How d'you get windscreen washers off?

[swee'pea99]

Anyone know? One of the squirters on my old Golf has stopped squirting. I've got as far as disconnecting the water hose from the squirter, and water still pumps thru', so it's obviously a blockage in the squirty thing itself. I'd like to get it off to soak it in vinegar, to see if that will shift the limescale that I suspect is blocking it, but can't figure out how to get it off the bonnet. There's no obvious clips or anything. Bit of a longshot, but if anyone knows....?

 

[phaedrus]

Last time that happened to me I cleared the nozzle with a pin. Worked a treat.

 

[Ravenz]

driving violently from side to side usually shakes 'em off the bonnet..

 

[johnnyh]

last time I changed some they twisted to one side and then lifted out.

 

[tyred]

Using steel objects can enlarge the jet and reduce pressure. Poke something like the bristle of a stiff brush or a piece of medium weight fishing line into the jet first. It will probably be strong enough to clear it. If all else fails, then use a pin or similar. Work the pump with the pipes disconnected from the nozzle to clear any dirt that may be in them and look and see if there is any obvious dirt in the bottom of the water tank itself. Old VWs seem prone to blocking the jets on the windscreen washers in my experience.

 

[tyred]

Oh, if you want to remove the jet altogether, in the Mark 1 and 2 Golfs, there are small plastic tabs to push in at the back so that it pulls through the bonnet from the outside. Not sure about newer Golfs.

 

[another_dave_b]

Last time that happened to me I cleared the nozzle with a pin. Worked a treat.

+1

 

[bonj2]

it's not frozen up is it?
pour a load of water on it then try (doesn't have to be hot)
that happened to my car the ohter week

 

[rich p]

driving violently from side to side usually shakes 'em off the bonnet..

 

[User482]

Oh, if you want to remove the jet altogether, in the Mark 1 and 2 Golfs, there are small plastic tabs to push in at the back so that it pulls through the bonnet from the outside. Not sure about newer Golfs.

Yep, that's how I changed them on my car. Use a flat blade screwdriver to push the tabs in from the underside of the bonnet, and they just fall out.

 

[redjedi]

Make sure that when you put it back in, you put it in straight.

Really annoys me when they squirt sideways, especially if I'm filtering past at the time

 

[swee'pea99]

Thanks guys. I think driving violently from side to side sounds the most plausible option - I'll try that first.

 

[Globalti]

Use a pin to aim the nozzles. They are in a little ball, which rotates like an old ceiling eyeball light.

 

[Night Train]

Instead of a pin I use a twist of wire, just 2 or 3 strands from some electrical flex, poked in the nozzle and twisted round. Soft enough not to damage but firm enough to rake out any blockage.

 

[Willow]

[quote name='swee'pea99']Anyone know? One of the squirters on my old Golf has stopped squirting. I've got as far as disconnecting the water hose from the squirter, and water still pumps thru', so it's obviously a blockage in the squirty thing itself. I'd like to get it off to soak it in vinegar, to see if that will shift the limescale that I suspect is blocking it, but can't figure out how to get it off the bonnet. There's no obvious clips or anything. Bit of a longshot, but if anyone knows....?[/quote]


Sure it's not the fuse that is gone. Same thing has just happened to me.