What could be the cause of this windshield washer problem?

Question

Ok so heres the problem. Before we took the car to the shop to have work done completely unrelated to the windshield washer mechanism, it worked fine, now the windshield washers dont pump out fluid. They claimed they filled the car full of all fluids when they gave it back to us, yet we tried the windshield washer almost immediately and it didnt work, so we figured they just didnt fill that. Today we bought fluid and filled the tank. Immediately we tried it and it didnt work. Then very shortly later I looked at the tank again and it had gone down a little, so i tried the switch again, still nothing. Is there something I didnt do correctly or something like it takes a while of using it for it to work again after it going completely dry or what? Thanks :) Also, I do not believe it is leaking out the bottom or anything, although i realize this is a possibility, im just looking for other possible causes.

Answer 1

with the winter here your lines might be frozen,

Answer 2

Do you hear a buzz noise when you are trying the washer? If you do not, the pump may have simply burnt out or became unplugged.
If you hear a noise, CAREFULLY pull off the rubber hose that attaches to the "Squirter". Try the washer again. If you have a noise and fluid is coming from the hose, you probably have clogged squirters. Windshield solvent does leave a residue that, over time, will clog the squirter. You can unclog the squirters with a fine wire. Most of the time a paper clip is too large, so do not try a paper clip. A sewing needle can be used.

Answer 3

when you hit the washer switch do you hear the pump running? if not the pump in the bottom of the washer tank is bad and if it is running, more than likely you have a piece of dirt in the fluid lines blocking the fluid, take an air hose and blow the lines out and make sure that the orfaces on the end where the fluid sprays onto the windshield is clean by sticking a pin in the holes to make sure they are open.

Answer 4

There are two little ports either on the hood of the car or under the hood close to the windshield in which the washer fluid comes out. There is a possibility that they may have gotten clogged with dirt or something. Take a very fine tipped object, such as a toothpick or stiff piece of thin wire, and clean out the little holes in the ports...then see if it works.

Answer 5

looks like the motor became broken by ability of ice/freezing or wore out. in many circumstances, you may replace the motor w/a accepted one. All it demands is an undemanding cord splice and connecting the fluid/water from the washer fluid tank and windshield lines to the hot motor.

Answer 6

Sounds like the pump motor is shot, do you hear anything when you turn on the wipers? This happened to my roommates car and they put a new motor in.

If you are hearing something, clean out the "holes" where the fluid comes out. The "canned air" used to clean computer stuff works well, just blow out the holes really well.

Answer 7

Do you hear the washer pump buzzing when you press the switch?

Have someone press the switch with the hood open and look and listen at the tank.

possible hose plugged, possible nozzles plugged

Answer 8

tank or the lines could of a leak in them, one of the lines might have come undone. the fuse for the motor might be blown, the motor for the shooters might of died. if you hear nothing when you hit the switch, the fuse or motor died. if you hear sound but no fluid, leak in line, line off, frozen nozzel, clogged nozzel

Answer 9

Either the pump motor is bad or a hse has come off.

Answer 10

check fuses ...