Windscreen washer not working

[Candive]

The windscreen washer on my VS doesn't spray any cleaning fluid. I can hear the electric pump running. To solve this problem I have cleaned the nozzles with a pin. I have also taken off the hoses and sucked and blew the cleaning fluid. Upon reconnection, the system works. But after a few minutes it stops working.

I would like to get access to the electric pump to either diassemble and clean it or replace it but I don't know how to get at it. My Haynes Repair Manual makes no mention of it.

Would someone be so kind as to provide detailed instructions on how to do this. Do I have to jack up the passenger side of the vehicle and take off the wheel?

[seraphic06]

You shouldn't need to jeck the car up. The reservoir is held by two nuts and is located near the passenger side wheel splash guard. Disconnect the cables and the tubing (be prepared to get wet), undo the nuts and it will come loose. Take the pump out and clean the inlet nozzle. Mine was clogged. Once clean I haven't had any problems since.

[Candive]

Hi Seraphic06,

Just for clarification. Do I access the washer pump via the bonnet or do I go through the passenger wheel well.

[seraphic06]

Hi Seraphic06,

Just for clarification. Do I access the washer pump via the bonnet or do I go through the passenger wheel well.

Neither. You just need to get on your back near the front left corner (between the front bar and the front left wheel) and look up. You will see the reservoir. It is not protected by anything.

[Candive]

Thanks Seraphic06, I'll have a look at it this weekend and let you know how I go.

Candive

[Fred 96]

Had this problem on mine as well. As Seraphic06 said, take the pump out and clean it. I took the whole reservoir out and cleaned that to, as mine had a slime build up in the bottom of it, no problems since then.

[Candive]

Thanks Seraphic06 and Fred 96. As per your instructions I took the whole reservoir out which is connected by two bolts on the side (as stated above) and one at the top. I took off the small pump and cleaned the rubber filter with an old tooth brush. This filter comes off and you can also run some water through it to clean the mesh. The mesh was clogged with a green algea which I didn't think could exist in soapy water. The reservoir also contained this algea so I washed it out with warm soapy water. I put everything back and it works like new! I suppose one could remove the pump from the reservoir with out unbolting the unit but then you wouldn't be able to clean out all the algea from the tank, and you may end up with the same problem. Going forward, I wonder if a little bit of clorine in the solution would ensure the system stays clean?

Thanks again for your advice