V8V - no windscreen washer
Discussion
Took the car out for a drive today and found I had no windscreen washers.
Easy stuff first - checked there was some fluid in the reservoir - only took 1/2 liter to fill it so that was discounted.
Next - check the fuse. Engone bay fusebox lid is a bit of a PITA to get off, but managed it after a few minutes cussing at it. Fuse 26 blown. YAY - found the issue... Fitted a new 20A fuse and still nothing.
I'm guessing the washer motor is dead, which is probably what caused the fuse to pop in the first place.
Is it a Volvo / FoMoCo part, or am I about to get stung for Aston tax again?
Looks like a faff to get to - wheel off and wheelarch liner out, but nothing too drastic.
Any pointers welcome.
Easy stuff first - checked there was some fluid in the reservoir - only took 1/2 liter to fill it so that was discounted.
Next - check the fuse. Engone bay fusebox lid is a bit of a PITA to get off, but managed it after a few minutes cussing at it. Fuse 26 blown. YAY - found the issue... Fitted a new 20A fuse and still nothing.
I'm guessing the washer motor is dead, which is probably what caused the fuse to pop in the first place.
Is it a Volvo / FoMoCo part, or am I about to get stung for Aston tax again?
Looks like a faff to get to - wheel off and wheelarch liner out, but nothing too drastic.
Any pointers welcome.
Edited by Nigel_O on Thursday 19th October 14:48
Generic part. £40. Any AML dealer.
Check voltage present at terminals. Car onto Stands, front OS wheel off, liner out (20min). Pump/motor is on the bottle. Clips in and relies on a seal.
If voltage present on button press then it’s the pump. easy replacement.
Also check the headlamp wash function. It should work with the standard wash function when lights on. Fuse for that is seperate, in the passenger footwell under a bolted cover (you will need to lift the carpets and remove the torx screws). The slightly bigger, heavier and higher pressure pump is also clipped to the bottle. That pump is more expensive a bit over £100.
When in there check that the bottle isn’t leaking. If it is you will need to replace it. The helpful red trousers chaps video can explain how to do that.
Check voltage present at terminals. Car onto Stands, front OS wheel off, liner out (20min). Pump/motor is on the bottle. Clips in and relies on a seal.
If voltage present on button press then it’s the pump. easy replacement.
Also check the headlamp wash function. It should work with the standard wash function when lights on. Fuse for that is seperate, in the passenger footwell under a bolted cover (you will need to lift the carpets and remove the torx screws). The slightly bigger, heavier and higher pressure pump is also clipped to the bottle. That pump is more expensive a bit over £100.
When in there check that the bottle isn’t leaking. If it is you will need to replace it. The helpful red trousers chaps video can explain how to do that.
Calinours said:
Generic part. £40. Any AML dealer.
Check voltage present at terminals. Car onto Stands, front OS wheel off, liner out (20min). Pump/motor is on the bottle. Clips in and relies on a seal.
If voltage present on button press then it’s the pump. easy replacement.
Also check the headlamp wash function. It should work with the standard wash function when lights on. Fuse for that is seperate, in the passenger footwell under a bolted cover (you will need to lift the carpets and remove the torx screws). The slightly bigger, heavier and higher pressure pump is also clipped to the bottle. That pump is more expensive a bit over £100.
When in there check that the bottle isn’t leaking. If it is you will need to replace it. The helpful red trousers chaps video can explain how to do that.
Thanks - prices from the usual suspects (AstonMartinBits, etc) seem to be £150 + vat - are you saying main dealers should be cheaper?Check voltage present at terminals. Car onto Stands, front OS wheel off, liner out (20min). Pump/motor is on the bottle. Clips in and relies on a seal.
If voltage present on button press then it’s the pump. easy replacement.
Also check the headlamp wash function. It should work with the standard wash function when lights on. Fuse for that is seperate, in the passenger footwell under a bolted cover (you will need to lift the carpets and remove the torx screws). The slightly bigger, heavier and higher pressure pump is also clipped to the bottle. That pump is more expensive a bit over £100.
When in there check that the bottle isn’t leaking. If it is you will need to replace it. The helpful red trousers chaps video can explain how to do that.
My headlamp washers have never worked - presumably the fuse is out due to a failure in the headlamp mechanism. Not an MOT fail on an ‘07 car, so I’ve never bothered investigating
Well, as long as you’re sure you originally had headlight washers, (I’m not sure if all cars had them?) you can easily replace both pumps and regain the headlight wash function.
I did mine in 2021. The screen wash pump is definitely cheaper as it is smaller and lower pressure, and was a standard Ford-sourced tier 2 or 3 part. I got both from works, who can be quite good on parts prices. IIRC I paid no more than 45 and 125 for the respective pumps. Perhaps you are being quoted on the headlight pump?
I remember that there were supply issues at the time - AM Works (as seems often to be the case) had to find an alternative supplier for the pump, but they did in the end.
I’m not sure why both pumps can fail together, but that was the case with mine. On mine the failure mode was a bodged terminal connector creating a short and blowing the fuses. Because the wires enter from the top and run vertically down to the pump, any water that gets into that area and onto the wires will just run down them and onto the connector to the pump.
I removed both pumps, resolved the connector issue replaced the fuses and the pumps and that sorted it.
I did mine in 2021. The screen wash pump is definitely cheaper as it is smaller and lower pressure, and was a standard Ford-sourced tier 2 or 3 part. I got both from works, who can be quite good on parts prices. IIRC I paid no more than 45 and 125 for the respective pumps. Perhaps you are being quoted on the headlight pump?
I remember that there were supply issues at the time - AM Works (as seems often to be the case) had to find an alternative supplier for the pump, but they did in the end.
I’m not sure why both pumps can fail together, but that was the case with mine. On mine the failure mode was a bodged terminal connector creating a short and blowing the fuses. Because the wires enter from the top and run vertically down to the pump, any water that gets into that area and onto the wires will just run down them and onto the connector to the pump.
I removed both pumps, resolved the connector issue replaced the fuses and the pumps and that sorted it.
I’ll contact AM Works during the week. The car definitely had headlight washers at some point, as it has HIDs, but I’m really not too bothered about getting them running again. However, when I get round to fixing the screen washer, I might just check the headlight washer too, in case a previous owner just pulled the fuse to stop getting fluid all over the car when washing the screen
Nigel_O said:
I’ll contact AM Works during the week. The car definitely had headlight washers at some point, as it has HIDs, but I’m really not too bothered about getting them running again. However, when I get round to fixing the screen washer, I might just check the headlight washer too, in case a previous owner just pulled the fuse to stop getting fluid all over the car when washing the screen
If you have HIDs aren't washers required for MOT pass?
Someone mentioned headlight washers, probably not relevant but I had nothing coming out of the screen wipers on my Volvo, turns out the same fuse serves the headlight wipers, and one of the motors on them had ceased, so as the fuse had blown no power to screen washer pump, I just reached under the bonnet and disconnected the power to the headlight wiper motors, new motors were very expensive, and wasn’t an MOT failure.
Ah, it seems prices have been seriously jacked. Perhaps part of the uber luxury thing, like increasing the cost of a CoC from £199 to £1000??
It will absolutely be a generic part, just look at part numbers and even closely examine photos to find the same thing not labelled as an AM part.
I had a quick look under Volvo and found this for £31.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292333878039?mkcid=16&a...
or even this for £16, looks very similar
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254363931708?mkcid=16&a...
It will absolutely be a generic part, just look at part numbers and even closely examine photos to find the same thing not labelled as an AM part.
I had a quick look under Volvo and found this for £31.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292333878039?mkcid=16&a...
or even this for £16, looks very similar
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254363931708?mkcid=16&a...
Edited by Calinours on Monday 16th October 13:28
I don't think you're on the Facebook Aston DIY group so copy and pasting this here as someone just this morning posted about it, don't know how accurate it is but might be useful -
"Just researched screen washer pumps for V8 Vantage 2007. Mine just bubbles from the jets. When I disconnected the feed hose there's very little pressure, maybe it has been run dry. Now to remove the wheel arch liner to have a look and replace. It's a Jaguar part from an X-Type saloon 2001 - 2009. Part number: C2S4065 / C2C30350.
Found them on Ebay at about £10 for a pattern part from Ikio, or about £90 for a new Jaguar one. Aston asking for over £200 ..."
To which someone replied "The connector on the cheap on is at the wrong angle and wont fit some washer bottles the way it’s meant to. I’m sure you can find a way around it though."
"Just researched screen washer pumps for V8 Vantage 2007. Mine just bubbles from the jets. When I disconnected the feed hose there's very little pressure, maybe it has been run dry. Now to remove the wheel arch liner to have a look and replace. It's a Jaguar part from an X-Type saloon 2001 - 2009. Part number: C2S4065 / C2C30350.
Found them on Ebay at about £10 for a pattern part from Ikio, or about £90 for a new Jaguar one. Aston asking for over £200 ..."
To which someone replied "The connector on the cheap on is at the wrong angle and wont fit some washer bottles the way it’s meant to. I’m sure you can find a way around it though."
The original part number was 4G43-01-10304 and this has been superseded by 4G43-37-11549.
Scuderia Car Parts can get the original genuine part and it’s ‘only’ £44 compared with the £130+ for the later part number.
several of the Volvo units look very similar, but I really don’t want to be bodging connectors or hoses, especially when the pump is such a PITA to get to.
Scuderia Car Parts can get the original genuine part and it’s ‘only’ £44 compared with the £130+ for the later part number.
several of the Volvo units look very similar, but I really don’t want to be bodging connectors or hoses, especially when the pump is such a PITA to get to.
Somewhat predictably, Scuderia car parts have now realised they a) don’t have the part in stock and b) can’t get it, so they’ve “credited my Scuderia account’ with the funds.
I’ve politely suggested that I don’t want a credit account with them and they should refund my money ASAP.
Back to square one. I think I’ll take the wheel and arch liner off and have a poke around before I lash out £130 on a replacement pump. Might just be an iffy connection.
Does the wheel arch liner need to come out to fit suspension? I wonder if DAE inadvertently disturbed something while they were fitting the Nitrons, as it was working when it went in to DAE and hasn’t been working since it came back.
I’ve politely suggested that I don’t want a credit account with them and they should refund my money ASAP.
Back to square one. I think I’ll take the wheel and arch liner off and have a poke around before I lash out £130 on a replacement pump. Might just be an iffy connection.
Does the wheel arch liner need to come out to fit suspension? I wonder if DAE inadvertently disturbed something while they were fitting the Nitrons, as it was working when it went in to DAE and hasn’t been working since it came back.
Nigel_O said:
Somewhat predictably, Scuderia car parts have now realised they a) don’t have the part in stock and b) can’t get it, so they’ve “credited my Scuderia account’ with the funds.
I’ve politely suggested that I don’t want a credit account with them and they should refund my money ASAP.
Back to square one. I think I’ll take the wheel and arch liner off and have a poke around before I lash out £130 on a replacement pump. Might just be an iffy connection.
Does the wheel arch liner need to come out to fit suspension? I wonder if DAE inadvertently disturbed something while they were fitting the Nitrons, as it was working when it went in to DAE and hasn’t been working since it came back.
Yes the liner does come out when suspension is changed. I’ve politely suggested that I don’t want a credit account with them and they should refund my money ASAP.
Back to square one. I think I’ll take the wheel and arch liner off and have a poke around before I lash out £130 on a replacement pump. Might just be an iffy connection.
Does the wheel arch liner need to come out to fit suspension? I wonder if DAE inadvertently disturbed something while they were fitting the Nitrons, as it was working when it went in to DAE and hasn’t been working since it came back.
Nigel_O said:
Somewhat predictably, Scuderia car parts have now realised they a) don’t have the part in stock and b) can’t get it, so they’ve “credited my Scuderia account’ with the funds.
I’ve politely suggested that I don’t want a credit account with them and they should refund my money ASAP.
Back to square one. I think I’ll take the wheel and arch liner off and have a poke around before I lash out £130 on a replacement pump. Might just be an iffy connection.
Does the wheel arch liner need to come out to fit suspension? I wonder if DAE inadvertently disturbed something while they were fitting the Nitrons, as it was working when it went in to DAE and hasn’t been working since it came back.
Yes the liner does come out when suspension is changed. I’ve politely suggested that I don’t want a credit account with them and they should refund my money ASAP.
Back to square one. I think I’ll take the wheel and arch liner off and have a poke around before I lash out £130 on a replacement pump. Might just be an iffy connection.
Does the wheel arch liner need to come out to fit suspension? I wonder if DAE inadvertently disturbed something while they were fitting the Nitrons, as it was working when it went in to DAE and hasn’t been working since it came back.
Calinours said:
Yes the liner does come out when suspension is changed.
Thanks - I’m going to suspect a plug has been pulled by accident when it was put back together. Either that, or the feed cable has been cut (which would explain the blown fuse). Sadly, I can only see the headlamp washer pump from above, so the wheel arch liner will have to come out for me to see the windscreen pump. At least I know all the liner torx screws should come out easily - last time I removed a liner, one of the riv-nuts span in the chassis and it took ages to get it out.One for next week when the weather improves - not enough room in my single garage.
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