e46 headlamp washer - how to disable?
e46 headlamp washer - how to disable?
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Discussion

Twin Turbo

Original Poster:

5,544 posts

292 months

Thursday 23rd May 2013
quotequote all
At the start of the year, I had a small leak that turned out to be the driver's side headlamp washer at fault......actually the extendable arm required replacement.

Wouldn't you know it, a few months later, it appears its the turn of the passenger side. I will get it fixed, but having already forked out over £300 on cooling system parts this month, I could do with a temporary fix.

I've read that the washers can be disabled by unplugging the pump on the washer bottle, but would this prevent water getting to the headlamp washer jet? Basically, would that stop the leak in the short term?


Cheers
Paul

izabar

217 posts

208 months

Thursday 23rd May 2013
quotequote all
just remember this is a MOT failure now

Twin Turbo

Original Poster:

5,544 posts

292 months

Thursday 23rd May 2013
quotequote all
I thought that was only if the car was fitted with HIDs........which mine doesn't have.

??

izabar

217 posts

208 months

Thursday 23rd May 2013
quotequote all
just checked the mot'ers guide and I think you may be ok if you don't have HID or self leveling lamps

roofer

5,136 posts

237 months

Thursday 23rd May 2013
quotequote all
Twin Turbo said:
I thought that was only if the car was fitted with HIDs........which mine doesn't have.

??
Correct, and the headlight wash pump is the upper of the 2. Git to get to though.

sc4589

1,960 posts

191 months

Thursday 23rd May 2013
quotequote all
On my E36 it was pissing out- so I simply pulled the pipe off the headlight washer pump, bunged a screw in it (and plenty of PTFE), and removed the whole system... took half an hour, including a 20 minute tea break.

philmots

4,664 posts

286 months

Friday 24th May 2013
quotequote all
Pulling the fuse will disable them.


mike325112

1,074 posts

210 months

Friday 24th May 2013
quotequote all
philmots said:
Pulling the fuse will disable them.
This does dissable the units, but mine still leak - which is unfortunate...

a1burns

198 posts

174 months

Friday 24th May 2013
quotequote all
There are 2 pumps in the washer bottle tank, one is well above the other. This is the headlight washer pump, just pull it out and this will stop any water getting to them in the short-term. Just remember not to overfill your washer bottle as this just leaves a gaping hole in the tank and will spew out over your engine/electrics if overfilled or too full and driven enthusiastically!

Twin Turbo

Original Poster:

5,544 posts

292 months

Friday 24th May 2013
quotequote all
Excellent, thanks chaps smile

MartinQ

797 posts

207 months

Saturday 25th May 2013
quotequote all
Mine was leaking, so pulled the pump out. The water pissed out of the hole of course, but I put the rubber seal in a finger from a nitrile glove and put it back in.