Windcreen washer system

>> After not using my 1998 E36 323i Coupe for 2 weeks (not parked under a
>> tree!) I tried to get the winscreen washer jets to work. Nothing comes
>> out of the jets at all. The checks I have done include:
>>
>> -- plenty of water on the system
>> -- no blockage in the piping that I can see (I removed some of the foam
>> under the bonnet to check there wasn't a hidden bloackage)
>> -- when pulling the windscreen washer stalk I can hear the pump trying to
>> work - it does it's normal buzzing noise!
>>
>> Am I being totally daft here? Is it possible that the pump may be
>> defective despite the fact that I can hear it "trying) to work as normal.
>>
>> Any ideas would be much appreciated.
>
> Use a pin or similar small item to make sure the nozzles aren't clogged.


Thanks for the suggestion. Did the pin thing - still doesn't work.

What's strange is that the last time I used the car the washers worked fine,
and nothing now. Yet I can hear the motor/pump whirring away!

Any further ideas appreciated. Many thanks, Tony.
 >> Stay informed about: Windcreen washer system 

In article ,
TG wrote:
>After not using my 1998 E36 323i Coupe for 2 weeks (not parked under a
>tree!) I tried to get the winscreen washer jets to work. Nothing comes out
>of the jets at all. The checks I have done include:
>
>-- plenty of water on the system
>-- no blockage in the piping that I can see (I removed some of the foam
>under the bonnet to check there wasn't a hidden bloackage)
>-- when pulling the windscreen washer stalk I can hear the pump trying to
>work - it does it's normal buzzing noise!
>
>Am I being totally daft here? Is it possible that the pump may be defective
>despite the fact that I can hear it "trying) to work as normal.
>
>Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Try sticking a pin in the jet to see if bits of scale or other crud
are occluding them.


--
Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net
 >> Stay informed about: Windcreen washer system 

In article ,
TG wrote:
>Thanks for the suggestion. Did the pin thing - still doesn't work.
>
>What's strange is that the last time I used the car the washers worked fine,
>and nothing now. Yet I can hear the motor/pump whirring away!
>
>Any further ideas appreciated. Many thanks, Tony.


You have a blockage someplace. Unplug the hoses and blow in them. The jets themselves
being the narrowest point are *usually* the thing that gets blocked. Got a longer
pin?


--
Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net
 >> Stay informed about: Windcreen washer system 

The reason that I don't think it's the jets is that it would be a strange
co-incidence if they were suddenly both blocked at the same time, when they
were both working fine last time.

I will try to take all the pipes out and blow through them.

Is it possible/likely that the pump could be defective despite hearing the
whirring noise?

Thanks again, Tony


"Richard Sexton" wrote in message

> In article ,
> TG wrote:
>>Thanks for the suggestion. Did the pin thing - still doesn't work.
>>
>>What's strange is that the last time I used the car the washers worked
>>fine,
>>and nothing now. Yet I can hear the motor/pump whirring away!
>>
>>Any further ideas appreciated. Many thanks, Tony.
>
>
> You have a blockage someplace. Unplug the hoses and blow in them. The jets
> themselves
> being the narrowest point are *usually* the thing that gets blocked. Got a
> longer
> pin?
>
>
> --
> Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
> Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
> 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
> 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net
 >> Stay informed about: Windcreen washer system 

In article ,
TG wrote:
>The reason that I don't think it's the jets is that it would be a strange
>co-incidence if they were suddenly both blocked at the same time, when they
>were both working fine last time.
>
>I will try to take all the pipes out and blow through them.
>
>Is it possible/likely that the pump could be defective despite hearing the
>whirring noise?

Anything is possible. Pull the hose off it and check.

--
Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net
 >> Stay informed about: Windcreen washer system 

TG wrote on Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:08:31 +0100:

> The reason that I don't think it's the jets is that it would be a strange
> co-incidence if they were suddenly both blocked at the same time, when
> they were both working fine last time.

My E36 does this all the time. Some days I get no jet, some days I get 1,
some days, 2, rarely I get 3, and I don't remember getting 4 in the past 3
years. When I get nothing, it normally comes back the next day.

Dan
 >> Stay informed about: Windcreen washer system 

Until now all 4 of my jets have worked perfectly - I have had the car for 6
years. Maybe the design is different to yours - mine is a 1998 model


http://www.rpoints.com/?ruid=63423
"Spack" wrote in message

> TG wrote on Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:08:31 +0100:
>
>> The reason that I don't think it's the jets is that it would be a strange
>> co-incidence if they were suddenly both blocked at the same time, when
>> they were both working fine last time.
>
> My E36 does this all the time. Some days I get no jet, some days I get 1,
> some days, 2, rarely I get 3, and I don't remember getting 4 in the past 3
> years. When I get nothing, it normally comes back the next day.
>
> Dan
>
 >> Stay informed about: Windcreen washer system 

After disconnecting the pipe from the pump (right next to the windscreen
washer tank) I then tried to pull the washer stalk. Although I heard the
whirring of the pump no water actually came out of the pump itself (I was
expecting the engine area to get soaked).

I then took out the pump and blew into one end and felt the air rush through
to the other end in case there was a blockage.

(I also removed the sealing grommit by the water tank to mke sure there
wasn't anything stuck in the tank - at that poiny the water started coming
out of the tank, implying the tank was OK.)

I am confused that I can hear the whirring of the pump yet no water comes
out. What do people think?

Thanks, Tony



"TG" wrote in message

> After not using my 1998 E36 323i Coupe for 2 weeks (not parked under a
> tree!) I tried to get the winscreen washer jets to work. Nothing comes out
> of the jets at all. The checks I have done include:
>
> -- plenty of water on the system
> -- no blockage in the piping that I can see (I removed some of the foam
> under the bonnet to check there wasn't a hidden bloackage)
> -- when pulling the windscreen washer stalk I can hear the pump trying to
> work - it does it's normal buzzing noise!
>
> Am I being totally daft here? Is it possible that the pump may be
> defective despite the fact that I can hear it "trying) to work as normal.
>
> Any ideas would be much appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance, Tony
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Windcreen washer system 

"TG" wrote in message

> After disconnecting the pipe from the pump (right next to the windscreen
> washer tank) I then tried to pull the washer stalk. Although I heard the
> whirring of the pump no water actually came out of the pump itself (I was
> expecting the engine area to get soaked).
>
> I then took out the pump and blew into one end and felt the air rush
> through to the other end in case there was a blockage.
>
> (I also removed the sealing grommit by the water tank to mke sure there
> wasn't anything stuck in the tank - at that poiny the water started coming
> out of the tank, implying the tank was OK.)
>
> I am confused that I can hear the whirring of the pump yet no water comes
> out. What do people think?
>
> Thanks, Tony
>
>
>
> "TG" wrote in message
>
>> After not using my 1998 E36 323i Coupe for 2 weeks (not parked under a
>> tree!) I tried to get the winscreen washer jets to work. Nothing comes
>> out of the jets at all. The checks I have done include:
>>
>> -- plenty of water on the system
>> -- no blockage in the piping that I can see (I removed some of the foam
>> under the bonnet to check there wasn't a hidden bloackage)
>> -- when pulling the windscreen washer stalk I can hear the pump trying to
>> work - it does it's normal buzzing noise!
>>
>> Am I being totally daft here? Is it possible that the pump may be
>> defective despite the fact that I can hear it "trying) to work as normal.
>>
>> Any ideas would be much appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks in advance, Tony
>>
>>
>
>
Since the pump is supposed to deliver water but isn't, I would conclude that
the pump is history.
Jim
 >> Stay informed about: Windcreen washer system 

Bad pump. Just because it making noise doesn't mean it's not defective.

--
....Carl Frisk
Anger is a brief madness.
- Horace, 20 B.C.
http://www.carlfrisk.com


"TG" wrote in message
> After disconnecting the pipe from the pump (right next to the windscreen
> washer tank) I then tried to pull the washer stalk. Although I heard the
> whirring of the pump no water actually came out of the pump itself (I was
> expecting the engine area to get soaked).
>
> I then took out the pump and blew into one end and felt the air rush through
> to the other end in case there was a blockage.
>
> (I also removed the sealing grommit by the water tank to mke sure there
> wasn't anything stuck in the tank - at that poiny the water started coming
> out of the tank, implying the tank was OK.)
>
> I am confused that I can hear the whirring of the pump yet no water comes
> out. What do people think?
>
> Thanks, Tony
>
>
>
> "TG" wrote in message
>
>> After not using my 1998 E36 323i Coupe for 2 weeks (not parked under a
>> tree!) I tried to get the winscreen washer jets to work. Nothing comes out
>> of the jets at all. The checks I have done include:
>>
>> -- plenty of water on the system
>> -- no blockage in the piping that I can see (I removed some of the foam
>> under the bonnet to check there wasn't a hidden bloackage)
>> -- when pulling the windscreen washer stalk I can hear the pump trying to
>> work - it does it's normal buzzing noise!
>>
>> Am I being totally daft here? Is it possible that the pump may be
>> defective despite the fact that I can hear it "trying) to work as normal.
>>
>> Any ideas would be much appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks in advance, Tony
>>
>>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Windcreen washer system 

TG wrote on Tue, 18 Jul 2006 09:48:32 +0100:

> Until now all 4 of my jets have worked perfectly - I have had the car for
> 6 years. Maybe the design is different to yours - mine is a 1998 model

Mine's a 93. However, I think it's more to do with the trees near my house
and gunk getting in the jets ...

Dan
 >> Stay informed about: Windcreen washer system