rear screen wash e53 2004 3.o d

[Smeeagain]

My front and rear wipers were working fine the other day but the screen wash fluid ran out whilst driving down the motorway. Filled up as soon as i could but the rear delivers no liquid to the screen. It was working entirely fine previously. It's still not working after a couple of days

Clearly there could be a leak but could there also be an airlock from running it dry?

Are there any known weak spots to look first for a leak - I conscious that as I keep pressing the button the water might be filling up somewhere ........

Smee

[TimX5]

Clean out the washer bottle and make sure there's no gunge blocking the pumps , same happened to my front washers .

Tim

[X5Sport]

Also check for wet patches on the carpet.  It could also be either a blocked nozzle or jammed non-return valve which is stopping the fluid from getting through.

My rear one failed and it turned out to be a bunged up jet and valve.  Needed a replacement to sort it.  It was caused by using a washer concentrate that allowed a white 'growth' to form.... :puke:

Richard

[Smeeagain]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Also check for wet patches on the carpet.  It could also be either a blocked nozzle or jammed non-return valve which is stopping the fluid from getting through.

My rear one failed and it turned out to be a bunged up jet and valve.  Needed a replacement to sort it.  It was caused by using a washer concentrate that allowed a white 'growth' to form.... :puke:

Richard
[/quote]

Thanks as it happens I have a spare set of filters for the reservoir so will replace that and start again. I'm assuming that there was probably crud at the bottom of the bottle which has gone into the tubes and if that is indeed the case I'm not so sure how to clear it
Smee

[X5Sport]

If you can, either remove the rear nozzle and then try the pump to give it free flow, or disconnect the front end and use a bit of LOW pressure compressed air to see if you can blow the crud out forwards.  Do not use 100psi air as you may damage the pipe joints.

You could also use a large syringe to push fluid in from the rear to force it forward again.  Safer than air, but getting a large syringe may need a horse vet or similar as a source.  GPs may not have one (100ml or so).

Richard

[Smeeagain]

ok, thanks. So there is a separate rear feed off the reservoir? It's not a single feed that branches off later?

Smee

[davesavage257]

IIRC two pumps and feeds off the reservoir (might be three, one for the headlights). 

[chrisn7]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Also check for wet patches on the carpet.  [/quote]

So where does the feed for the rear window jet run - along the sill? I recently had the carpet wet just in front of the rear seat, but put that down to having perhaps left the rear door just on the latch as the car was washed. But I also had a feed pipe blow off one of the washer pumps recently too, but didn't make the connection, so to speak.

[Smeeagain]

[quote="davesavage257"]
IIRC two pumps and feeds off the reservoir (might be three, one for the headlights).
[/quote]

There are in fact three pumps - not entirely sure which was one is the rear feed, although one in particular had significant amount of the white gunk in the reservoir filter - all cleaned out now but still no rear jets. Thinking of (very) mild solution of caustic soda to try and pump through the pipes to clear them - I've tried air and syringe to no avail
Smee

[Smeeagain]

And yes I know caustic soda can damage paintwork but I plan to hose it down as I go. Thinking of using Puriclean pie cleaner (available on ebay for around a fiver) anyone tried it ?
Smee

[X5Sport]

Can you get fluid through the nozzle itself in either direction when it's off the car?

Can you get to the parts on this slide?  Chances are the NR valve is blocked.

The main pipe runs back from the tank with a joint below the drivers seat side tunnel carpets.  It may then run up the 'C' pillar into the roof to its final position. I can't find any actual images, and the advice is that the seat must come out along with the centre console to get the carpets up.

Richard

[Smeeagain]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Can you get fluid through the nozzle itself in either direction when it's off the car?

Can you get to the parts on this slide?  Chances are the NR valve is blocked.

The main pipe runs back from the tank with a joint below the drivers seat side tunnel carpets.  It may then run up the 'C' pillar into the roof to its final position. I can't find any actual images, and the advice is that the seat must come out along with the centre console to get the carpets up.

Richard
[/quote]

Thanks Richard

I haven't tried to get to that NR valve. How do I get in there and if I can is the valve unblockable do you think?



Smee

[chrisn7]

How far down the rear screen should the water jet? Mine only goes a few inches, but I don't know if this is intentional or if it should go further and there is a partial blockage...

[X5Sport]

Try this......and I don't know what the special tool is.  There is a copy of the workshop manual on line again.

Removal instructions.

Adjustment procedure and measurements:  You need an 'L' crank screwdriver.

Instructions.

[Smeeagain]

Thanks - as I'm not sure which of the three pumps is for the rear, and as I don't know if the water is getting to the rear nozzle, I think I will remove the output pipe from each pump and press the screen wash switch to ensure that liquid is getting through the pump first and that the pump is not gunged up.

There are two pumps to the rear of the reservoir and one on the near side - does anyone know which one is the rear one?

I will then try a pipe cleaner/steriliser solution.

I can then move to the rear nozzle if required - the instructions only seem to show the nozzle though - how do you get to the feed tube within the rear spoiler?

Smee