Stinking Water Washer

[norwichbluenose]

For some reason the water inmy windscreen washer has started to skink (a cross between cat P*ss and rotten food).

i have emptied the bottle several times to no effect, my next step is to try a mild solution of bicarbonate soda diluted in the bottle to flush it.

Any other suggestions gratefully recieved.

 

Andy B

[boxman32]

For some reason the water inmy windscreen washer has started to skink (a cross between cat P*ss and rotten food).

i have emptied the bottle several times to no effect, my next step is to try a mild solution of bicarbonate soda diluted in the bottle to flush it.

Any other suggestions gratefully recieved.

 

Andy B

have had this problem for months,have rinsed it out loads of times and also cant get rid of the smell.every time i squirt the window with washers it fills the car with this dreadfull stink.washed out with water and varios liquids and still cant get rid of it,would be nice to know how to get rid of it also.

[sanjsanj]

i dont get any bad smell but have you tried a scented washer fluid? At the moment i have an apple one in mine....smells quite nice when you use it!

[El Dingo]

Wierd... I had this when we got our Galaxy about a year ago.

 

I flushed out the system - not easy to get all the muck out - and replaced with screen wash concentrate plus water.

 

My theory - *cough* - whatever the factory originally put in the screenwash bottle reacts with what Ford uses at service time.

 

Do Alhambra or Sharan owners get this problem?

[Vanbursta]

Yup, buy a bottle of Milton baby steriliser fluid from the local chemist, pour it in and leave for 24 hours, drain and refill with 50% distilled water and 50% proprietary screenwash. Cured the problem fro me last year and it's still smells OK.

[Dorchester]

Had the same problem on my Gal.

 

Only after I started using a new bottle of screen wash from Halfords. Used same as before "buy one get one free" so thought it must be dodgy mixture.

 

Washed it all out ,threw new screen wash away and bought scented concentrated bottle.

 

Has tobe screen wash mixture I would think

[mumof4]

Cany sai ive ever had this prob as i have always used water and washing up liquid!! :) :o

[jwilliams]

Thought you had to use 'special' washer fluid with the fan type of washer jet?

 

If so is it only available from the dealer?

 

I have only filled mine with plain water at the mo.

 

Can the jets become blocked if you use certain types of fluid?

 

I have used baby bottle cleaning stuff to get rid of nasty smells as suggested by vanbursta, it works well.

[Vanbursta]

You shouldn't use fairy liquid as it is corrosive and will eventually rot the screen rubber, plain water is ok but it's always best to use distilled water as it is pure and doesn't contain any of the minerals you get in tap water (even in soft water areas there are still minerals in the tap water), minerals will eventually condense and block the jets. Any proprietary screen wash is fine, the reason it starts to smell is that the same minerals in the tap water react with the alcohol in screenwash and it turns the water stagnant, again this can be avoided by using distilled water. If you use just plain water it won't cut through the greasy film that is deposited on the screen by spray from other vehicles, this happens mostly after a prolonged dry spell when the road has a chance to build up a film of greasy muck (mostly dust mixed with heavy hyrocarbons from diesel and petrol exhausts, but also containing other contaminants). Lastly if you don't use screenwash the water will freeze in the winter, as water expands when frozen it can damage the pump / pipes / jets, not to mention the damage done when you try to use the pump dry as it is normally cooled by the liquid passing through it and can quickly overheat.

[Bigjeeze]

Halfords screen clean stuff - Smells horrid anyway - but so far never had it go rotten. Maybe you need to use the washers more!!

[jwilliams]

Think I will go with pre mixed stuff.

 

Is that made using distilled water or do you still have the problems of minerals in the water?

[Vanbursta]

The pre mix should contain distilled water, it is also a legal requirement for the manufacturer to plainly state the contents on the packaging, so you should be able to tell quite easily.