Windscreen Washers, Jets keep blocking

[xmexclusive]

Hi All

Anyone got a way of cleaning out the washer tanks and pipework without removing them from the car or can suggest a suitable cleaner to fill the tanks with. My red estate came with the washer jets blocked. I have now cleaned them out at least half a dozen times and they always block again within a day or so. The problem seems to be a black film throughout the pipe work and in the tanks. I guess someone refilled with washing up liquid at one time and it has now grown self perpetuating mould coating the whole of the inside of the system. Early on I tried jetting the pipework with compressed air but all that did was to open up all the joints in the pipework which then had to be found and pushed back together.

Regards

John

[Ciaran]

I guess some kind of degreasing agent, the likes of Vanish or Cillit bang with hot water might shift it. Wouldn't fancy it on the windscreen though, so perhaps disconnect the pipes from jets and flush it through into a container for a while.

Both of mine have started doing it too, I must get round to sorting it out...

Ciaran

[bigjohnh]

John,
Try the stuff they use for cleaning glassware for winemaking.

It's called Chempro SDP and is available from Boots. It shifts stuff in the bottom of wine bottles with little or no effort and rinses easily leaving no residue.

John

[John Malkovich]

Careful with those products, they might harm plastic pipes and render them brittle in no time. How about thoroughly washing the container, airjet the jets and replace the pipes completely? Shouldn't cost much.
While we're on the subject, how can I adjust height and direction of water jets?

[techmanagain]

Bleach in warm water - about a tablespoonfull in a pint - will probably kill all the mould without damaging anyrthing else if it is not left in for more than a hour or so then jetted out with a continuous screen spraying.

[xmexclusive]

Hi All

Thanks for the suggestions.

Hi John M

Each of the individual jets is directed onto the screen (or elsewhere) by a minature rotatable ball with a hole through the middle. A thin piece of stiff wire inserted in the hole will enable you to adjust the aim. A couple of other minor problems can make this an irritating series of readjustments rather than a line up once and finish process. If you have any blocked jets the pressure and therefore reach of the free one you are adjusting will be greater than the eventual reach after all the jets are cleared so you have to come back and reset it. If the windscreen has been replaced the plastic strip at the bottom is often put back just loose and bends about a little. As the washer jets are mounted on this plastic any movement as happens inadvertently while adjusting can upset the aim.

Regards

John

[kenhall1202]

Bleach is unlikely to affect any plastic parts (after all it is sold in plastic bottles!) but the chloride (salt )in bleach will corrode stainless steel (pump internals ?). Suggest following the bleach treatment to disconnect the jets and then flush through thoroughly using the washer pump(s). The higher flowrate with the jets disconnected will help to flush through the remaining black crud. If there is a lot of crud in the wing tank then reverse flushing with a thin hose fed down the filler as far as possible should shift it.

PS My washer fluid of choice is good old Fairy liquid with a splash of meths in frosty weather - it stinks, but is effective and jets never block!!

Ken

[Peter.N.]

A bristle from a wire brush is ideal for cleaning the jets and may move them as well.

Peter.N.

[Jan-hendrik]

Bleach may kill the mold but it won' t rid you of the accumulated filth in the tank. The only effective way is to remove the tank and flush it carefully, then kill the mold with a bleach solution, rinse with water, then rinse with methanol, replace the tank and fill it with a proper cleaning solution Easy, isn't it
Only problem is, we always like it easIER

[jamieb]

I had the same problem with mine. I used strong solutions of bog standard windscreen washer fluid and in time (6 months?) the problem seems to have gone. I assume the gunk was dissolved by the fluid and now has worked itself out of the jets.

[cmacedo]

Hi

try a copper wire handling a sponge, insert the sponge inside the tank and rotate the wire, also suggest a small plastic hose and a certain amount of water pressure, keep the hose moving all the time inside the tank, the water will flow out with residues.

Caique