Screen wash PONG !

[tezzer]

Have used various screen wash products over the winter, and one developed a distinct "cat piss" smell.

This has now deteriorated to an obnoxious pong that is best described as "drains" or worse !

I have emptied the reservior, filled with clean water but the pong persists.

Any ideas as to what is safe to use to blitz the system and kill off whatever is growing in there ?

[anonymous-user]

bleach, suitably diluted and rinsed properly

[tezzer]

Wondered about that, but bleach / paintwork / window rubbers ?

Not convinced any of those would take kindly to bleach.

[TheD]

Sometimes you can get a bad smell from the heater matrix. Are you positive it is the sreen wash. If so try the old fairy liquid in an empty chamber topped up with boiling water then pumped through.

[anonymous-user]

suitably diluted

[pmanson]

Not sure if this applies when I picked up my ZT the washer jets hardly worked at all.

At the bottom of the reservoir there was a rubber bung when the pump connected into the reservoir that also provided a filter.

This was totally blocked with gunk and smelly stuff. I removed it washed it through then flushed the reservoir with a couple of kettle loads of boiling water before putting it all back together again.

Seems to have done the trick.

ETA - If you can get the reservoir off the car (normally a couple of bolts) shove it through the dishwasher or simply replace it.

Edited by pmanson on Sunday 27th March 11:15

[swansea v6]

Had this on my mx-5, in the end I used VERY diluted washing up liquid and flushed the system through with nerly boiling water a few times, then filled with 100% screenwash..

[paddyhasneeds]

I've never had this problem but would bleach or Milton in hot water put down a hose into the filler bottle, then blow into the hose to stir it up a bit, then just flush it out with cold water?

If you try pouring in too much washer fluid it will overflow, just use the overflow to flush it for long enough that there's no residue left in the tank.

[m8rky]

I always use the Halfords scented screenwash,either the 5lt or get the concentrate and dilute with Brita filtered water.I have seen washing up liquid react with some screenwash products and form a gel that clogs the whole system,so i personally would not recommend using that.
Surprisingly the Halfords one mentioned is a really good screenwash that cuts through crap has good anti freeze properties and lubes the wipers well and smells nice too.

[Drive Blind]

I had this recently - diluted bleach worked for me.

Also tried washing up liquid and undiluted superstrengh screenwash with no joy.

Bleach in, left it overnight and then emptied the bottle on the way to work. Filled with fresh water at work and then emptied the bottle again on the way home. Has been fine since.

[RemainAllHoof]

I thought this thread was going to be about bouncing a table tennis ball from one washer to the other.