Fixing clogged windshield wiper washers
Jul 29, 2006 | 02:55 PM
#1
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From: Los Angeles
Fixing clogged windshield wiper washers
Or it should be titled "How a paperclip saved me a few bucks" 
I've been driving with two wiper washer nozzles (one on on each side) that did not work. So I finally got off my duff and fixed it. The first thing i did was to take a staple to the nozzle to push any debris loose into the nozzle. On both of the clogged nozzle, there was resistance. I then turned the washers on and they both worked. I am pretty confident that it was just accumulated loose dirt and that it was shot out of the nozzle. if not, i'll unhook the hoses from the plastic T's and clean out the debris from there.
if that doesn't work for you, i found a suggestion from another member who suggested the following for 2nd gens. All you would have to do for your no-2nd gen is to follow the hoses to the pump. Note: this advice vapplies mostly to you colder climate folks:
Odds are the bottom end is frozen solid (tank area at the bottom is really pretty small and frankly shaped coincidentally something like an ice cube tray) and that is where the pumps are.
How do I know? Just did mine today for the same reason. I've had this truck for less than a year, but haven't been driving it much ('93 4Runner). The washer fluid in the resevoir was what the car lot had put in it. Most likely plain water with a little blue tint
Throw in a few nights of zero and below temps and voila one non-windshield washer fluid pumping Runner. Easy to disassemble on the 2nd Gen. One nut and one bolt holding the battery tie-down and one bolt holding the resevoir.
With two pumps, there are two plugs. One is low by the bottom of the tank, the other beside the battery. Unplug both. Two hoses too. Separate them at the closest joints to the bottle. It'll take a little twisting, wire moving, hose canoodling, but it'll come out.
Pour out the fluid and then stare at the big block of ice at the bottom. Flush it out with hot water, put it all back together then fill it up with a good concentrated wiper fluid meant for wintertime. Worked for me anyway.
Good luck!
The takeaway from the above is to also use real windshield wiper fluid and not just water because of the possibility of calcification and freezing.
Bob
I've been driving with two wiper washer nozzles (one on on each side) that did not work. So I finally got off my duff and fixed it. The first thing i did was to take a staple to the nozzle to push any debris loose into the nozzle. On both of the clogged nozzle, there was resistance. I then turned the washers on and they both worked. I am pretty confident that it was just accumulated loose dirt and that it was shot out of the nozzle. if not, i'll unhook the hoses from the plastic T's and clean out the debris from there.
if that doesn't work for you, i found a suggestion from another member who suggested the following for 2nd gens. All you would have to do for your no-2nd gen is to follow the hoses to the pump. Note: this advice vapplies mostly to you colder climate folks:
Odds are the bottom end is frozen solid (tank area at the bottom is really pretty small and frankly shaped coincidentally something like an ice cube tray) and that is where the pumps are.
How do I know? Just did mine today for the same reason. I've had this truck for less than a year, but haven't been driving it much ('93 4Runner). The washer fluid in the resevoir was what the car lot had put in it. Most likely plain water with a little blue tint
Throw in a few nights of zero and below temps and voila one non-windshield washer fluid pumping Runner. Easy to disassemble on the 2nd Gen. One nut and one bolt holding the battery tie-down and one bolt holding the resevoir.
With two pumps, there are two plugs. One is low by the bottom of the tank, the other beside the battery. Unplug both. Two hoses too. Separate them at the closest joints to the bottle. It'll take a little twisting, wire moving, hose canoodling, but it'll come out.
Pour out the fluid and then stare at the big block of ice at the bottom. Flush it out with hot water, put it all back together then fill it up with a good concentrated wiper fluid meant for wintertime. Worked for me anyway.
Good luck!
Bob
Last edited by Bob_98SR5; Jul 29, 2006 at 02:58 PM.
Jul 29, 2006 | 04:49 PM
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From: Auburn, Washington
Good mod there Bob with the paper clip.
That reminded me of my Griot's catalogs I get all the time.
In there are a few different pick sets, and Richard Griot mentions the small one is good for cleaning widshield nozzles.
Now is not that the snozzle
http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=46601
That reminded me of my Griot's catalogs I get all the time.
In there are a few different pick sets, and Richard Griot mentions the small one is good for cleaning widshield nozzles.
Now is not that the snozzle
http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=46601
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Jul 29, 2006 | 10:42 PM
#9
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,171
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From: Sunny SoCal
Bob, how long did it take you to setup that paperclip shot? Boy, you should become a pro photog with that. Have you got a portfolio ready? 
Nice write-up though really!
Nice write-up though really!
Last edited by humanoid; Jul 29, 2006 at 10:43 PM. Reason: spelling
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