problems with its proper operation - a clogged rear or windshield washer, windshield washers with the wrong pressure, or the system not working at all - it's worth taking it to a mechanic to get the problem fixed as soon as possible.

Cleaning injectors

If you notice that the stream of fluid has become weak, it means that the washer nozzles are most likely clogged and it’s time for you to clean them. You can do this yourself; for cleaning you will need: something thin (string, wire, needle or pin), a twenty-cc large syringe, water, soap and a compressor.

You definitely need to check if they are really the problem. To do this, you need to check that there is water in the washer reservoir, then you need to disconnect the hoses that supply fluid and turn on the suction. If there is a good stream from the tubes, this means that you really need to clean them.

1. After disconnecting the water supply hoses, rinse the nozzle thoroughly with soapy water, and then attach the hose from the compressor back and blow it out.
2. Fill the syringe with water and thoroughly, in the opposite direction, rinse the nozzle. Carefully clean the nozzle hole with a thin object (for example, a needle, etc.), and then rinse it with water using a syringe.
3. If your car has a dismountable one, you disassemble it, clean it, and then put it back together and install it.
4. After installing it back on the car, it is worth flushing the entire system.

If clogging of the elements begins to occur frequently, then the washer barrel itself may be clogged, so check it for debris.

When installing universal headlight washer nozzles or windshield jets, try to adjust them so that they spray liquid onto the surface of the glass without going beyond it. When choosing fan jets, try to give preference to those models that were designed specifically for your car, this will save you time on installing the elements.

The principle of operation of the motor

This motor is used to create the necessary pressure and supply water. Its design differs depending on the brand. This is due to the fact that sometimes water supply is required not only to the windshield, but also to the rear view glass. In general, the principle of operation is no different from that characteristic of any other water pump, it’s just that this one has small dimensions and works not only with water, but also with washer fluid, that is, in an aggressive environment. The windshield washer motor can fail, like any other component in the car, but unlike the same engine, every driver can easily repair it on his own.

Why does it need to be changed?

It is impossible to answer this question definitely, since there are quite a lot of reasons for a change. If the system is filled with water, it can simply freeze in winter, which can lead to damage to the washer pump, rupture of the tubes supplying the composition to the nozzles, and failure of the sprinklers themselves. The use of tap water is also undesirable because precipitation, when used for a long time, leads to clogging of the tubes and nozzles. Sometimes problems arise when using “anti-freeze”, especially when purchasing counterfeit products. Unscrupulous manufacturers sometimes use alcohol-containing compounds that pose a health hazard. If unpleasant odors appear during use, it must be replaced immediately. Sometimes it happens that by mixing products from different manufacturers, a chemical reaction occurs and the liquid turns into a jelly-like composition.

Let's sum it up

We looked at what a windshield washer pump is. A VAZ, for example, is easier to repair than a foreign car. The windshield washer pump on this vehicle is easy to disassemble. You need to start by checking the electrical circuit, fuses and relays. Remember also that operating the windshield washer pump with clogged nozzles can lead to its failure. Often, motorists pour ordinary water into the tank. In winter, it freezes along with the pump. Turning it on in this state can damage the armature and winding. Remember this and use anti-freeze in winter.

As you can see, there is nothing difficult about checking the pump. This also applies to replacing the device. It is advisable to regularly service the system. Believe me, after several years of operation, any pump will pick up dirt from the tank. Because of this, it may become clogged and, naturally, will not perform its main task. To avoid sudden failure while driving, it is advisable not to repair, but to change the pump. Although sometimes Chinese products from a store are several times worse than the original, which has been around for 10 years. Now you know how to repair a pump and how to check it. It's easy to do and doesn't require any special tools or skills. Even a beginner can cope with this task.