Greetings!
On my '02, the washer fluid doesn't have enough pressure. Once I pull and hold the wiper's stalk, the motor (pump) start humming immediately, but the fluid begins flowing only after wipers do three complete circles, i.e. after about six seconds. In other words, my wipers do three "dry" circles before fluid starts flowing. But worse yet is that it only spays on the very bottom portion of the windshiled, as it has little or no pressure. I replaced the fluid and checked the nozzles; cleaned the tank and all to no avial. BTW, the dealer says "it is OK".
(It was so since I bought the car used. I didn't want to persue the matter with this particular dealer - Herb Gordon Nissan in Silver Spring - being affraied of they will broke something else, as they did with some other repairs)


As always, members' help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Eugene

 

Hmmm...

It sounds like you're pump isn't functioning correctly. Could be a problem with the pump itself, or perhaps some sort of connection problem. Hope this helps.

It may even be an occlusion problem, i.e. something clogging the hoses. It may just take the pump longer to build up enough pressure to overcome the resistance to the flow. And when there is flow, it's very minimal. What's the condition of the fluid, i.e. is it dirty or did sand get in there?

And btw, the Nissan dealer said it was ok, even after there was obviously a problem???? It seems as if the issue is pretty easily conveyed to someone. Weird...

 

I did replace the fluid with the fresh one. I wonder how to check the pump?
I do have the manual, but was unable to find a procedure for checking it.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

 

What a great time for the stupid pump to stop functioning. The fluid is not frozen, I cannot hear the motor humming at all.

I checked and did not find a fuse for the motor..Any ideas?? Where is the motor???

 

i had my nozzle froze up on me 2 weeks ago. Water didn't come out at all, had to get some hot water and pour over that suckers. My window was fulll of ice too. Even though it was frozen once there was a hole, even though small, water came out continously. I would say check out the pump and check to see if anything i clog in the hose.

 

My pump is failing I believe....I can hear it humm, but it struggles spraying water over the windshield like it use to (when I first got the car)...I took my FSTB off hoping it was just pinching the lines...that didnt work...I cleaned out my nozzles with safety pins....that didnt either...i'm gonna conclude my problem as a weak pump

 

I had the same problem with my '02. It turned out to be a pinched line underneeth the hood insulation. If you trace the line with your hand and pull back the insulation you may find the same problem. I found the retaining clip was pinching the line. Open up the clamp or pull the line from the clamp and let it "float" above the insulation....Hope it helps.

 

was your 02 okay when you first bought it? Becuz mine was perfectly fine for the first year or so...then it started to spray very weakly....I owned my car for about 1.5yrs now...

 

I got it used in '04 from the service manager of an Infinity dealership. The first time I tried it, it didn't work well, and I figured I would just chase the lines down before I brought it back to the dealsership. That's when I caught it.

 

My 03 does the same thing now. I'm going to check the system for a filter. If there is one, that's probably clogged...

 

oic...well it seems like yours was bad the whole time....compared to mine it worked fine until half a yr ago

 

it is possible that a rock or dirt fell into your washer fluid when filling, un hook the black rubber hose from the washer fluid tank and the nossles and blow into it (CLEAN THE END 1ST LOL) if you have no trouble then it is your motor if you do have trouble, then the hose is clogged, check for kinks or clamps stopping the hose from staying open, at this time while the hose is disconnected, have some one give the washer fluid button a lil tug (CLOSE THE HOOD A LITTLE SO THE WIPER BLADES DONT SCRATCH THE EDGE) and see if any fluid squirts out (IF NOT ITS THE MOTOR) If new hoses are needed i know they sell them in pepboys.

If everything works, you got some squirt from the washer fluid and your hoses are clear, it might be your nossles (make sure you dont have wax build up in them)

Good luck, keep us updated

 

I know for sure mine is a bad pump. Cause if the lines are frozen, the pump should still turn???? I can't hear any humming..

Where is the darn thing??

 

yo i got the same problem. the driverside washer does not have power it goes up to 1/4 of the window. the other one goes up to 1/2 the window. how can i repair it.

 

wow it seems like alot of maxima owners have weak pumps...or problems with the lines...hehe i thought i was the only one

 

For what it's worth guys, check the clip that holds the washer line against the hood. I think what may be happening is that the clip may be pinching the washer lines causing a reduction in flow. The clip is located in the center of the hood, behind the hood insulation. It's worth taking a look before the dealer charges you $70/hr to do the same thing....Another thing to check first is to raid your wife's/girlfriend's/siter's/mother's sewing kit for a sewing needle and use that to clean out the suirters of old wax and crud. You can also use them to reaim them if you like. I tried a pin at first and that just bent, so a sewing needle will probably do a better job.

 

Greetings!
Actually, this is exactly what it was - the clip! Once I moved it, the problem was solved for good.

Eugene

 

Sort of digging this up but do you guys know how to get under [above] the insulation on the hood? I'm afraid if I take those plastic tabs off, they will break. Do I even have to take the tabs off?

 

Yes those plastic tabs are holding the insulating in place....

I'm interested in diagnosing this problem further...does anyone know how to check the pump?

 

How do you get the tabs out, just yank them out. Will they break?

About your problem, are you getting pressure? My passenger shoots about twice as strong and it almost shoots over windshield. The driver side either shoots on the hood or not at all. I know mine must be some pressure on the line.

 

My problem goes as follows....when I pull the windshield sprayer shaft/stick...It pauses for like 1-2 seconds then shoots only to the lower portion of the windshield....this only happened recently in the past 6 months or so....for the first yr that I owned my 2k2, it was strong and sprayed over the whole windshield...I tried cleaning out the nozzles with a sewing needle....still doesn't help...

 

I see you live in CA. Is it freezin' cold over there? If it is then the nozzles might be frozen. You need to get a De-Icer. You might wanna drain your windshield washer fluid first. Now if its not frozen then you probably messed up the nozzle with the needle. To check it nozzle is busted? Open hood and leave it open then press the press the windshield washer. If it comes out flying then youve messed up your nozzle.
Good luck

 

No it's not freezing in cali...its very hot over here actually....and no I doubt my nozzle is messed up...I lifted the hood and turned the sprayer on....same result...still very weak....

 

One of the pipes might be busted. Check for leaking . See if windshield washer fluid is spilling on the floor everytime you use it. Check inside the engine. If its not leaking then the pump might be faulty

 

are you talking about the hoses? the rubber hoses?

 

alright so I did a little test earlier...I took off my rubber hoses leading to the windshield nozzles....then routed them outside of the engine bay so i can see if i'm getting any pressure....well right when I turn on my sprayer, i noticed fluid started coming out of my wheel well, fender area....THEN it started coming out the black hoses.....i'm going to conclude i have a leaking rubber hose somewhere along the fender...

 

Finally you need to remove the plastic covering the wheel well from the side where the windshield washer is. This should be easy. You need to remove like 3 to 4 clips. This should help you find the location of busted hose.

The hose is cheap at home depot but I dont know what exact size and lenght is.

Good luck
P.s Let me know your progress

 

would removing the fender be the same as removing the splash gaurd? I think i'd choose removing the fender cuz I wouldn't have to jack up the car and take off the tire...

Also I'm still still getting some pressure from the upper hoses....when it first starts off at the pump, its very strong and when it hits the hose in the fender, some of it leaks out cuz theres a leak somewhere along there....but it still has enough pressure to travel up and shoot out the nozzles...I was wondering if I can tape up the leak on the hose inside the fender?

 

I didnt say the fender. I meant the black cover underneath the fender.
Or do I need to take pictures?

 

I know you didn't say fender....you don't have to remind me...I know how to read...I just wanted to know if anybody removed their fenders to expose the windshield washer hoses before....removing the black shield would be a pain in the a$$ cuz you have to jack up the car and remove the tire...

 

yeah. Its too late now so I wont be able to take some pics on how to fix your problem. Maybe I'll do it on monday.
Thats if you havent figured it out by then

 

well you guys...I figured out the problem...a small chunk of my black mud guard got chopped away cuz i'm too slammed...and while that chunk got eaten away, my tire decided to take a piece of windshield fluid hose with it....so I have a small tear in my hose that leaked everytime my pump was turned on...that resulted in weak nozzle pressure by the time it hit the nozzles

I fixed the leak and now it sprays like stock...excellent...to all those tryin to diagnose this problem...check a few things

1. Make sure your pump is humming...it should be relatively loud and audible when turned on...

2. Make sure you clean your nozzles and make sure nothing is "pinching" the lines...this causes a drop in pressure result in weak spray...

3. Try turning on the nozzles and see if you have a leak anywhere on the floor....mine had a leak in the fender so everytime I turned it on, fluid would come out the tire....this will allow you to source out the problem by finding where its leaking