headlamp washers executive

[grasmere59]

On my new to me car the headlight washers don't work,it's no big deal but i just like stuff that is fitted to a car to work,my question is how do they work? I have been told they work on pressure and the handbook says they work with the headlights on,is there a seperate pump or is the a solenoid valve in the washer line somewhere that opens when the headlights are on? Any ideas?

[steve_earwig]

They have a separate pump, from what's been posted on this forum I gather the water pressure makes them pop out. I've no idea when they work (I'm sure someone will) but if you don't think they're working I think it's the pump closest to the engine - give it some juice and see if anything occurs.

[grasmere59]

Cheers i'll have a look,i thought there must be a seperate pump at a higher pressure as i would'nt have thought the windscreen washer pump would have enough puff to do it.

[FarmerPug]

They actually sound like they are electric, but they come on with the lights and if you use the window washer they should appear. If they are used when its frosty and they can't pop out they can blow the fuse which is worth checking

[highlander]

On models with headlamp washers, you have a larger capacity washer bottle, which has two pumps attached to it rather than just the one.

The second pump (for the headlamp washers) draws water at a higher level in the tank than the pump for the windscreen washers - this is so that the last of the washer fluid isn't chucked at the headlamps.

In order for the headlamp washer pump to be activated, you must have your dipped or full-beam headlamps on - they won't trigger with either no lights or sidelights-only.

The headlamp washers pop out when hit with the pressure from the pump. If the caps are frozen to the bumper, or the nozzles are blocked, or the pipes are blocked or pinched, then you will get nothing from the headlamp washers.

If one or both of the hoses that run from the washer tank to the washers have been disconnected or severed, then all that will happen is you'll get water squirted all over the inside of your engine bay.

Since there's a second pump, there is a separate fuse that protects that pump. As FP says, the fuse can blow if the pump cannot deliver water, so it's worth checking your fuses. I can't remember if the fuses for the washer fluid pumps are held in the engine bay fuse box or in the passenger cabin fuse box.

[grasmere59]

Cheers for that.i've had a look in the handbook and there is no mention as to what fuse it is so i will have to dig a bit deeper.

[steve_earwig]

Any idea when it was made? No, hold on, December 2003 (so was mine ) - engine compartment, fuse 7. Hopefully.

[grasmere59]

Cheers i'll have a look when it stops chucking it down or failing that in the morning.

[grasmere59]

Any idea when it was made? No, hold on, December 2003 (so was mine ) - engine compartment, fuse 7. Hopefully.

Fuse number 7 it was,blown to bits,i can only think someone has tried to work the washers when they were frozen or something.Well the headlight washers work now i have replced the fuse but only on the drivers side! More investigation needed

[highlander]

See if you can prize up the headlamp washer caps (use something soft that won't damage your paintwork) - they are spring-loaded and should pop up easily. If one is stuck down, that might explain why it's not popping up under the water pressure alone.

If they do pop up, you may find that one is gunked up inside the nozzles (use a pin to clear them out) or inside the hoses (you may need to replace the hose, or at least disconnect it from the washer and the pump and blast it through with compressed air to clear out the crap).

There's only one pump that feeds both headlamp washers, so now you know the pump and fuse are fine, it's going to be either of the two things above.

[grasmere59]

I did pull it up and it seems free enough and the spring seems taught.The nozzles are bone dry that side so i would assume that it doesn't despense water untill it is in the extended position,if they haven't worked for a while i'm hoping it's just a blocked hose or even a kinked hose somewhere.