car washer issue

helpimcrap · 23 Dec 2009 at 16:50

hi all... right i have a y reg ford focus and a slight issue with the electronics brought on (i guess...) by the icy weather. basically should i expect the washer jets to freeze up if its got screen wash in? (i'm guessing yes although....) also should the jets actually work or is there a set temp or something when they work?

the reason being...

i went for a drive today and at the start of the journey the washer motors wouldn't even whirr so i assumed fuses or motor. checked the fuses and none gone. at the end of the journey (and the reason i went for a drive in the first place :cool:

) the washer jets had thawed out and were working fully on both jets!

why? if it was so cold that the washer jets wouldn't even whirr then why did they start wotking again? is there a set operating temp? :confused:

BigglesPiP · 23 Dec 2009 at 17:01

Probably the nozzles frozen over, preventing fluid flowing, meaning the motor hardly turns.

helpimcrap · 23 Dec 2009 at 17:07

BigglesPiP said:
Probably the nozzles frozen over, preventing fluid flowing, meaning the motor hardly turns.

i would have assumed this except the motors didn't even try to turn. :confused:

BigglesPiP · 23 Dec 2009 at 17:13

How can you tell?

iaind · 23 Dec 2009 at 17:14

I'm not sure why there's an issue? Washers didnt work when they were frozen and worked when they werent...... what am I missing?

Conscript · 23 Dec 2009 at 17:15

This happened to my Focus last winter. Pressed the washer button, absolutely nothing. 2 hours later, they were working fine. Can only assume the washer fluid concentration was too diluted so it froze in the tank and jammed the motor. Id assume this has whats happened to yours. If it's just the nozzles that are frozen over, the motor will whirr and nothing will come out, just check the nozzles are free of frost and ice.

helpimcrap · 23 Dec 2009 at 17:15

BigglesPiP said:
How can you tell?

you can hear them whirr even in the car but nothing until earlier today. :confused:

helpimcrap · 23 Dec 2009 at 17:17

Conscript said:
This happened to my Focus last winter. Pressed the washer button, absolutely nothing. 2 hours later, they were working fine. Can only assume the washer fluid concentration was too diluted so it froze in the tank and jammed the motor. Id assume this has whats happened to yours. If it's just the nozzles that are frozen over, the motor will whirr and nothing will come out, just check the nozzles are free of frost and ice.

ok, i'm not sure as i added screenwash in 100% neat lol but nice to know in a fashion the it does occasionally happen and it won't be a 1 off. :eek:

miniyazz · 23 Dec 2009 at 20:01

helpimcrap said:
ok, i'm not sure as i added screenwash in 100% neat lol but nice to know in a fashion the it does occasionally happen and it won't be a 1 off.

Mine did exactly the same, so it does happen.. no anti-freezing stuff in my washer fluid though!

iaind · 23 Dec 2009 at 20:04

Its not the screenwash thats freezing, you could fill the tank with petrol and they'd still freeze!

Shimmyhill · 23 Dec 2009 at 20:05

My Puma was the same today, not even a whir of the motors - after i got to shops i squirted some de-icer into nozzles and on way home 1 of them worked fine !

There was 100% no motor whir when i was trying and i too assumed the fuse had gone etc

BigglesPiP · 23 Dec 2009 at 20:17

Is it really that the motor doesn't run, or that it can't push against blocked nozzles and in fact moves slowly and or briefly, but inaudibly.

mejinks · 24 Dec 2009 at 01:55

Heated washer jets for the very posh win

bledd · 24 Dec 2009 at 02:00

solution is too diluted..

iaind · 24 Dec 2009 at 08:00

bledd. said:
solution is too diluted..

iaind said:
Its not the screenwash thats freezing, you could fill the tank with petrol and they'd still freeze!

Honestly its got nothing to do with whats in the bottle - where do you think all the ice on the car comes from in the morning?

mejinks said:
Heated washer jets for the very posh win

Hardly posh, my Mondeo has them! OK they dont seem to work when it's really cold but still

helpimcrap · 24 Dec 2009 at 09:52

mejinks said:
Heated washer jets for the very posh win

go away. who invited you to comment.

lol

helpimcrap · 24 Dec 2009 at 09:53

BigglesPiP said:
Is it really that the motor doesn't run, or that it can't push against blocked nozzles and in fact moves slowly and or briefly, but inaudibly.

could be. might ber working as such but pushing so slowly as to need bat hearing. :eek:

bledd · 24 Dec 2009 at 10:15

iaind said:
Honestly its got nothing to do with whats in the bottle - where do you think all the ice on the car comes from in the morning?

I appreciate the ends of the jets can freeze up from moisture, but if the motor isn't even trying, it would suggest that the washer liquid is frozen in the bottle and next to the motor.

After a few mins of engine heat, this would quickly melt

iaind · 24 Dec 2009 at 10:22

bledd. said:
I appreciate the ends of the jets can freeze up from moisture, but if the motor isn't even trying, it would suggest that the washer liquid is frozen in the bottle and next to the motor.

After a few mins of engine heat, this would quickly melt

Not necessarily - if the ends are blocked its not going to be able to pump anything anyway.

Remember the temperatures we've been seeing in most of the country are only just below freezing, even a very dilute solution isnt going to freeze at -2

bledd · 24 Dec 2009 at 10:27

You'd hear the pump trying (and failing mind...)