Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Please note that it is not permitted to have referral links posted in your signature. Keep these links contained in the appropriate forum. Thank you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Golf Mk 5 Left Windscreen Washer Nozzle

  • 23-09-2013 11:17am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 686
    ✭✭✭


    Hello,

    I'm going to give as much detail as possible, because some of it might be related. Sorry it's a bit long, but figured more detail is better.

    Yesterday, the left nozzle of my windscreen washer stopped fully spraying water, and I'm wondering if someone could help me with that they think the cause of the problem is and how easy it would be for me to fix it.
    Here's the sequence of events that lead up to it happening:
    • The left nozzle has been spraying in a different way than the right since it's last service about a year ago, where the right sprayed wide (normal) and the left sprayed narrow (abnormal). It didn't bother me as I assumed it was just the nozzle mis-shaped or something.
    • Then, I noticed a bad smell coming from the water when I sprayed it starting 4 days ago
    • Yesterday, I drained all the water out of it by using the washer for extended periods frequently until the water ran out
    • Once the water ran out, I filled it with new water and the smell seems to have gone
    • Then I noticed that water wasn't getting onto the windscreen on the left
    • I took a look at it again this morning, and noticed that a small amount of water is coming out on the left, but just with really low pressure, just dribbling out.

    So I'm not sure if the smell is anything to do with it, I first assumed the washer liquid I was using had gone off or something to that effect.
    Now I'm wondering is something caught in the hose (i.e. dead), and that was causing the smell.

    The smell is gone now, but I'm wondering is that because the thing that was in the hose has been pushed passed the right nozzle hosing and into only the left one and since it's blocking the water, that's why the smell isn't coming out.
    This is only a guess, just adding 2+2 to get 5 if you know what I mean.

    I'm not sure did I damage it by draining the water, I just didn't know any other way of doing it.
    I don't think it's the pump, because it's coming out on the right, and I assume one pump does both sides.

    I'd really appreciate it if anyone was able to help because I've really enjoyed looking after the car myself in the last year and this is one I'd like to solve.

    Thanks!


Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,190 cletus
    ✭✭✭


    You didnt do any damage by draining it, but it sounds like there is something blocking it. If you pop the bonnet and havve a look at the underside of it, you should see where the pipe runs to the sprayer. It should be a simple enough job to pop it off and either blow water or air back through it to clear the blockage

    *edit* the smell was most likely stagnant water


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 686 C-Shore
    ✭✭✭


    cletus wrote: »
    You didnt do any damage by draining it, but it sounds like there is something blocking it. If you pop the bonnet and havve a look at the underside of it, you should see where the pipe runs to the sprayer. It should be a simple enough job to pop it off and either blow water or air back through it to clear the blockage

    *edit* the smell was most likely stagnant water

    Hey,

    Yeah that's what I was thinking about stagnant water, so I cleared the water out as my first suspicion.
    I'd say something just got pulled up as it got to the end.

    I didn't realise that I could blow water back down it without doing damage, so I'll give that a try.
    I know exactly the part you're talking about, I had it popped out this morning to see if it was something in the nozzle so I'll go back to it later and try getting water or air back down it.

    I'll let you know how it goes whatever method eventually gets it working.

    Thanks so much for replying, I appreciate it a lot. I'm really enjoying fixing and maintaining the car myself.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,190 cletus
    ✭✭✭


    Either disconnect the hose from the back of the nozzle, or remove nozzle fully from the bonnet, otherwise you'll just push the obstruction back into the system


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 686 C-Shore
    ✭✭✭


    cletus wrote: »
    Either disconnect the hose from the back of the nozzle, or remove nozzle fully from the bonnet, otherwise you'll just push the obstruction back into the system

    Yeah good point! I probably wouldn't have thought to do that.

    I'll disconnect the hose from the back of the nozzle and see how much is coming out, that'll narrow down if it's in the hose or the nozzle section.

    Thank you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 853 Seanieke
    ✭✭✭


    New nozle is only €7.95 from VW, what happens is if it's used when the washer bottle is empty any sediment at the bottom gets pumped up and blocks the hole. Try a fine sowing needle through the nozzle from the front, with the hose disconnected.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 686 C-Shore
    ✭✭✭


    Ok, sorry I'm a little late coming back to this.
    cletus wrote: »
    Either disconnect the hose from the back of the nozzle, or remove nozzle fully from the bonnet, otherwise you'll just push the obstruction back into the system

    I took the nozzle off, tested to see that the water was coming out of the hose without the nozzle and it's coming out at the same rate/power as the other hose so at least it narrows down the problems that side of the nozzle.

    Seanieke wrote: »
    New nozle is only €7.95 from VW, what happens is if it's used when the washer bottle is empty any sediment at the bottom gets pumped up and blocks the hole. Try a fine sowing needle through the nozzle from the front, with the hose disconnected.

    Thanks for that information, I might just end up doing that. It's not that I would mind paying for it, the problem is getting the time to get to the garage when it closes before I can leave work.

    I think you're right that it's sediment that got pumped up into it. I actually tried exactly what you said there with the needle, and it seems to have worked a bit.

    The reason I'm only getting back to the thread is that I took the following steps and now have the water spraying at about 40% of its power:
    • Took off the nozzle and blew air into it using a pump but I couldn't find a football pump friend thing(I need to buy some compressed air with a straw!)
    • When that didn't work I was told to try soaking it in warm soapy water overnight, so I did that
    • Came back to it yesterday and tried it, and it was only at about 10% so I got the needle and tried that
    • Then I put in warm soapy water again overnight
    • Put it on this morning and it's at 40% now

    So I'll try the needle and warm soapy water method again this evening and compressed air if I can get some.
    If that doesn't work then I'll go the garage as soon as possible and get a new nozzle.

    I'll report back when I have it sorted.
    Thanks very much for the help and replies, at least it's somewhat working now.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 biko
    ✭✭✭✭


    I had a similar issue years ago and didn't have compressed air so removed the hoses under the bonnet and sprayed a lot of water through to clear the hoses of any debris.

    With hoses disconnected I took it to a garage and asked the mechanic if he could use the airgun on the nozzles. He did it for free (was 10 secs work), all sorted.
    Remember, the airgun goes into the top of the bonnet holes. You want to push debris backwards away from the jet nozzles.

    You can also pour a litre of white vinegar or a bottle of mouthwash into the screen washer tank to kill off any mould.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,190 cletus
    ✭✭✭


    You might not want to try this, but once it comes out of the soapy water, hold it underrunning water so the flow is running backwards as such, i.e. in throught the front of the nozzle, then blow through it with you mouth as hard as you can.

    Make sure all water and air is going from front to back, as the nozzle narrows at the front to cause the spray


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 686 C-Shore
    ✭✭✭


    biko wrote: »
    I had a similar issue years ago and didn't have compressed air so removed the hoses under the bonnet and sprayed a lot of water through to clear the hoses of any debris.

    With hoses disconnected I took it to a garage and asked the mechanic if he could use the airgun on the nozzles. He did it for free (was 10 secs work), all sorted.
    Remember, the airgun goes into the top of the bonnet holes. You want to push debris backwards away from the jet nozzles.

    You can also pour a litre of white vinegar or a bottle of mouthwash into the screen washer tank to kill off any mould.

    That's actually the tip that someone gave me, so I tried that two nights in a row with Vinegar. It doesn't seem to have fixed it though, it's still only at 40% power today.

    I've been trying exactly the way you said blowing air into the top of the holes to push the debris back out but it just doesn't seem to be working.

    I'm going to try getting someone with compressed air or find a can and see if it works, after that I'll try get to the VW garage and get a new nozzle.
    cletus wrote: »
    You might not want to try this, but once it comes out of the soapy water, hold it underrunning water so the flow is running backwards as such, i.e. in throught the front of the nozzle, then blow through it with you mouth as hard as you can.

    Make sure all water and air is going from front to back, as the nozzle narrows at the front to cause the spray

    I've tried this and figure I just don't have the lung capacity to force anything out or too much air is being lost to the sides.

    I still have to try the compressed air, so hopefully that works and if not I'll get a new nozzle.

    Thanks for the help once again.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 biko
    ✭✭✭✭


    Do you have a paper clip in the house? They are better than needles as they will bend and are much longer.

    it-001-300x225.jpg


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,559 at1withmyself
    ✭✭✭


    Don't forget the air compressors in every garage, they work a treat in blowing out any blockages if you don't have compressed air at home.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 686 C-Shore
    ✭✭✭


    Hello everyone,

    Sorry this reply is so late in coming. It's been really busy in work so haven't been able to take time off to get to a garage until yesterday.

    Thanks for the suggestions you all gave, I tried every single one of them. Hot water, vinegar, toothpicks, paperclips, needles, compressed air from the petrol station, a football pump, air from my own lungs and I just couldn't get it back to normal.

    I love fixing things myself, but this one got the better of me unfortunately. I had some time yesterday on the way back from a meeting so I dropped into the garage, admitted defeat and bought a new one.
    It was ~€8 plus VAT and everything went back to normal once I fitted it.

    Still baffled as to why the other one is blocked, so I've kept it and I'll keep trying to fix it over time just because I refuse to be beaten by it.

    Thanks again for all of your help.


Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
Advertisement