Can't find switch for washer spray on my car

tk03

I've recently acquired a VW Polo (Mk III/late 90s). Unfortunately though I don't have a manual for it and I've been trying to figure out how to trigger the windscreen washer spray. There's the lever to the right of the steering wheel that controls the wipers. If I push it forward it activates the rear wiper. I thought maybe pulling it towards me would activate the washer spray but that action does nothing. Moving the lever up and down changes the speed/timing of the wiper movement.

Anyone with a similar model know how to get it to work? Perhaps I'm right in thinking it is done by pulling the lever towards me and there's something wrong? If so, any suggestions as to what? (The washer fluid resevoir appears to be mostly full)

Additionally, I want to top up the coolant. Does anyone know what mixture of antifreeze and water VW recommends and what type of antifreeze to look for? The antifreeze currently in the resevoir is blue and the resevoir says "G12".

Midnight_EG

Turn the washer dial one forward or one click?

mike65

Have you pushed it in?

tk03

Midnight_EG, you mean twist the lever? I'll have to try that in the morning and see if it works.

mike65, Do you mean pushing it in towards the dashboard or pushing it into the steering column? Tried both though, can't be pushed into the steering column and in towards the dashboard activates the rear wiper.

Midnight_EG

Yeah, it might be a case of having about an inch of play at the top that lets you turn it either towards the windscreen or down towards your lap.

David23686

Used to have a 95 polo, it was pulling the wiper towards me that worked the windscreen washer, the switch my be broken?

mike65

tk03 yeah I meant push in towards the hub .

stevenmu

It should work when you pull it towards you (and pushing away should spray the rear). Check the water level obviously, and also check for any noise when you do pull it (i.e. fom the motors), IIRC the nozzles could jam quite easily, you might need to clear them with a needle or pin or something.

You should be able to buy G12 coolant in any motor factors/halfords, and again iirc it should state the proper dilution ration on the bottle.

tk03

stevenmu wrote: »

It should work when you pull it towards you (and pushing away should spray the rear). Check the water level obviously, and also check for any noise when you do pull it (i.e. fom the motors), IIRC the nozzles could jam quite easily, you might need to clear them with a needle or pin or something.

You should be able to buy G12 coolant in any motor factors/halfords, and again iirc it should state the proper dilution ration on the bottle.

Cheers,
The water level definitely looks okay. I don't remember hearing any sound when pulling the lever towards me though maybe I should try it with the engine off incase that's masking the sound. I don't think the switch is broken since when you do pull it, the wipers go across the windscreen a few times and stop which is what you'd expect to happen when spraying the windscreen. I'll look for a needle to try incase the nozzles are clogged.

Hal1

Head down to a garage and get the compressed air hose on it, might be a blockage. Check for leaks from the washer pipes under the bonnet.

tk03

Hal1, Do you mean applying the air hose directly to the nozzle heads? If there's blockage I'd think that would force it further into the pipes.

Hal1

tk03 wrote: »

Hal1, Do you mean applying the air hose directly to the nozzle heads? If there's blockage I'd think that would force it further into the pipes.

I should have been more specific. If you can detach the hose from under the bonnet and put the air on the washer jet itself it will clear any dirt in the way.

found this: http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-clean-windscreen-washer-jets

stevenmu

Another thing to check if there's no motor/pump noise would be the fuses, there should be an index of what each fuse is for in the owners manual, or a haynes manual if you don't have it.