Low washer fluid light on, but there's plenty of fluid...

[Kozy]

Seems my newly puchases mk1 has decided to throw it's first warning light, saying I've got low washer fluid. It came on driving down a country lane in the pouring rain, so I hadn't used the washer jets.

Chucked 2 litres in, the light is still on.

Possible dicky sensor?

[mazdajason]

Definitely the washer fluid and not the brake fluid?

Brake fluid can be a bit tempermental on my mk1.

[roddo]

never seen one with a washer light fitted............

[MX-5 Lazza]

There is no washer fluid light. As above, I suspect it's a brake system warning light.
Photo?

[Kozy]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Photo?

Certainly sir.

[Manicminer]

That is a washer fluid light!

[Kozy]

Yes it matches the symbol on the washer fluid cap.

Question is, with plenty of fluid and operating washers, what might be causing it to stay on?

Been a lot of water on the roads, could it have got wet and shorted the circuit?

[Manicminer]

This is the only info I could find , not much help I know.

https://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/t/24701.aspx

[MX-5 Lazza]

Strange. I've never seen a Mk1/2 with a washer fluid warning light before! Yours isn't left hand drive is it?

[Kozy]

Manicminer said:

This is the only info I could find , not much help I know.

https://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/t/24701.aspx

Hmmm, I'll chuck another couple of litres in it and hope it goes out then!

[mazdajason]

Amazing, never noticed that before and i'm sure the system has been empty and it's never come on!

Learn something every day!

[Kozy]

mazdajason said:

Amazing, never noticed that before and i'm sure the system has been empty and it's never come on!

Learn something every day!

Seems it's a feature on ABS equipped cars, as the bottle is hidden at the front of the engine bay. Non ABS cars, the bottle is visible and so doesn't require a warning light.

[BliarOut]

Without a multimeter just pull the connector off the sender and open/short it with a paper clip. If it goes on/off you've got a duff sender.

[mazdajason]

Kozy said:

Seems it's a feature on ABS equipped cars, as the bottle is hidden at the front of the engine bay. Non ABS cars, the bottle is visible and so doesn't require a warning light.

oh aye, fair point.

OP - its not like your screenwash was frozen or anything was it?

[Kozy]

No, temps well above freezing.

It's strange as I picked it up from the MOT where one of the things that needed addressing was that there was no fluid in there as the washers did not operate. However, with no fluid in there, the light was not on.

With a small amount of water in the tank to get the washers working and pass the test, the light stayed on. After about an hour of driving (without using the washers) it came on, and adding 2 litres did not put it out.

I've now parked it up as it won't be used again until after Christmas. I will check the sensor once I've sobered up!

[roddo]

Well that just confirms...... everyday is a school day!!!

Never seen one of them before......

[Munter]

My mk1 1.8is had one as well. Came on when the bottle split after a shunt.

I wonder is something is on the sensor in the bottle. Might be worth seeing if you can get it out and clean it somehow....

[Kozy]

Problem found, the pipe from the filler to the bottle had come detached from the bottle, so when I filled it up (in the rain) it poured down onto the sump guard and out of the back of the engine bay where I could not see it!

[Craikeybaby]

I always found it amusing that my mk1 had a washer fluid warning light, but not a petrol warning light.

[Kozy]

Yea, I've kinda got used to one of those, I borrowed a mates car before christmas that had one that didn't work, needless to say I ran out of fuel waiting for it to come on.

Two days later, I crashed it. Turns out the ABS and airbag lights didn't work either.