My 996 is crying!!!

My 996 is crying!!!

Author
Discussion

ChopperEllis

Original Poster:

143 posts

279 months

Saturday 26th April 2003
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Now, I know this sounds really stupid, but before igetmecoat can someone please help me with my headlamp washers before my car cries itself to death.

Car is 2002 996TT and so has the little silver circles next to the headlamps.

Now I thought that these were the headlamp washers and that when I push the right hand stalk away from me these little things should pop up and spray water at the lights.

Up until now I've never really paid much attention to them but last night I had a go and I could hear a pump but the silver discs didn't move, no spray, nothing. Then a couple of seconds later a load of water dribbled onto the floor out of the underside of the front of the car.

This doesn't seem right to me. How should these things work? I've checked the fuse and that's okay and I know the reservoir is full so what's wrong?

Roadrunner

2,690 posts

282 months

Saturday 26th April 2003
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What a nightmare. After 2000 miles you'll need a full headlamp rebuild. Hang on a minute, that sounds a bit like the TVR boys doesn't it. Should be cheaper though.

clubsport

7,369 posts

273 months

Saturday 26th April 2003
quotequote all
The silver discs prodrude out about 1-1 1/2 inches where the cleaning water sprays out of a spray bar on to the headlamp.When done the disc/stalk retracts back into position.
It is quite a spectacle for those outside the car.
If you have not used yours much maybe their is dirt or something holding the washer back in the headlight.
I would get a mug mate who doesn't mind getting a little wet to gently help the washer up by hand as you operate the lever inside the dry enviroment inside the car.

shadowninja

78,547 posts

297 months

Saturday 26th April 2003
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clubsport said:
It is quite a spectacle for those outside the car.


especially if its not actually aiming at the lights

ChopperEllis

Original Poster:

143 posts

279 months

Saturday 26th April 2003
quotequote all

clubsport said: I would get a mug mate who doesn't mind getting a little wet to gently help the washer up by hand as you operate the lever inside the dry enviroment inside the car.


Tried this but they don't budge. And my mate thought I was just trying to get him wet!

Roadrunner

2,690 posts

282 months

Saturday 26th April 2003
quotequote all
LOL. That just reminded me of my youf. I used to tag along with my mate in his Festa MK1 950(!) at 17. Lovely car. Not. Was bright red with many a 'bolt on' to distract from the rust. Anyway, he purposefully angled the windscreen washer jets towards the pavement. Many a time we chortled to ourselves whilst squirting unsuspecting pedestrians passing by.

You really should grow out of these antics by the time you find yourself behind the leathery wheel of a 996TT though!

davidbut

108 posts

268 months

Saturday 26th April 2003
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On my 996 I'm pretty sure that they only work if the head-lights are switched on! Looks really cool when they do work.

David

Don

28,378 posts

299 months

Sunday 27th April 2003
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This happened on my last Boxster. You switch the headlights on - push the stalk (ooer) away from you and its supposed to deluge the headlights with a foamy, cleansing spray.

Instead you get a pathetic dribble from the underside of the car...do the main washers work at all?

What's happened (or at least had happened on mine) is that the pipes from the pump come away from the headlight unit/main wash unit.

Been over any speed bumps lately? Apparently that's what does it.

AFN in Guildford diagnosed the problem (for me) over the phone and offered to pop it on a ramp, push the pipes back into position and tighten up a jubilee clip around the offending spot to stop it from happening again.

Give your OPC Service Centre a call (from your mobile whilst you are in the car)and ask if they'll diagnose the problem with you - chances are they'll be able to fix it same as they could for me...

Hope this helps - and its the same, easily fixed, problem...

ChopperEllis

Original Poster:

143 posts

279 months

Sunday 27th April 2003
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Don,

Thanks for the post. I couldn’t resist having a look this morning to see if I could fix it myself.

The water isn’t actually leaking from the pump. It’s coming from the back of both lights.

Does anyone know if the jets pushed up by water pressure alone or are they driven by a motor?

Looks like a trip to AFN Guildford is in order.

Rob