Windscreen jets suffering premature ejaculation
Discussion
My car (Mk 3.5 Sport Tech)was sat on my driveway throughout October while I was away on a training course for five weeks. As soon as I got back and took it out on the road the windscreen jets would just squirt or dribble varying amounts of fluid. This only happens while driving.
I panicked because I was worried the ECU has a problem. I got it booked into SDM Mazda in Falkirk (fantastic garage) only to be told the washer jets have nothing to do with the ECU. The mechanic there guessed that the problem was a pressure differential somewhere, likely the Heatshot system (www.heatshot.com/UK/) I fitted which heats the washer fluid just before it exits the nozzles.
He suggested I disconnect the system but I would be loath to do this because that would take ages and the system works really well apart from this minor problem. I am not too worried about it so long as it really does have nothing to do with the ECU.
Can anyone here confirm that the ECU has nothing to do with the washer jets? Has anyone seen this before?
I panicked because I was worried the ECU has a problem. I got it booked into SDM Mazda in Falkirk (fantastic garage) only to be told the washer jets have nothing to do with the ECU. The mechanic there guessed that the problem was a pressure differential somewhere, likely the Heatshot system (www.heatshot.com/UK/) I fitted which heats the washer fluid just before it exits the nozzles.
He suggested I disconnect the system but I would be loath to do this because that would take ages and the system works really well apart from this minor problem. I am not too worried about it so long as it really does have nothing to do with the ECU.
Can anyone here confirm that the ECU has nothing to do with the washer jets? Has anyone seen this before?
Not saying this is the fault as I'm unsure whether the MX5 is positively or negatively switched, but I recently had a very similar problem (on a different make/model) and it was the negative wire earthing to the chassis intermittently.
Every time the wire touched the body, it would energise the pump squirting a little water. It wouldn't blow the fuse as it was the negative wire and when you pulled the stalk it worked as normal.
Obviously it the MX5 is positively switched it can't be this, but something to check.
ETA: forget the above, just found the wiring diagram and it's positively switched.
Every time the wire touched the body, it would energise the pump squirting a little water. It wouldn't blow the fuse as it was the negative wire and when you pulled the stalk it worked as normal.
Obviously it the MX5 is positively switched it can't be this, but something to check.
ETA: forget the above, just found the wiring diagram and it's positively switched.
jhfozzy said:
Not saying this is the fault as I'm unsure whether the MX5 is positively or negatively switched, but I recently had a very similar problem (on a different make/model) and it was the negative wire earthing to the chassis intermittently.
Every time the wire touched the body, it would energise the pump squirting a little water. It wouldn't blow the fuse as it was the negative wire and when you pulled the stalk it worked as normal.
Obviously it the MX5 is positively switched it can't be this, but something to check.
ETA: forget the above, just found the wiring diagram and it's positively switched.
Thanks for checking for me anyways :-)Every time the wire touched the body, it would energise the pump squirting a little water. It wouldn't blow the fuse as it was the negative wire and when you pulled the stalk it worked as normal.
Obviously it the MX5 is positively switched it can't be this, but something to check.
ETA: forget the above, just found the wiring diagram and it's positively switched.
I very much doubt that the Engine ECU would have anything to do with the washers, although it is possible that they would be on the CAN bus, if they were it would be a body control module rather than the engine ECU.
However, I'd be tempted to agree with Mazda, you've modified your car and there's now a problem in that area, that has got to be your first port of call for troubleshooting. I can see that it would be annoying, as the nozzles do seem to take ages to defrost on the mk3.5.
However, I'd be tempted to agree with Mazda, you've modified your car and there's now a problem in that area, that has got to be your first port of call for troubleshooting. I can see that it would be annoying, as the nozzles do seem to take ages to defrost on the mk3.5.
I like the Heat Shot and think it is worth the money. I didn't actually see the difference in price between the US and the UK. I guess that is because they are shipped uver from the US and they have to cover their costs.
I was never sold on the improved action in the summer months but it really is great in the winter. It does prevent the jets icing up while you are driving, but it won't help them de-ice if they have iced up while the car is parked up.
It was after the winter of 2010 that I got it because that winter was so extreme for such a long time in Scotland. I never got to really see the benefits compared to those conditions in the winter of 2011 but this winter is supposed to be pretty extreme again.
I would recommend it if you don't mind spending the £180, it would be a matter of opinion if you think it is worth the money. I certainly don't regret doing it as from the few icy mornings in the winter of 2011 it really did de-ice the car way quicker and kept it ice free while driving. I think it is worth the money.
I was never sold on the improved action in the summer months but it really is great in the winter. It does prevent the jets icing up while you are driving, but it won't help them de-ice if they have iced up while the car is parked up.
It was after the winter of 2010 that I got it because that winter was so extreme for such a long time in Scotland. I never got to really see the benefits compared to those conditions in the winter of 2011 but this winter is supposed to be pretty extreme again.
I would recommend it if you don't mind spending the £180, it would be a matter of opinion if you think it is worth the money. I certainly don't regret doing it as from the few icy mornings in the winter of 2011 it really did de-ice the car way quicker and kept it ice free while driving. I think it is worth the money.
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