To begin with, I seldom (if at all) use my windshield washers. As a matter of fact, I totally forgot there was a light for when your washer fluid gets low.

Here's the deal. A couple summers ago I tried using my windshield washers while on a road trip, only to be surprise with nothing coming out the nozzle. When I got to my destination, I tried the washers again and I could here the pump working, but nothing coming out. I removed the hose going to the nozzles and able to get fluid out the hose. At first it was black dirty fluid, but it eventually cleared up and clean fluid was coming out. I then took compress air and back flush the nozzles, connect the hose and all is well.

Fast forward to the present and the same thing happened again. Nozzles clogged, disconnect hose, black debris coming out the hose, back flush nozzles, all is well.

Now my question, has anyone experience this repeated issues with their washers. At this point I'm thinking the hose has deteriated internally which is causing the repeated clog nozzles.

The washer fluid circuit is a closed system, so the likely hood of the debris coming from the exterior is highly unlikely. I'm thinking maybe I should take the time to replace all the old rubber hose with silicone hose.

How say you?

 

Sounds as if hoses are deteriorating and coming apart from the inside. I have seen this on fuel lines. Replace all the hoses.

 

nope never heard of that before but if you think it is the hose then replace it and hope the pump hasn't been affected.

 

That's definitely the plan. I got my VE at 27,000 miles so I believe the washer hose is original, and the washer hose is one of those items that we probably never change so I was curious if others have had this issue. But it appears it's not a common problem.

 

the other issue is forcing debris into the nozzles from outside. waxing/buffing the car almost always clogs the nozzles on my car.
a lot of times, you cna pick them clean using a needle, but sometimes that doesn't work either.

I don't know if good ol' carb cleaner will damage the plastic on the nozzles, but you might try removing them and soaking them in some cleaning solution of some sort and see if you can't blow the crap out with that and some compressed air.
(get an air nozzle with a rubber tip on it, and they'll conform to the nozzle and does pretty good at that stuff.)


...Or you could just go to the parts store and buy some new aftermarket nozzles for cheap. they were under $5 each last time I bought some...

 

Using a paper clip works well. Depending on the side of the openings, the smaller paper clips usually work better since they aren't as thick. The larger paper clips are too big to unclog mine when they gunk up, but I haven't had any problems lately.

 

I would just pop the hose off and shoot compressed air through it if the safety pin doesnt work

 

This is a common problem that i see on BMW's. This happens when you only have water just sitting inside the tank for a long period of time. I would replace the rubber hoses, can't remember if there is even a screen on the pump for you to replace but if there is then i would replace it too. Also flush out the tank with clean water so that most of the debris comes out. Close the system and add a 50/50 solution of washer fluid antifreeze with water. I would also replace the nozzles.

 

It's happened to me a couple times, since here in Miami FL it rains 24/7, I'd never use the fluid out of the my reservoir, well need less to say, I always used the Rain-x Green bug wash fluid and from it sitting in the reservoir, it created a bunch of algae/mold whatever it's called and clogged my nozzles twice. They are $17 a pop at Nissan, cost a pretty penny. I've flushed and removed the reservoir a few times and now with the plain water I have now, no problems anymore.

 

Some windshield washer fluids contain alcohol in them. Over time, that can cause the rubber to start dry-rotting...it's possible the hoses are deteriorating from the inside-out.

 

I've never used straight water in my washer reservoir. I've always grab the most inexpensive washer fluid bottle I can find. Which I wouldn't be surprise if it contained mostly alcohol as Mr. Brett stated. But I do like the 50/50 solution of washer fluid and anitfreeze/water.

Depending on what is readily available at my work place, my plan is to replace all the original rubber hose with either silicone or vinyl hose. In all the years of having my Max, I've never looked into what it takes to get to the reservoir. Hopefully I don't have to dismantle too much in order to get to it.

 

i guess just by removing the inner fender lining should be good enough but i wouldn't know. I did however removed my front bumper cover and its pretty much exposed from there on.