General Screen wash

[Amyjade96]

Hey, tell me if i'm being stupid please.... but my screen wash has vanished?!

I filled it pretty damn full about 2 weeks ago, only used the screen wash approx. 3 times at most! and its gone! surely i can't have used it all already? There's no leak-looking area under my car (i park outside my house after work and then don't touch my car until the next morning for work usually) so i'm thinking i would have seen a patch where it would've leaked?

I have looked in the place you put the screen wash (sorry... not very good with technical car part names haha) and its bone dry...

Could someone shed some light as to what is happening?

Thanks
Amy X

 

[cmosfxx]

There should be a leak if you think about it Windshield washer fluid evaporates pretty quickly so you won't see any marks.

It's not very easy to check the fluid level. Fill it up all the way and check again for leaks.

 

[Ben D]

I'd expect more than 3 uses but, the tank on the Grande Punto is the smallest I've come across on any car I've ever owned. I fill it up twice a week in summer for flies on the screen and sometimes more in the winter with salt on the road.

Cheers

Ben

 

[Eklipze3k]

It's gotta be going somewhere, but it might not be leaking while the car is sat. I'd suspect a poor seal on the pump unit which may only be apparent while the pump is running. You'll need to get it into a position where you can see the pump unit - I think it's in the bottom of the reservoir in the GP - and look for leaks while someone pulls the washer stalk.

 

[Bernievarian]

Hi Amy and welcome,

no offense intended but have you filled the correct reservoir, the one with the blue poping (not threaded) cap, close to the left front-light ?

- fill it with water once back from work (water will not quickly evaporate)
- put a wide and flat ish collecting bin in front of the left (front) wheel
- pull the stack for front washing, check for leakage (in the bin)
- do the same for rear washer, that's the same pumpe rotating opposite
- next morning check again for leakage and don't forget to remove the bin before pulling-off ;-)

BRs, Bernie

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[chris3234]

If your sure you have a leak add some food colouring into the water the help you trace it
Just make sure to flush the water bottle out and refill before going out to use the car

 

[varesecrazy]

Hey, tell me if i'm being stupid please.... but my screen wash has vanished?!

I filled it pretty damn full about 2 weeks ago, only used the screen wash approx. 3 times at most! and its gone! surely i can't have used it all already? There's no leak-looking area under my car (i park outside my house after work and then don't touch my car until the next morning for work usually) so i'm thinking i would have seen a patch where it would've leaked?

I have looked in the place you put the screen wash (sorry... not very good with technical car part names haha) and its bone dry...

Could someone shed some light as to what is happening?

Thanks
Amy X

Hi. Somebody had this while ago

Pretty sure it was a bad hose connection..

Chdck the rear footwells for damp

Charlie

 

[Amyjade96]

Okay thank you, i will check!

 

[Amyjade96]

Hi yes, i am putting it in the right reservior(i think!)
Could you please tell me what you mean by the rear pump rotating oppositely?

As my rear screen wash is working but not my front, i'm assuming they are connected through the same screen wash reservoir?

Thanks

 

[Eklipze3k]

Hi yes, i am putting it in the right reservior(i think!)
Could you please tell me what you mean by the rear pump rotating oppositely?

As my rear screen wash is working but not my front, i'm assuming they are connected through the same screen wash reservoir?

Thanks

Same reservoir, and same pump - to pump the fluid to the front washers it spins clockwise, to pump it to the rear it spins anti-clockwise. Sounds like the hose from the pump to front washers has either split or come off completely.

 

[varesecrazy]

And MAY be dribbling the fluid onto the ground

 

[varesecrazy]

As my rear screen wash is working but not my front, i'm assuming they are connected through the same screen wash reservoir?

Thanks

clue there..

there is PROBABLY a special valve in the hose (that stops fluid draining back..)
if the split / damaged hose isn't the right side of it it can just syphon fluid unchecked until the tank is empty.

:idea: is this problem DEFINITELY new..?

it's not uncommon for the hoses to FREEZE in cold weather (snow was not that long ago..) and the pump running can actually push off the hose

Charlie

 

[Bernievarian]

@ Charlie,

can't see any 'special valve' (BTW that's called a check or no-return valve ;-) on ePer's drawings. So unless they're built in the pump where they would be at the safe position, that's the pump itself that seals the circuit.
Freezing in winter is the reason why one should use specific anti-freeze cleaner, like mosquitoes are the reason for the nice apple/strawberry smelling cleaner in summer ;-)

@ Amy,

have your front bumper removed and inspect the reservoir/pump/piping and You'll probably find the culprit ...

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

 

[OldEngineer]

This should be fairly basic. The fact that you have rear wash should have told you that the liquid was there (you don't have two washer bottles!)

Operate the rear wash and listen to the pump noise. Now operate the front wash and check you have the same noise. If not then the switch or wiring is faulty.

If you have the right noise then you need to check if the pipes are leaking (badly).


After that it's a replacement pump with its non return valves.