Screenwasher Nozzles

[KFA]

My Mark 1 Galaxy Ghia has just failed the MOT as the driver's side screen washer nozzle was u.s. I had only noticed this just before I took it in so adjusted one of the two nozzles on the near side to hit the driver's screen. It was failed as the washer was delivering insufficient fluid, which was not really true.

 

I have disconnected the water tubing behind the near side nozzle and blasted through with compressed air. Water flows freely out of the tube when I operate the washers but not out of the nozzles when I reconnect the tube, though the nozzles do not seem blocked.

 

Each nozzle has an electricity supply. What is this for? Is it to heat the nozzles in freezing weather or is there an auxiliary pump or a valve.

 

Any helpful advice would be appreciated. How do you remove the whole nozzle fitment, mine seem to be stuck in tight.

 

KFA

[RADIOTWO]

Hi KFA

 

I am not sure, but I suspect the wires are for heating elements for the nozzles, and nothing else.

 

But the worse thing you can do is remove the pipe and stick a airline where the pipe fits as all you do is

(if there is any dirt in there) you just further compact the muck.

 

What you need to do is blast it the other way so the dirt drops out

 

Radiotwo

[KFA]

Thanks Radiotwo. I cleaned the nozzle thoroughly using compressed air both ways and descaling fluid. It improved enough to pass the MOT.

 

The rubber nozzle surround is a sod to get off as the rubber flange that must be pressed inward to free it is at the back of the nozle and inaccessible. It came off with some leverage but the rubber had perished and lost its elasticity. It would not lock back in place but did with use of a pond sealing compound.

 

Incidentally the nozzle has a VW part number and is made in CZ. KFA

[KFA]

Further to last years post. I managed to get enough fluid out of the off side washer nozzles to pass the MOT. Before this year's MOT I realized I needed to do some more work as fluid was only dribbling out on the off side with a powerful jet on the near side. After again checking for blockages I tried to restrict the flow to the near side nozzle - no success in improving the flow to the other nozzle. I disconnected the electrics and the water connectors and prised out the nozzle from the windscreen side. When immersed in very hot water with descaling solution a fine plume of bubbles emerged from the nozzle. It took more than two hours of descaling including ensuring the liquid was hot and actually injecting it through the nozzles with a disposable syringe which does fit well and, if you use a size no bigger than 5ml and two syringes, you can syringe through both pin holes at the same time. The nozzle was refitted and a touch of cyano acrylate glue secured it. It now works as new.

 

Why did just one scale up? I have no idea. Lidl sell an ideal descaling fluid that has lots of other uses.

 

Note when removing the clips that secure the sound proofing to the underside of the bonnet take care as they are easily broken. When compressing them the shorter flange goes under the longer flange, otherwise they will not dislodge. The sound proofing can be secured without using all the original securing sites.

 

I hope this helps others. I am grateful for all the useful information I have learnt from this site. Such lovely vehicles spoilt by minor design faults.

 

KFA

[seatkid]

I found a drop or two of toilet 100% limescale remover applied at the nozzle end, combined with a bit of rodding using a pin, cleared the limescale out my partly blocked washer jet.

 

Obviously great care required not to spill onto bonnet paintwork.