By Scott A. Keen on Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 12:35 am: Edit

Hi everyone,

Got a problem with my 1997 Disco. Hope you can help!

The front headlight washers are not working. Well, let me rephrase that. When I actuate the windscreen washer, it's supposed to also spray the headlights. Except, both headlights are dry, the jets are dry, but there's a puddle of windscreen washer fluid on the ground under the passenger side front headlight. I'm assuming that the fluid travels in series from the passenger side headlight washer to the driver side headlight washer. If there's a problem on the passenger side, it will never reach the driver side.

Any suggestions how to fix this problem?

TIA,

Scott

By adam@PowerEnterprises.NET on Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 08:28 am: Edit

Is the resevoir (if that's how it's spelled) full? On my disco2 when the fluid is low it doesn't spray the headlights.

By Danno on Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 08:36 am: Edit

silly question....are your headlights on when you wash them?
do you hear a second pump activate when you wash them?

there is a little "T" type valve that sends fluid to both sides.

By pk on Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 10:34 am: Edit

There is a valve in the tubing that takes water to the headlight sprayers. That valve or the tubing is leaking. Look for it behind the bumper hidden up in there.

pk

By Will on Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 10:53 am: Edit

Easy fix..Had the same issue. First off check the actual washers themselves. Push a needle/pin inside the outside to make sure they are not clogged. Then get down on all fours and follow the hose that runs behind the bumper. There is a clamp where the one hose becomes 2 to send to each washer. The clamp here has been known to cause problems and is probably the cause of your leak. Loosen it and see if the hose has dry-rotted. It may not have and it may be a minor fix like readjusting the clamp.
Either way this is something you can do yourself in a matter of minutes.
Tools needed: Screwdriver, Patience.


Good luck,

Will

By Scott A. Keen (Scottkeen) on Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 11:28 am: Edit

OK, let me respond to your very helpful suggestions:

1) Yep, the reservoir has 1 gallon of fluid.

2) Ah, that was part of the problem. I was testing it with the headlights off. Yes, with the headlights on, yes, it does spray both headlights. Thanks! I should have RTFM. But it's still puddling fluid when the headlights are off.

3) I will check the tubing, the clamp, and the valve. Something is causing the fluid to leak out when the headlights are off. Without having looked at the area yet, this sounds to me that the valve or the tubing right before the valve is bad.

Thanks for your help!

Scott

By Clint on Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 12:18 pm: Edit

I had the same problem,
it was a bad "check valve tee".
The new part is around $20.
The purpose of the check valve is to keep fluid in the tank until the pump pressurizes the fluid beyond a certain point. Then the valve allows fluid to flow to the lights. If you take the hose off the tank, you will notice that fluid will come out and that the pumps are not "water tight". That is why the check valve is needed. My tee was not shutting off and it would drain the entire tank.
Clint

By Lody on Sunday, February 25, 2001 - 04:32 pm: Edit

I have got the same problem with the rear window washer and can't trace it.

Any suggestions?

Thank, Lody

By Bill B on Monday, February 26, 2001 - 08:41 am: Edit

Lody, I just fixed the same rear washer problem on mine. There is a tiny (button sized) diaphragm check valve under the washer tank (you have to take out the tank) that is in line with the tubing going to the rear washer. Mine was bad and since I did not have a replacement handy I just used a one way air check valve from my aquarium because the inlet/outlet are the same size and it has worked fine. I know the fix is kind of "shadetree" but it worked and was cheap and easy.

By Lody on Tuesday, February 27, 2001 - 03:47 am: Edit

Bill,

I took out the tank and cleaned the valve. It works now. I guess it needs replacing soon, but at least now i know where it is.

Thanks a lot,

Lody