NCT: Windscreen Washer broken

beardybrewer

So my windscreen washer has been broken nearly 2 years and I've survived using a bottle of water instead so haven't bothered to get it fixed.

I'm wondering if the NCT will fail my car for that. I'm not sure if it is seen as a luxury (I'm sure they wouldn't fail a car for the cruise control button being broken) or as a safety feature which must be operational.

Anyone have any idea?

Anan1

It's a safety feature. What would you do if you were driving at speed on a country road and a passing truck splashed muck all over your windscreen?

Nemeses

I think it would fail.

http://www.ncts.ie/pdf/nctmanual.pdf

plenty of reading material... makes you wanna snooze..

biko

It must work but is usually pretty easy to fix.

dougie-lampkin

From the NCT manual:

Note: Where no washer is fitted or there is no fluid in the washer
reservoir, check the function of the wipers and visually for
defects on the blade that would fail effectiveness (reason 2).

So it seems if you go in with the washer bottle empty, they can't fail you on it not working, so long as your windscreen is clean and the blades aren't damaged by dry-wiping. It's not *that* critical a safety feature really, once you keep on top of it. Many newer cars have headlight washers (and will probably be the norm in the future), that doesn't mean not having them is a safety hazard, once you keep them clean manually.

MarkR

It's a fail.

Washers (if fitted) Not working or incorrectly aimed.

Anan1

dougie-lampkin wrote: »

It's not *that* critical a safety feature really, once you keep on top of it. Many newer cars have headlight washers (and will probably be the norm in the future), that doesn't mean not having them is a safety hazard, once you keep them clean manually.

How does one 'keep on top of' being suddenly blinded by muddy spray?

kirving

Make sure the wiper blades are in good condition and the windscreen is clean, you may be lucky!

What exactly is the problem? Are the nozzles just blocked? Can you hear the motor working? Could just be gunge from dirty water, windscreen washer, fairly liquid or whatever else might have been but in there, and might just require a good clean.

browner85

what car is it ?

Tefral

Op have you actually investigated the cause of the problem?

When you press the switch to activate the washer can you hear the usual pumping noise but nothing comes out? If so it could be a simple matter of the jets being blocked. They build up with calcium some times. This is easy fixed by placing a pin in the hole and then blowing out with compressed air.

If you can hear the pump noise it could be a few factors.

Firstly check is the fuse that controls the circuit working. If it is then

Jack up the car and find the water bottle underneath. You should see a wire going into the bottle with a clip on it. Release the clip and then get someone to flick the switch in the car while you check for power there with a multimeter.

If there is power then in all likely the pump in the washer bottle is gone. You could get a second hand washer bottle from a scrappy and install it and away you go.

If there is no power, double check you looked for the right fuse. If you did then it's likely the contacts on the stalk switch are gone and you'll need a new stalk.

Harcrid

I don't know how you have managed 2 years with no windscreen washers. I couldnt last a day without them during the winter due to the spray and muck from the roads.

Anan1

Celtxx wrote: »

I don't know how you have managed 2 years with no windscreen washers. I couldnt last a day without them during the winter due to the spray and muck from the roads.

This might be a good thread to quote the next time someone goes on a rant about the NCT being a money-grabbing racket with no connection to road safety!

challengemaster

MarkR wrote: »

It's a fail.

Washers (if fitted) Not working or incorrectly aimed.

Ah balls, really? I've the NCT coming up and the less important (passenger side) one is a little on the high side

Avns1s

challengemaster wrote: »

Ah balls, really? I've the NCT coming up and the less important (passenger side) one is a little on the high side

Christ, you have little to be complaining about. In the time it took you to type your post, you could have got a needle and aimed it correctly! :rolleyes:

challengemaster

Avns1s wrote: »

Christ, you have little to be complaining about. In the time it took you to type your post, you could have got a needle and aimed it correctly! :rolleyes:

was wondering if that was all it'd take tbh :P

don't actually have any needles around though!

Avns1s

challengemaster wrote: »

was wondering if that was all it'd take tbh :P

don't actually have any needles around though!

Ask herself!!

Or get a small paperclip if its less dangerous! :D

dougie-lampkin

Anan1 wrote: »

How does one 'keep on top of' being suddenly blinded by muddy spray?

By ensuring that the windscreen is clean before setting off? Much like you should be doing with your headlights. If you drive at night a "sudden muddy spray" to the headlights could just as easily render you blind.

And I've yet to experience a muddy spray bad enough to suddenly blind me, and I live deep in the country. Have you been driving behind any slurry spreaders lately? The OP has managed for two years so clearly it's quite possible to "keep on top of it".

_feedback_

dougie-lampkin wrote: »

By ensuring that the windscreen is clean before setting off? Much like you should be doing with your headlights. If you drive at night a "sudden muddy spray" to the headlights could just as easily render you blind.

And I've yet to experience a muddy spray bad enough to suddenly blind me, and I live deep in the country. Have you been driving behind any slurry spreaders lately? The OP has managed for two years so clearly it's quite possible to "keep on top of it".

It might not have happened yet but man, that's a bad attitude to have. To think that there's no chance a truck will come along and blast your windscreen with a load of muck. The wipers can be useless in some situations without water. It's very dangerous IMO.

OP, I had the same problem and it was the fuse. Just have a look in your manual to locate it. It could be a 50c job!

dougie-lampkin

elviscostello wrote: »

It might not have happened yet but man, that's a bad attitude to have. To think that there's no chance a truck will come along and blast your windscreen with a load of muck. The wipers can be useless in some situations without water. It's very dangerous IMO.

OP, I had the same problem and it was the fuse. Just have a look in your manual. It could be a 50c job!

Oh, my washers and wipers work perfectly, and if my washers stopped working I wouldn't take the car out again until I sorted it. I'm just saying it's not that critical a safety feature as some people are suggesting. If the NCT will pass a car where the system is missing altogether that tells me it can't be that important to them either. And that if the OP's wipers are in good nick the car will still pass fine if the washer bottle is empty.

michelledoh

There is a breakdown of everything that must work on the NCT website! If i was you i would definatly check it! You don't want to waste €29 to redo the NCT!

I doubt it would be very expensive to fix that part anyway! Have you enquired?

challengemaster

Surely a retest anyway would only be a visual, and thus free. I can't see them needing to bring the car inside or use any equipment for it

lifer_sean

Definitely a fail item. They have failed me for defective windscreen washers but everything was okay except the resevoir was empty (they pressed the button, got no water, hence defective). Since then I've added that to the list of simple items I check the night before the NCT.

Re-test is free (visual check).

PrzemoF

It won't fail - I'm sure :eek:
My car went through NCT with no washer fluid, blinking "No washer fluid" on dashboard and disconnected washer tube under the bonnet. Failed on tyres, as someone (I know who!!) missed that they have directional tread and fitted wheels in wrong direction. Fix the washer anyway - it's for your own safety.

lifer_sean: Looks like it depends on who and where is making the test.

beardybrewer

Thanks everyone. I don't want to debate safety, but its surprisingly easy to squirt my water bottle. I get by. For such a conceptually simple system (water, pump, plumbing) I have a hard time paying to fix this but haven't gotten around to it in all this time!

A special thanks to those suggesting ideas on how to fix! Yes, the pump still whirs away, the bottle is full, but nothing comes out. The car is an 02 Opel Astra. I don't know if there is a filter or not. Ages ago I took a proper look but I wasn't able to figure where the pump was.

Good idea about taking a pin to the nozzles and blowing in some compressed air. I can give that a try.

PrzemoF

If you need a new pump - check ebay. There are some _new_ for 8-9 euro (with shipping from UK) :eek:

beardybrewer

I had a rare day off and the reality of this failing my NCT inspired me to finally look at this. I had to pull the plastic wheel-well cover out of the way to get to the reservour and attached to the bottom was the pump. It's tiny! After immersing the pump in a cut open guinness tin I discovered it works fine. There was a black grommet thing the pump was pushed into at the bottom of the reservoir. I pulled it out and there was a filter on the end gunked up with soap scum. I cleaned it up and I'm back in bussiness.

So ends the reign of my sports bottle... rolling down my window and giving the windscreen a good squirt. It's been a wild two years.

Avns1s

newkie wrote: »

I had a rare day off and the reality of this failing my NCT inspired me to finally look at this. I had to pull the plastic wheel-well cover out of the way to get to the reservour and attached to the bottom was the pump. It's tiny! After immersing the pump in a cut open guinness tin I discovered it works fine. There was a black grommet thing the pump was pushed into at the bottom of the reservoir. I pulled it out and there was a filter on the end gunked up with soap scum. I cleaned it up and I'm back in bussiness.

So ends the reign of my sports bottle... rolling down my window and giving the windscreen a good squirt. It's been a wild two years.

Well done and thanks for reporting back. It might well help someone else not be without their washer for 2 years.

bladespin

Never seen the washers being tested during the NCT, even went through one with them frozen a couple of years back, that said it's simple to fix them so no real excuses for not having them working (bar they're frozen lol).