Washer appears to be blocked

SamWise · Post by **SamWise** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:57 am

I'm no fan of the BX screen wash system anyway, it just doesn't get enough water in the right places, particularly at standstill. Yesterday, mine suddenly moved to just a dribble. I assumed it was low on fluid, but on going to top up, there was a third of a tank left. I filled it anyway, but to no avail. I can hear the pump whirring away, so I assume there's a blockage somewhere - is there a known place for these things to go wrong?

Geoffrey Gould · Post by **Geoffrey Gould** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:47 am

Hello Sam well the spray bar usually seems to last for at least a day before blocking.
I would start at the beginning and pull the pipe off the pump to see if it is pumping, I have had a pump lead me a merry dance the motor was going full tilt but the impeller had bust and it was not pumping. Next is the non return valve in the tube not far from the pump. Go to the local accessory shop and get either 1 or 2 jets ( if using 2 then you will need a 'T' piece.) The type with a long stem and a nut for fixing. No need to drill anything just pop it through the grill at the bottom of the wind screen. With a ' T ' piece then you can have one each side. I did this a couple of years ago and have had not had a problem since.
If you remove and clean out the tank which seems to gather all sorts of things in the bottom then that will help.
Cheers
Geoff.

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:54 pm

The concept behind the BX spray system is great, but the execution isn't brilliant.

If you have a search through the forum, you'll find details of the 405 washer modification I've done very sucessfully on BX's, which is remarkably better than the standard setup.

... but for the moment, the most likely place for blockage is through the spindle. Pull the short rubber hose off the centre of the spindle of the wiper and run the pump... that will probably shoot a lump of crud out, straight over the bonnet and anyone stood in front of the car.

The spray bar can be cleared by removing the stop-end from it, and back flushing. The individual holes are pin-clearable.

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:48 pm

These always seem to block up just in time for the MOT.

The spray bar clips off easily so that a stiff wire can be pushed up it to clear any blockage. Also check and clear the individual spray holes if necessary.

As David says the hole through the spindle can be a problem. A simple way around this is to run the rubber tube up through the grill and connect it directly to the bottom of the spray bar itself.

mnde · Post by **mnde** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 2:14 pm

ellevie wrote:These always seem to block up just in time for the MOT.

The spray bar clips off easily so that a stiff wire can be pushed up it to clear any blockage. Also check and clear the individual spray holes if necessary.

As David says the hole through the spindle can be a problem. A simple way around this is to run the rubber tube up through the grill and connect it directly to the bottom of the spray bar itself.

I've done exactly this, as I was fed up with the weak spray through the hole in the spindle, which I tried several times to clear out with a length of wire to no avail. With the rubber tube connected directly to the spray bar, the difference is spectacular, better spray power than ever before! An unsightly solution, but it's done the trick for me!

SamWise · Post by **SamWise** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:44 pm

I now believe the pump has failed. Are they hard to get?

Geoffrey Gould · Post by **Geoffrey Gould** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:37 pm

Hi Sam when I last had to get one, in a hurry for MOT, Halfords had them on the shelf. About 12 quid. What can happen is that the holes block up, put a load on the pump and the impeller packs it in. Cheers.
Geoff.

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 6:27 pm

Citroen p/n 643466

Places to try with local branches,
gsfcarparts.com
eurocarparts.com

Also mail order from Glasgow,
AEPdirect.com

stuart_hedges · Post by **stuart_hedges** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:50 pm

Surely any old generic pump can be adapted to fit?

Aerodynamica · Post by **Aerodynamica** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:05 pm

stuart_hedges wrote:Surely any old generic pump can be adapted to fit?

definitely! both front and rear pumps on mine have been replaced with some type of standard issue replacements and oddly, the old originals are still in place too - the new ones sit out side fastened on to the second bulkhead and they work very well.

Though the spray tube only seems to spray from 2 places.

I find the thing works very well when stopped but on the motorway I always get too much water left at the lower driver's side of the windscreen that then runs up with air flow and takes 3-4 extra wipes to clear but then it has re streaked the rest of the screen

mnde · Post by **mnde** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:37 pm

SamWise wrote:I now believe the pump has failed. Are they hard to get?

Sorry if I'm asking an obvious question, but have you checked the electric connection to the pump motor?

A while back, I thought my front washer pump had packed in. It turned out the spade connector was loose and the spade needed a good clean. Having LHM and coolant bottles rolling around in the space around the reservoir didn't help as they would have knocked against the connector going around corners.

In my GSA I've also recently found poor/non-existent washer performance to be down to the pump sucking in air because of a bad seal where the end of the input hose had flared out where it was pushed onto the pump. Chopped the end off, reprimed the pump and it was all good. Note in this case, it's an aftermarket pump mounted on the inner wing to replace the original single pulse piston-action pump mounted on the reservoir.

Re. the spraybar I've wondered about buying a length of stainless steel or brass tubing of the correct diameter, bending to shape and drilling tiny holes, and plugging the end with the plug from the original spraybar... You could even spray it black as long as you made sure the holes were cleared out using a pin.

Mark.

DLM · Post by **DLM** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:21 pm

If you can't get a generic washer pump, I've probably got an old BX one knocking around, Sam. Or you could maybe swap pumps from the rear wash/wipe tank if you can do without that for a while (and if it's working.....and if it's really worth the trouble). But I would recommend getting the multimeter out first to check it all out.

As an angler, I'm fortunate that there's usually a hook or two somewhere in the car which I can use to clear any blocked spraybar holes.

SamWise · Post by **SamWise** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 12:08 pm

Yeah, the rear doesn't work, and I've so far not worried about that. My spraybar is knackered too, it's split at the curve point, so that was about the only place any water was emerging. I'll take a look at the spades, and see what's what.

ellevie · Post by **ellevie** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:12 am

Citroen part number: 94 495 714 (spraying ramp).

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:13 pm

Whereabouts can you get the rubber bung that seals the pump to the tank? on my tzd when i cleaned it all up i noticed that the bung disintegrated & so now doesnt seal properly