Melting windscreen washer

[anonymous-user]

Anyone else had this? I've gone through 3 passenger side windscreen wipers in 2 weeks. The tube that carries the water is melting. It never happened before during the first 2 years of the cars life. The exhaust is on that side and it is very very hot but why would it suddenly start happening now?

[s6boy]

That's interesting because mine has started running a lot hotter recently as well, not enough to melt any plastics yet though

[Whitey]

blocked cat(s) creating much more heat?

[anonymous-user]

Whitey said:

blocked cat(s) creating much more heat?

We thought that but HHC checked the cats last week and all clear.

[Whitey]

did they actually remove the cats to check them? Have you done any non-regular driving, ie sitting in traffic in the sun?

I had this happen a few years ago, but never knew why it happened, at the time I just put it down to heat in traffic jams etc, but I did have collapsed cats when the engine came out a couple of years later.

Parking it in a warm well sealed garage after a long run and the heat just too much???

Let us know how you get on!

[Whitey]

they do create a fair bit of heat from the exhausts, maybe it's just one of those things?

[anonymous-user]

Whitey said:

did they actually remove the cats to check them? Have you done any non-regular driving, ie sitting in traffic in the sun?

I had this happen a few years ago, but never knew why it happened, at the time I just put it down to heat in traffic jams etc, but I did have collapsed cats when the engine came out a couple of years later.

Parking it in a warm well sealed garage after a long run and the heat just too much???

Let us know how you get on!

They said they checked the cats and they were clear so I assumed they had them off? Their first thought was a blocked cat so they were going to knock the cat out but when they tested they found it to be ok.

Regular driving which consists mainly of empty Dales roads. I do put it in a garage but the last time it happened I had driven 10 miles or so only and the car was parked on the drive.

Anyway its back in tomorrow for a thorough investigation. I'm looking forward to the 30 mile blat home in the Drivestyle 1.2 Fiesta.

[andyvdg]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Don't know the cause. Problem has happened since repair.

[glow worm]

unrepentant said:

Anyone else had this? I've gone through 3 passenger side windscreen wipers in 2 weeks. The tube that carries the water is melting. It never happened before during the first 2 years of the cars life. The exhaust is on that side and it is very very hot but why would it suddenly start happening now?

I had this problem...cause was the fitting of the hard plastic tube to the rubbery one....the rubbery one is heat resistant and should be pushed well up the spring of the wiper so the plastic one doesn't get quite so hot....dead cheap and nasty washer system...I'll be trying the new Leven one soon.

[s6boy]

Whitey said:

blocked cat(s) creating much more heat?

Mine sailed through it's first M.O.T last month, would it still with blocked cats? Also surely there would be a noticable drop off in performance.


Please ignore this, starting a new thread so as not to hi-jack this one!

Edited by s6boy on Monday 2nd July 13:38

[Whitey]

s6boy said:

Whitey said:

blocked cat(s) creating much more heat?

Mine sailed through it's first M.O.T last month, would it still with blocked cats? Also surely there would be a noticable drop off in performance.


Please ignore this, starting a new thread so as not to hi-jack this one!

Edited by s6boy on Monday 2nd July 13:38

Yes it will pass, both my cats are about 30% melted/collapsed and it get's through the MOT.

Performance will suffer but you may not notice until the cat is really stuffed.

[C.HARPER]

Whats the cause of blocking Cats, is it down to crappy fuel?

[JOSHKY]

Have you had the tappets checked recently this could cause glowing of the mainfolds.

[engelborghs]

Happened to me also when coming back from France last year. For me it was the windscreen wiper at the "drivers" side (LHD, MK 2) Suddenly I noticed a burning smell, didn't know the cause then, until a few days later .... in the rain. It's a common cause, like "they all do that sire once in a life time"

I think its the combination of hot weather and long drive in slow traffic and persistent high engine temperatures due to the proximity of the exhaust.


Koen

[anonymous-user]

engelborghs said:

I think its the combination of hot weather and long drive in slow traffic and persistent high engine temperatures due to the proximity of the exhaust.

You obviously haven't seen the weather we've been enjoying in the UK lately Koen.

None of those were the reason in this case and I've gone through 3 in a couple of weeks having had no issues with it before so a rabbit is off somewhere. The guys at Drivestyle Harrogate will hopefully get to the bottom of it.

Thanks for all the replies. I've noted everyone's comments re previous experience of this and I'll hand it over in the morning.

[davido140]

Mine are all crappy and perished,

Do leven (or anyone else) do a better washer system? I couldnt find one on the leven website.

cheers

[nelly1]

davido140 said:

Mine are all crappy and perished,

Do leven (or anyone else) do a better washer system? I couldnt find one on the leven website.

cheers

(From the Leven website - under latest news - someway down the page)

Leven said:

Wash / wipe system Tuscan
Improved wash/wipe system for the Tuscan

Following the success of the Griffith / Chimaera system, we have developed a 21" version specifically for the Tuscan. This incorporates the jet, giving controlled wash from a discrete jet head. The drivers blade includes a spoiler to minimise lift at speed, whilst the passenger blade is curved to sweep the maximum amount of the windscreen. Drivers blade shown.
Blades only (pair) - £33.50 inc VAT & delivery. Complete kit (arms and blades) - £69.50 inc VAT & delivery.

I've got these fitted to mine and they look (and work) great!

Definitely recommended

Edited by nelly1 on Tuesday 3rd July 12:14

[davido140]

nelly1 said:

davido140 said:

Mine are all crappy and perished,

Do leven (or anyone else) do a better washer system? I couldnt find one on the leven website.

cheers

(From the Leven website - under latest news - someway down the page)

Leven said:

Wash / wipe system Tuscan
Improved wash/wipe system for the Tuscan

Following the success of the Griffith / Chimaera system, we have developed a 21" version specifically for the Tuscan. This incorporates the jet, giving controlled wash from a discrete jet head. The drivers blade includes a spoiler to minimise lift at speed, whilst the passenger blade is curved to sweep the maximum amount of the windscreen. Drivers blade shown.
Blades only (pair) - £33.50 inc VAT & delivery. Complete kit (arms and blades) - £69.50 inc VAT & delivery.

I've got these fitted to mine and they look (and work) great!

Definitely recommended

Edited by nelly1 on Tuesday 3rd July 12:14

cool, thank you! will give them a bell and order now!

[jonolondon]

Hi Coming to this Forum a bit late - Do you have to take the bonnet off in order to fit the leven wipers ?! Are they easy to fit ?!

Thanks in advance,

[J J]

Will need to undo bonnet clips and first set of nuts you can lift bonnet enough then (carefully) to allow you to remove pasenger side wiper arm. This sits under bonnet lip, but drivers side clears bonnet edge. Good excuse to get into the engine bay and have a check around for any visable wear and tear problems though.