Screen wash not going into tank, sitting in the tube in Picasso?

[lea27]

Hi all, new car for us that had a little water in the washer tank when we got the car which has now all gone. Tried to replace it with ready mix screen wash which is the blue one from Wilkinson.

As we started tipping it in we noticed it was just sitting there in the tube part before going down into the tank itself. Not sure if its the washers themselves that arent spraying but I think its that the screen wash isnt making it into the tank as they were working with just the water a few weeks ago.

[Count-A-Strong]

Are you sure the water in the reservoir isn't frozen?

[gingejbee]

"New" new car? or just new to you? A factory-new car would have a strong (50/50) anti-freeze mix in it. If it's had plain water in over the last few weeks, I'd be surprised if freezing hasn't done some sort of damage to the washer bottle or pipework etc.

[Electrochem]

As stated, it has probably frozen up due to the recent bad weather.

Please also note that it is not anti-freeze, but screen wash additive. It does the same sort of thing, but anti-freeze is for the cooling system and will wreck paintwork.

I would suggest you try putting some hot (not boiling) water in to see if the screen washer reservoir starts filling up. It could be that you have blown a fuse (do you hear any noise when you put the washers on?

You could also pour some warm water over the washer jets to see if they are iced up.

You may also have debris in the pipes which feed the jets.

Is it a brand new car? Make and model?

[gingejbee]

Electrochem: I was using the words "anti-freeze mix" to describe a mixture that doesn't freeze. I am aware of the difference - washer fluid being propanol-based and coolant being glycol-based.

[chas2008]

screenwash doesnt guarantee the washer jets not to freeze (although it should stop the bottle freezing up) only heated jets will do that.

[Hopkirk]

Of course its not frozen, the weather has improved.

Try poking down the tube with a drinking straw, and see if that lets the fluid through.

[Electrochem]

gingejbee: I wasn't casting any doubt on your intentions. Some people may well see the words anti-freeze and put it in their washer bottle. As someone who has worked in chemistry for around thirty years, I have seen a lot of mistakes made due to misunderstandings.

[mayennaise]

We have a Picasso and over the last few weeks have had two problems with the washers not working. The first time it was the fuse and the second time the jets had frozen. We were able to eliminate the fuse the second time cos we could hear the motor 'whirring' when the washer was activated and this wasn't the case the first time.