The windshield washer does not work in the car: malfunctions and solutions
Content
A dirty windshield is unsafe for both vision and the likelihood of an accident. Especially in conditions of insufficient visibility, when the view is disturbed by dirt and insects flying from under the wheels, creating glare, sometimes reducing the field of view to zero. You need to be able to clean the glass as quickly as possible, while not damaging it.
Why you need a windshield washer
If you just wave the wiper blades, then the picture in front of the driver most likely will not get better, on the contrary, it will worsen. Dirt and grease will be smeared, objects outside the car will turn into cloudy shadows, and small ones will simply disappear from the driver's view.
In addition, such dry operation of the wipers will inevitably damage the polished surface of the main automotive glass, sometimes very expensive.
Much more efficient and safer brushes will work on a wetted surface. Everyone saw how they perfectly cope with their duties during the rain.
Dirt and insects are washed off with water without a trace. But not always the glass gets dirty during the rain.
The design of the car provides for the supply of fluid to the windshield automatically when the appropriate switch is pressed, along with the activation of the wiper drive. And measures have been taken to ensure a minimum delay between the appearance of water and the sweep of the wipers.
Moreover, instead of water, special liquids are used that do not freeze at low temperatures and have an increased washing ability.
Устройство
The design of the system is simple and clear, with the exception of some features.
Tank
The supply of liquid is stored in a plastic container, usually located in the engine compartment or in the area of \uXNUMXb\uXNUMXbthe wings and bumper. Access for replenishment is provided by an easily dismantled stopper.
The volume of the tank in a well-thought-out design is about five liters, which corresponds to the size of a standard canister with commercial liquid. But more often less, which is inconvenient and forces you to carry the rest in the trunk.
Pump
The tank is supplied with a built-in or external electric pump. The engine, when voltage is applied, rotates the impeller at high speed, creating the necessary pressure and performance.
The electric motor is switched by wiring with a fuse and steering column switches.
Nozzles (jet and fan)
Directly for spraying fluid on the windshield, plastic nozzles are mounted on the rear edge of the hood, under it, or sometimes on the leashes of the wiper blades. In the latter case, water with detergents enters the cleaning zone faster, and consumption is reduced.
The nozzles are equipped with one or more spray holes. It is possible to form a single jet, several or a spray fan. The latter allows you to cover a large area of glass, which better prepares dirt for the working stroke of the brushes.
The principle of operation of the washer
When you press the wiper control lever, depending on the direction, only the wipers can turn on or they can turn on, but together with the washer. This is ensured by synchronously supplying voltage to the wiper trapezoid motor and washer reservoir pump.
You can turn on only the washer if the wipers are already working and you need to add fluid to replace the used and draining one.
It is very important to ensure that the solution is delivered instantly at the first stroke of the brushes. But during downtime, he manages to drain back into the tank through the pressure head of the pump.
Therefore, non-return valves are built into the pipelines, which allow the water to move only in the direction of the glass.
Which liquid to choose
As a rule, the same liquid is used for winter and summer, it is commonly called non-freezing, although in summer there is no need for this ability. But the presence of alcohols in the composition, as well as surface-active detergents, is also useful in warm weather.
It will not work to wash off the fatty deposits and traces of insects with ordinary water, it will take a long time to rub them off with the work of brushes. This is harmful to their resource and glass transparency.
Even if the liquid is prepared independently, this feature must be taken into account. The components should include:
- water, preferably distilled or at least purified;
- isopropyl alcohol, the properties of which are optimal for washing glasses, besides, it is less harmful than ethyl or even more deadly poisonous methyl;
- detergent, household compositions that are not very aggressive are quite suitable, for example, if they indicate that they are loyal to the skin of the hands, or car shampoos;
- fragrance, since the smell of the washer will inevitably penetrate into the cabin.
Commodity compositions are prepared according to approximately the same principles. With the exception of dangerous fakes based on methanol.
Solving washer fluid freezing problems
In winter, freezing nozzles can be a problem. Their temperature drops below ambient due to airflow and pressure drop characteristics during spraying and high flow rates.
Therefore, the freezing point should be taken with a large margin. Not counting on the warming of the tank and pipelines from the engine, this does not work with injectors.
You can check the liquid with the help of a refrigerator freezer, and if you make it yourself, use the tables of the freezing point of solutions of the selected alcohol in water available on the network and reference books.
Some nozzles are electrically heated, but this is rare, justified only in very harsh climates.
What to do if the windshield washer does not work
It is very unpleasant when, when the system is turned on, water is not supplied to the glass. But it's easy to figure it out. It is necessary to check all the elements of the washer in sequence:
- the presence of liquid in the tank and its condition;
- the operation of the pump motor by buzzing at the moment of switching on;
- if the motor does not work, you need to make sure that the liquid is not frozen, and then check with a multimeter for the presence of the supply voltage, the serviceability of the fuse, wiring and switching, there is nothing complicated here, but it is advisable to have the car's electrical circuit;
- pipelines and nozzles can be blown out by removing the plastic hose from the pump fitting; there may be valves and tees along the way to the nozzles;
- there are two types of damage to the tubes - hoses that have come off the nozzles and clogging, this will be detected when blowing;
- clogged nozzles can be carefully cleaned with thin and flexible copper wire, such as stranded wire.
In case of problems with the presence of voltage or an electric motor and the lack of self-repair skills, you will have to contact a service station electrician. The switch, fuse or pump assembly can be replaced.
Popular questions from motorists
Difficulties may arise for inexperienced owners at the first attempt to self-repair. Then these operations will not be difficult.
How to replace injectors
Access to injectors is different for all cars, but the general principle is to find fasteners on the body. Usually these are plastic springs, clips or curly spacer slots.
They should be gently squeezed out, after which the nozzle is removed by hand. Beforehand, the supply tube is disconnected from it, sometimes planted by heat shrinkage. In this case, it is worth warming it up with a hairdryer.
When installing a new part, it is important not to lose and correctly install the sealing gasket. The tube is put on in a heated state, for reliability it is worth grabbing it with a plastic or screw clamp.
If this is not possible, then the joint is coated on the outside with silicone sealant. It is important not to allow it to get inside the pipeline, this will irreparably damage the nozzle.
How to adjust the washer jets
Some nozzles allow adjustment of the spray direction. The ball joint rotates in all directions when a needle is inserted into the spray hole.
This must be done carefully, the thin nozzle is easily damaged. The jet must be directed, taking into account the fact that at speed it will be pressed against the glass by the oncoming air flow.
How and what to clean the system
Pipelines are purged with compressed air. But for some types of blockages, washing the tubes and spray nozzles with table vinegar, diluted in half with water, will help. The solution is poured into the tank, the nozzles are removed and lowered into the drain tank, after which the pump is energized.
It is unacceptable to get an acid solution on the car body. Also, do not use solvents that are dangerous for plastic parts and tubes. The tank should be removed and washed from accumulated sediments.
