Windscreen washer problem - Ford Focus MK1
Windscreen washer problem - Ford Focus MK1
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Discussion

BeardyMan

Original Poster:

2 posts

78 months

Monday 27th April 2020
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I recently thought it would be a good idea to flush out the windscreen washer reservoir/bottle in my car. I poured in hot (not boiling - as per the advice around the net) water and ran the reservoir dry. Then after this, I put in a fresh mix of washer liquid and found that the pump was struggling. I have a feeling that some dirt or gunk from the inside of the reservoir became dislodged and became trapped in the pump. I have tried the following:

-flush out the system with hot water again
-use a pin in the washer nozzles to clear any debris
-remove the pipes from the washer nozzles and try to rule out any issues with the nozzles.

It seems to be getting worse. Can anyone help? Videos posted below

Front: https://youtu.be/KItomu04uSY

Rear: https://youtu.be/T9Q8c14Kxxs

GreenV8S

31,027 posts

314 months

Monday 27th April 2020
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How hot? Some plastics don't cope well with heat. The fact it got worse when you did it a second time isn't a good sign.

BeardyMan

Original Poster:

2 posts

78 months

Tuesday 28th April 2020
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It was hot enough that I could hold the plastic bottle, not hot enough to scald myself I guess

GreenV8S

31,027 posts

314 months

Tuesday 28th April 2020
quotequote all
If you were running the pump continuously during those videos, it's clearly knackered. I wonder whether the impeller may have separated from the motor shaft, or something like that. I suggest removing the pump (you may need to remove the reservoir to get to it) and testing it in isolation.

Ceejay73

489 posts

258 months

Saturday 2nd May 2020
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Ah the Mk1 Focus washer bottle, I know it well. Think yourself lucky the rear one works at all, mine hasn't for years despite my best efforts to unblock the pipe without removing the entire interior.
Onto your most likely issue.
The pump is a push fit into a rubber grommet in the bottom of the washer bottle. This grommet doubles as a strainer to prevent detritus entering the pump.
What has probably happened is you have loosened years of slime and gunk on the inside of the bottle with the hot water and this is now blocking the aforementioned strainer grommet thingy at the pump.
In order to rectify this you need to:
Jack and support the nearside front of the car.
Remove the road wheel.
Remove the plastic wing liner (about 5 Torx screws if memory serves correctly).
Now remove the washer bottle, another 2 or 3 screws, these maybe M6 with a 10mm Hex (support the bottle or get help it's quite weighty if full).
Google/Youtube are your friends for the exact locations if you can't find them.
Remove the wiring plug and 2 pipes from the pump (make sure you know which goes where, don't want to mix up front and rear).
Now you can withdraw the bottle from behind the wing, pull out the pump and rubber grommet/strainer then give everything a good clean.
Pop it all back together and test before fully refitting and all should be well again.
I know that sounds long and complicated but should only take about an hour or so if you have the tools to hand.

HTH,
Carl.