Screen Washers not working

[Kim H]

The screen washers aren't working on our 680 Starline. The washer bottle is full and there aren't any leaks. When we push the stalk on the steering column, we can hear the pump working, but no water is coming out. We can't see anything obvious under the bonnet such as a loose pipe, so we're thinking it could be a blockage somewhere. The base vehicles is a Sprinter 416. Any ideas on where to start looking as neither of us are blessed in the DIY department

 

[sallylillian]

Lift the bonnet and run them whilst someone looks under to see if there is water spewing, also you will smell the antifreeze. I found that a technician had left both pipes disconnected from the spray heads!

 

[irnbru]

Try poking a little pin in the eyes where the water normally sprays out. Sometimes they can get clogged.

 

[Kim H]

Lift the bonnet and run them whilst someone looks under to see if there is water spewing, also you will smell the antifreeze. I found that a technician had left both pipes disconnected from the spray heads!

We've tried that and couldn't see any water or leaks anywhere, which made us wonder if it's a blockage somewhere. We're wondering if it could be somewhere in the common pipework from the pump or even the pump itself as none of the jets have any water coming through them, even the ones on the headlights.

 

[pappajohn]

If all other checks come to nothing it could be the pump IMPELLOR.
I've had one where the rubber blades had come away from the centre boss on the motor shaft.
Could even be the shaft is spinning in the impeller boss
I did have one where the antifreeze, or more likely washing up liquid from the previous owner, had settled and turned to a gel.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[sallylillian]

Start at the pump exit, disconnect there and see what flows or not and progress forwards if there is flow or back the the pump input to see if that is fouled.

 

[Kim H]

Start at the pump exit, disconnect there and see what flows or not and progress forwards if there is flow or back the the pump input to see if that is fouled.

Thanks, will try that tomorrow.