Technical What I think of the windscreen washers on the 500

[NumanR]

Emma, a free winter check does not include filling your washer bottle with enough screen wash to stop water freezing at -10 degrees C, which is what we have had in Norfolk, (-18 degrees recorded in Buxton last week overnight) the washer fluid used recommends neat washer fluid to protect down to -20 degrees C. I myself am using a 75% mix and have not had any problems with washer jets freezing at all. Desira are open on Wednesday if you need them.

 

[BRU5IIS]

Emma, a free winter check does not include filling your washer bottle with enough screen wash to stop water freezing at -10 degrees C, which is what we have had in Norfolk, (-18 degrees recorded in Buxton last week overnight) the washer fluid used recommends neat washer fluid to protect down to -20 degrees C.

I myself am using a 75% mix and have not had any problems with washer jets freezing at all.

Desira are open on Wednesday if you need them.

With respect................

75% of what?

It would perhaps help if - even for us newbies sake a short list of recommended products. You know; Industry standards, forum preferences, known achievements - Brand names - and places of purchase [and not some esoteric location on the net].

This would be most useful as a means of applicable opinion ..........KBO - TIA.

Pretty please with buttons on.

 

[306maxi]

With respect................

75% of what?

It would perhaps help if - even for us newbies sake a short list of recommended products. You know; Industry standards, forum preferences, known achievements - Brand names - and places of purchase [and not some esoteric location on the net].

Couldn't agree more. Not a dig at NumanR of course but some people seem to think that all mixes are the same and that they will provide the same protection against freezing. The stuff I use is Holts High Performance screenwash and it says that at 50% dilution it protects down to -16. Only place I've seen it available though is Costco.

 

[NumanR]

No problem, the mix I am using is 3 parts additive, 1 part water, and the product is what they use at Emma's dealership. I really cant remember the products name, but the reply was to Emma, and the statement that she had previously had a free winter check.

 

[jrkitching]

It would perhaps help if - even for us newbies sake a short list of recommended products. You know; Industry standards, forum preferences, known achievements - Brand names - and places of purchase [and not some esoteric location on the net].

Comma Xstream Screenwash protects down to -65C (!) undiluted and you can buy it at Halfords for £3.99 a litre.

If you want to study the subject further there is a dedicated website for screenwash:

www.screenwash.co.uk

 

[BRU5IIS]

Comma Xstream Screenwash protects down to -65C (!) undiluted and you can buy it at Halfords for £3.99 a litre.

Smashing - that's the kind of info' that is useful, and is want I meant when I said the board has such potential for focussed recommendations like this.
At least for me anyway. The website link was strangely interesting, although was really just a list of available products and did go to prove that it's a confusing minefield out there.

Thanks for your response.

 

[tedz23]

I've had my 500 since October 2009 and last week I went to the garage for the SECOND time since I've had the car to get new washers!

The dealer said that its a real problem with all 500's and its not only the ice but every time you wash your windscreen the combination of the pressure of the fluid and the vibration from the road slowly works the washer loose.

You'd have thought they would have come up with a solution?

 

[NumanR]

We have only ever changed them due to freezing, and thats got to be down to customers unfortunately. In the last two weeks we must have changed ten pairs, along with 5 wiper linkages and loads of blades because they are frozen to the screen, and rip when the customer works the wipers without defrosting the screen. Always use screen wash, and always defrost the car before operating the washers and wipers.

 

[Murano16v]

Mine used to pop out on my 500 and Panda just with normal use in mild weather until I modded them. Pointless going to the dealer just to get the same bits again. I've mentioned this before, my 02 Stilo had the same useless design and I used to regularly pick the barrels off the bonnet. I love all things Fiat, but 9 years and no fix??, slightly slack don't you think.

 

[TJ07]

Mine used to pop out on my 500 and Panda just with normal use in mild weather until I modded them. Pointless going to the dealer just to get the same bits again. I've mentioned this before, my 02 Stilo had the same useless design and I used to regularly pick the barrels off the bonnet. I love all things Fiat, but 9 years and no fix??, slightly slack don't you think.

:yeahthat: My two Pandas were exactly the same, the little barrel would shoot out regardless of the weather . So far not a single problem with the washers on the Evo no matter what the weather!

 

[Emma f]

Emma, a free winter check does not include filling your washer bottle with enough screen wash to stop water freezing at -10 degrees C, which is what we have had in Norfolk, (-18 degrees recorded in Buxton last week overnight) the washer fluid used recommends neat washer fluid to protect down to -20 degrees C. I myself am using a 75% mix and have not had any problems with washer jets freezing at all. Desira are open on Wednesday if you need them.

I (obviously naively) thought that a "winter check" might focus on wintery things like how fluids act in the cold. Particularly as the washer jets are known not to react well to ice. silly me

 

[NumanR]

I (obviously naively) thought that a "winter check" might focus on wintery things like how fluids act in the cold. Particularly as the washer jets are known not to react well to ice. silly me

Point taken, maybe dealers should put a pack together for winter driving and sell it at cost price in reception to avoid customers having problems, perhaps put some sensible tips in a booklet, on looking after your car in the winter, avoiding problems like frozen brakes, and washer jets etc with a gallon of screenwash, antifreeze top up, and engine oil top up. If it stopped 25% of people having problems then it would save Fiat money and avoid potential breakdowns for customers.

Out of interest ladies and gents, how much would you pay for it and would you buy it?

 

[306maxi]

Point taken, maybe dealers should put a pack together for winter driving and sell it at cost price in reception to avoid customers having problems, perhaps put some sensible tips in a booklet, on looking after your car in the winter, avoiding problems like frozen brakes, and washer jets etc with a gallon of screenwash, antifreeze top up, and engine oil top up. If it stopped 25% of people having problems then it would save Fiat money and avoid potential breakdowns for customers.

Out of interest ladies and gents, how much would you pay for it and would you buy it?

I wouldn't pay anything for it because if you're a conscientious owner there's no need. Anti-freeze gets change at intervals and I mix my own screenwash.

 

[Super Uwe]

Comma Xstream Screenwash protects down to -65C (!) undiluted and you can buy it at Halfords for £3.99 a litre.

If you want to study the subject further there is a dedicated website for screenwash:

www.screenwash.co.uk

Sorry this is a bit late, but this stuff is very good. Have used it since we bought the car and it's only frozen once when I'd forgotten to change the concentration. 1 part of this mixed with 3 parts water is good for -9; in recent weeks I've been doing 1 part fluid with 2 parts water which is good for approx -15.

You also have the benefit of a refreshing apple fragrance as well...

 

[Mark Elvin]

I think the washers are getting worse.

In the winter of 2008 I got through 2 sets of jets on my 500, last winter I had another 2 sets, this winter I'm up to my 5th set since the cold snap started.

No change in washer fluid or dilution ratios.

It could be the deciding factor in me not replacing this 500 with another one this year and going with something else, a trip to the dealer ever week or two sucks.

 

[jrkitching]

I think the washers are getting worse.

It could also be that the winters are getting worse!

Why, oh why, has FIAT not sorted this out yet? I'd say frost tolerance is a reasonable design requirement for a washer system on a car which is sold in Northern Europe. Surely it'd be an easy fix to redesign the part to be able to withstand freezing without permanent damage.

 

[DraigFlag87]

Mines gone in for some work, one of the issues being the washer jets. On the way home in the courtesy car, guess what happened? Yep, the washer jets went! Bit ironic

 

[Lloyd71]

If they've not fixed them when they go on sale in North America & Canada they've had it. The winters over there make ours look like a heatwave, there's a reason they have an engine block heater as an optional extra and it's not because it makes the car feel snuggly.

 

[stu0710]

Just had the 2 year service done and a thorough check-up to see if there are any issues before the 2 yr manufacturers warranty becomes the less comprehensive 3rd year dealer warranty and no issues so far. I then asked the dealer if the 3rd year warranty covers washer jets as the problem re-occurs every winter (so far the car is on it's 3rd set - all replaced under warranty). They do not think that the jets will be covered, however promised to 'sort something out' if / when they failed again - which I am certain they will. I can't believe that Fiat haven't sorted this properly yet and that after 3 1/2 years of production there is still no replacement part. Does any one know if there is a fix on offer and what their dealer experiences have been?

 

[306maxi]

easily sorted with pliers I wouldn't worry too much. Mine has done 2 winters since the "fix"