Rear Wash-Wipe Failure

[Lazarus]

A salutary lesson here:

Don't get gung-ho trying to use car wash-wipe in chilly conditions (below around -3C).

On previous occasions when I've done this, freezing fluid in the rear washer pipe resulted in the jet and pipe parting and was easily remedied.

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed operating the rear washer resulted in several seconds delay before any water came through and even then it was no more than a trickle. Inspected nozzle assembly and found the jets were not blocked and the pipe still attached.

Scratched head.

Couple of days later I discovered the passenger foot-well carpet was saturated.

Took a couple of bits of trim off the sill to reveal where the pipe (and an awful lot of wiring) ran from the bulkhead rearwards, then eyeballed the problem: Split pipe right up in the foot-well, pi**ig water out when the washer pump was operated.

The pipe is tightly bound up in the cable looms and hard to get at.

Anyway, I've thoroughly dried the carpets etc. using J Cloths, newspaper and finally a hairdryer.

Today, I've carefully removed various bits of tape binding the pipe to the loom and have revealed enough pipe to be able to sever it (although I haven't actually done that yet).

I've ordered a selection of different sized pipe repair joiners so when they've arrived I'll cut the pipe and find a joiner that fits. Hopefully that'll be a good job done.

Although I have the nous to tackle such tasks, many don't. Just think how much a garage would charge to trace, reveal, dry and remedy this otherwise innocuous fault!

 

[jeallen01]

A salutary lesson here:

Don't get gung-ho trying to use car wash-wipe in chilly conditions (below around -3C).

On previous occasions when I've done this, freezing fluid in the rear washer pipe resulted in the jet and pipe parting and was easily remedied...!

Unless, of course, the fluid gets into the wiper motor &/or boot lock - if you don't spot and fix that PDQ, it gets a whole lot more complicated and expensive (speaking from experience!)

 

[Lazarus]

Before anyone mentions proprietary (and expensive) Screenwash fluid, it seems that has very little by way of anti-freezing properties. Down to -1C only.

 

[jeallen01]

Before anyone mentions proprietary (and expensive) Screenwash fluid, it seems that has very little by way of anti-freezing properties. Down to -1C only.

Just don't use washing-up fluid as that can "jellify" and clog up the pipes and washer jets. Personally, I always use the Halfords concentrated brand, and haven't had any issues with that - OTOH, we have a quite a mild climate down here as compared with Yorkshire (so that's another reason why I won't be applying to move back there!)

 

[sonnetpete]

so that's another reason why I won't be applying to move back there!

Move back?....were you excommunicated for being on Ilkely Moor with a hat?

 

[hairybadger]

In winter we typically use fluid that's good down to -20C here, although I prefer the -35C stuff (the coldest I've seen here was -16C a few winters ago, but that was very unusual). A colleague put engine coolant in by mistake a few years ago; he quickly realised his mistake and thought he'd remedy it by pushing on the squirt button until the reservoir emptied. Result? Burnt out pump

 

[purplemarina]

i use fluid that i had left from my time working in a garage 35 years ago,it must have a very high alcohol content because it is still very pungent never had any problem with it freezing over the years still have a couple of litres left.

 

[Lazarus]

Can you Fax me some?!

 

[Topper]

And here's me reading the heading, thinking your bidet had malfunctioned

 

[Lazarus]

 

[jeallen01]

Move back?....were you excommunicated for being on Ilkely Moor with a hat?

No - but Lazarus suggested a couple of days ago in another thread that I should do that to get more Sun!

 

[Lazarus]

It's been so gloomy and drizzly this past few days that I've only just gotten around to effecting a repair.

I cut the pipe where the rupture was and ascertained (inevitably, perhaps) that a 4mm joiner was very slightly too small and a 5mm too large. They only come in whole mm ....

Tried using washing-up liquid to get the 5mm to interference fit, but one side of the pipe has too little exposed to really grab it firmly and give it some welly.

So my compromise was to resort to inserting the 4mm joiner plus a liberal application of Plumbers Blue. God, I love that stuff.

Anyhow, the job's a good 'un. Full bore screen wash at the back end and zero seepage from the pipe repair.

(I realise I've included much material for the coarse-minded to have a field day, but it was entirely unintentional. Honest)

 

[jeallen01]

Sometimes, gently heating a plastic pipe to soften it before you try to fit it, and then a short length of self-amalgamating tape over the final joint might have been "good ideas", "just in case".

 

[Lazarus]

Yes, I'm familiar with all sorts of tricks, but access is extremely diccifult, limiting choice.

Anyway, cost of repair? About £1.20. (Four joiners for under a fiver, one used, three to stock)

 

[TJExcalibur]

Gorilla glue works on almost everything. I had a paving slab come loose and thought a few blobs of Gorilla glue would hold it down. Works a treat but expensive for bigger jobs.

 

[sonnetpete]

One has to really grab it firmly and give it some welly plus a liberal application of Plumbers Blue. Anyhow, full bore at the back end and zero seepage.

.....coarse minded?....moi?...(not sure if the edited version is tweet size LOL)

 

[Captain Jack]

I once put engine oil into a washer bottle (dark winter morning...) squirted oil all over the windscreen and blew the washer pump fuse. Exciting stuff....

 

[jeallen01]

Gorilla glue works on almost everything. I had a paving slab come loose and thought a few blobs of Gorilla glue would hold it down. Works a treat but expensive for bigger jobs.

For jobs like that, you simply need a large (5l) container of PVA = £9.99 from Screwfix - lasts years & years (also good for sticking down wallpaper, adding to cement to waterproof it, sticking bits of broken brick or rendering back in place, and generally sticking large pieces of "something" to "something else")

 

[jeallen01]

Yes, I'm familiar with all sorts of tricks, but access is extremely diccifult, limiting choice.

I too have a few "tricks up my sleeve" - here was how I replaced the driver's side dashboard vent on the Skoda yesterday - getting the bu**er out might look easy but it's most definitely not, especially if you don't apply a bit of Southern nouse (look at the photos, and especially my "secret weapons")

 

[jeallen01]

I once put engine oil into a washer bottle (dark winter morning...) squirted oil all over the windscreen and blew the washer pump fuse. Exciting stuff....

A couple of years ago, my wife topped up the washer fluid with washer additive - luckily she didn't run the engine before she told that the job was a bit more difficult than she had expected.

Turned out that she's topped up the cooling system header tank instead the washer bottle! Took me about an hour to siphon out enough of the fluid in the cooling system to be fairly sure that there was little or no washer fluid left in it .