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Windscreen washer problem

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Playbill | 13:19 Mon 25th Aug 2008 | Motoring
4 Answers
For the fourth time in a few months my windscreen washers have been reduced to a trickle. Each time I find the filter by the pump is clogged with jelly like substance.
I put some disinfectant in the water last time to try and prevent this but it seems to have failed. I have been using the same type of additive for a couple of years and although I cannot imagine this is the fault, will stop using it now.
Getting to the filter involves removing a wheel and inner wheel arch trim so takes ages.
Can anyone suggest something to add to the water bottle that will prevent this in future, or better still will dissolve the muck this time so I do not have to dismantle half the car to get to the filter?
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Using a hose pipe fill and empty the complete system with water several times.
Then empty completly and put in a half litre of standard methylated spirits (B&Q etc). Then fill with water and use.

The effect will be to cleanse the system with a diluted spirit, give a not unpleasant smell and raise the freezing point so even in frost the washers will work when others will not.
After you clean the filter make sure the bottle is clean,we come across this alot at the dealers were i work and it is due to the water quality and have to mix almost 50=50 the screenwash additive,
you could always try cillit bang :)
Know anyone with dentures? We always used to chuck a Sterident tablet in there, cleans out the gunge and gets rid of any bugs and musty smell from the washers. Works a treat.
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Thanks for all the suggestions.

I will try Zax47's first as that seems the easiest and does not involve removing bits of car!

Getting the pump out is a pig of a job

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Windscreen washer problem

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