Headlamp Washers

[Steviewevie]

I've just discovered that my headlamp washers don't work, and I suspect this has been the case ever since I bought the car (since I've been meaning to check them before, but kept forgetting).

When I press the button there is a whirring sound, so it sounds like the motor is working and I'm thinking it's not an electrical/fuse problem. I have water in the tank because the windscreen washers work fine. The headlamp washers whirr, but they don't pop up at all.

I've had a look in the online workshop manual but it only really seems to deal with electrical issues for the washers.

Any ideas ? I can see the front bumper having to come off

[Parthiban]

Top up the water, when it runs low, the windscreen ones will still work but the headlamp ones don't.

[Mr Mole]

And I think you need your lights on aswell and the water bottle Must be full for them to work

[Parthiban]

Yep the lights need to be on too :)

[Steviewevie]

I did have the lights on (otherwise you don't get the whirring when you press the button). I'll try topping up the water though, thanks.

[Andy-R]

The headlamp washers work off water pressure not motors so there must have to be quite alot of water in the bottle.

[Steviewevie]

I just topped up the washer fluid and it didn't take a lot, so it was fairly full already. No difference, they still don't work.

Andy-r - there must be a motor involved, I can hear it working when I press the button. I guess that perhaps water pressure is used to make the washers pop up, but the water is being driven by a motor/pump ?

[Parthiban]

If you pull the washers up with your hands, do they move freely?

Also if you can stick your head under the bumper a bit is there water coming from somewhere else? It could just be a hose that's come loose somewhere.........

[Steviewevie]

If you pull the washers up with your hands, do they move freely?

Also if you can stick your head under the bumper a bit is there water coming from somewhere else? It could just be a hose that's come loose somewhere.........

I can't see any water dripping down or anything.

I hadn't tried pulling up the washers because I didn't know if it was safe to do that. So they should just pull up on their own ? I will try that.

[Andy-R]

What i've been told in the past is they work from water pressure, the motor you can hear is probably the same one that does your normal washers as i'd guess there all linked, have you tried pressing the headlamp washer button at the same time as washing your windscreen, there may be a blockage and this might help free it, otherwise you may have to go through the pipes and see if anything is blocking it.

[Steviewevie]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I tried pressing the windscreen washer button at the same time as the headlamp washers, didn't make any difference.

I tried pulling up the headlamp washers. They seem to pull up ok. There seems to be a reasonable amount of resistance when I pull them, i.e. they retract back down when I let go.

[aaronabbott]

does the light work on the actual button

[Steviewevie]

does the light work on the actual button

You mean the light in the headlamp washer button ? Yes, that is working fine.

[aaronabbott]

hmmm,cos mines tempermental when the lights not on it wont work when its on it will.

and yes my headlights are on when i do it :winky:

[Andy-R]

Sounds like a blockage in the pipes supplying the headlamp washers then matey, you could try getting underneath and giving them a squeeze to try and push out anything that might be there.

[Steviewevie]

Am I right to assume that the pipes for the headlamp washers start on the right (looking from in front of the car), by the washer fluid tank, and so feed to the passenger side washer first and then go on to the driver's side washer ? Because neither are working so if there's a problem in the pipes I'm guessing it's near to the washer tank.

[Steviewevie]

Am I right to assume that the pipes for the headlamp washers start on the right (looking from in front of the car), by the washer fluid tank, and so feed to the passenger side washer first and then go on to the driver's side washer ? Because neither are working so if there's a problem in the pipes I'm guessing it's near to the washer tank.

ok, answering my own question here, but I found the relevant diagram in the online workshop manual, and indeed the pipes do appear to feed from there.

[Andy-R]

Have you tried disconecting one of the pipes from the headlight washer and seeing if any water comes out?

[Steviewevie]

Have you tried disconecting one of the pipes from the headlight washer and seeing if any water comes out?

No. Can I do that by pulling the washer up from the top of the bumper, or front underneath, or do I need to take the bumper off for that ?

[Andy-R]

Not sure matey don't think the bumper needs to come off, you should be able to get at them from underneath, will be easier if you take the undergaurd off tho.

[Stetz]

Sorry lads, just a little of topic here. I just noticed that one of my headlight washer units is up a little about 1/2 inch from the bumper. But i tried lifting it and letting go and it just sits back in the same spot. Any thoughts ??

[Andy-R]

Have you tried pushing it down? there might be sumthing stopping it going all the way back, a stone, some pipe, if it won't push back in then pull it up have a look to see if you can see anything stopping it, if not then it's under the car or maybe even bumper off to find the problem.

[kenfoxy]

On the subject of headlamp washers, mine work but one of them doesn't completely retract after use. Any ideas?

[Steviewevie]

Regarding my own problem of the washers not working, I think I'll wait until I can get someone to help me with an additional pair of hands, it's not exactly an urgent issue.

[pmh118]

hi steviewevie just wondering did you get to find out the problem ? as i have the exact same prob