Hello again,
Is there any way I can test if my screenwash pump is working, there is liquid in the bottle but as i press the button on the dash no water. Can it be repaired or is it just a case of fitting a replacement.
Yours
Mark
Screenwash pump
Forum rules
By using this site, you agree to our rules. Please see: Terms of Use
By using this site, you agree to our rules. Please see: Terms of Use
-
- Minor Fan
- Posts: 365
- Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2002 12:00 am
- Location: Huntingdon
- MMOC Member: Yes
Here are some possible causes.
If the pump has not been used for a long time the system dries out. Pumping it lots and lots and lots of times may get it to work.
The water container may contain some sludge which is blocking up the system. Try washing out the container.
Some pumps have a little valve on the end of the tube that goes in the water container. This may be dirty, faulty or it may have fallen off and be lying at the bottom of the container.
One of the little tubes that connect the pump, the water container and the two jets together may have fallen off.
The water bottle should contain screenwash of sufficient concentration not to freeze in the winter. If you tried the pump today was the water frozen?
It is most unusual for the pump itself to fail.
If the pump has not been used for a long time the system dries out. Pumping it lots and lots and lots of times may get it to work.
The water container may contain some sludge which is blocking up the system. Try washing out the container.
Some pumps have a little valve on the end of the tube that goes in the water container. This may be dirty, faulty or it may have fallen off and be lying at the bottom of the container.
One of the little tubes that connect the pump, the water container and the two jets together may have fallen off.
The water bottle should contain screenwash of sufficient concentration not to freeze in the winter. If you tried the pump today was the water frozen?
It is most unusual for the pump itself to fail.
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 7592
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2002 12:00 am
- Location: Watford, Hertfordshire.
- MMOC Member: No
Sorry Daddsie but the method Newagetraveller suggests is the correct route to take as the standard washer pump is manual not a later electric conversion like yours
Regards
Kevin
Regards
Kevin
Cheers
Kevin
Lovejoy 1968 Smoke Grey Traveller (gone to a new home after13 years)
Herts Branch Member
Moderator MMOC 44706
Kevin
Lovejoy 1968 Smoke Grey Traveller (gone to a new home after13 years)
Herts Branch Member
Moderator MMOC 44706
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 7679
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2002 2:55 pm
- Location: LEAMINGTON SPA
- MMOC Member: No
Neweagetraveller has put up a good list of things to check.
Having owned 7 cheap Minors I've seen those fault at least once - and also another fault...
Weld repairs on the inner wing can burn a hole in the pipe (usually where the pipe is hidden over the top of the bump stop) This gives a similar fault to a pipe falling off as air is sucked into the pipe as the pump tried to suck water up from the bottle.
It can easily be missed as you need to pull the pipe out from behind the inner wing strengthener to see it (which they should have done before welding it....)
My first Minor had that fault when I got it and so did Gayle's Minor that I bought this year. It starts as a mix of air/water but as you look at the pipework the movement makes the hole bigger and you end up with no water at all.
If you press the pump 20 or 30 times in quick succession and you don't feel any resistance then it's more than likely one of the pipework faults.
If water runs out of the dashboard then it is a faulty pipe by the pump or between the pump and the jets.
If you get water through after 10 to 20 pumps, it is likely to be a faulty non return valve letting the water drain out of the pipe when you stop pumping (or a small leak somewhere low down)
If the pump goes hard but you don't get any water out of the jets, then the jets are both blocked.
Or to really confuse the process if the water is frozen you could get any of the symptoms.
Failing that it could of course be the pump, but pump faults are reasonably rare.
Having owned 7 cheap Minors I've seen those fault at least once - and also another fault...
Weld repairs on the inner wing can burn a hole in the pipe (usually where the pipe is hidden over the top of the bump stop) This gives a similar fault to a pipe falling off as air is sucked into the pipe as the pump tried to suck water up from the bottle.
It can easily be missed as you need to pull the pipe out from behind the inner wing strengthener to see it (which they should have done before welding it....)
My first Minor had that fault when I got it and so did Gayle's Minor that I bought this year. It starts as a mix of air/water but as you look at the pipework the movement makes the hole bigger and you end up with no water at all.
If you press the pump 20 or 30 times in quick succession and you don't feel any resistance then it's more than likely one of the pipework faults.
If water runs out of the dashboard then it is a faulty pipe by the pump or between the pump and the jets.
If you get water through after 10 to 20 pumps, it is likely to be a faulty non return valve letting the water drain out of the pipe when you stop pumping (or a small leak somewhere low down)
If the pump goes hard but you don't get any water out of the jets, then the jets are both blocked.
Or to really confuse the process if the water is frozen you could get any of the symptoms.
Failing that it could of course be the pump, but pump faults are reasonably rare.
Ray. MMOC#47368. Forum moderator.
Jan 06: The Minor SII Africa adventure: http://www.minor-detour.com
Oct 06: back from Dresden with my Trabant 601 Kombi
Jan 07: back from a month thru North Africa (via Timbuktu) in a S3 Landy
June 07 - back from Zwickau Trabi Treffen
Aug 07 & Aug 08 - back from the Lands End to Orkney in 71 pickup
Sept 2010 - finally gave up breaking down in a SII Landy...
where to break down next?
2013... managed to seize my 1275 just by driving it round the block
Jan 06: The Minor SII Africa adventure: http://www.minor-detour.com
Oct 06: back from Dresden with my Trabant 601 Kombi
Jan 07: back from a month thru North Africa (via Timbuktu) in a S3 Landy
June 07 - back from Zwickau Trabi Treffen
Aug 07 & Aug 08 - back from the Lands End to Orkney in 71 pickup
Sept 2010 - finally gave up breaking down in a SII Landy...
where to break down next?
2013... managed to seize my 1275 just by driving it round the block
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 7679
- Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2002 2:55 pm
- Location: LEAMINGTON SPA
- MMOC Member: No
Hi Cam,
Depends what you mean by normal
However when the system is fault free, you will get a some water out of the jets on your first pump and even after a few days it should not take more than 1 or 2 pumps. It sounds like you have either a slow leak or a poor NRV.
Many people end up fitting an electric pump to avoid pressing the pump 10 times without realising that there is an 'easily' curable fault.
The pipes should be transparent (although the engine bay ones may need a good clean before you can see though them) , so have a look to see if there are air bubbles in the water during continuous pumping. If you remove a glovebox you can also look at the pump end of the system.
If there is air in the water during continuous pumping then I'd bet you have a leak.
If there is no air, then it is more likely to be just the NRV.
Depends what you mean by normal
However when the system is fault free, you will get a some water out of the jets on your first pump and even after a few days it should not take more than 1 or 2 pumps. It sounds like you have either a slow leak or a poor NRV.
Many people end up fitting an electric pump to avoid pressing the pump 10 times without realising that there is an 'easily' curable fault.
The pipes should be transparent (although the engine bay ones may need a good clean before you can see though them) , so have a look to see if there are air bubbles in the water during continuous pumping. If you remove a glovebox you can also look at the pump end of the system.
If there is air in the water during continuous pumping then I'd bet you have a leak.
If there is no air, then it is more likely to be just the NRV.
Ray. MMOC#47368. Forum moderator.
Jan 06: The Minor SII Africa adventure: http://www.minor-detour.com
Oct 06: back from Dresden with my Trabant 601 Kombi
Jan 07: back from a month thru North Africa (via Timbuktu) in a S3 Landy
June 07 - back from Zwickau Trabi Treffen
Aug 07 & Aug 08 - back from the Lands End to Orkney in 71 pickup
Sept 2010 - finally gave up breaking down in a SII Landy...
where to break down next?
2013... managed to seize my 1275 just by driving it round the block
Jan 06: The Minor SII Africa adventure: http://www.minor-detour.com
Oct 06: back from Dresden with my Trabant 601 Kombi
Jan 07: back from a month thru North Africa (via Timbuktu) in a S3 Landy
June 07 - back from Zwickau Trabi Treffen
Aug 07 & Aug 08 - back from the Lands End to Orkney in 71 pickup
Sept 2010 - finally gave up breaking down in a SII Landy...
where to break down next?
2013... managed to seize my 1275 just by driving it round the block