Washer pump dead

[Sol]

Hi all. I guess I can't complain, after a year of owning the van, its first actual fault has occurred - the flaming washer pump quit with no symptoms, working one day, dead the next. I have checked the fuse, thinking it was the recent cold snap up here in Scotland where it was 1 degree over night, but I didn't even use the washer until the ambient temp had gone over 9 degrees. Anyway, I expect the pump has just quit. The fuse is fine.

I went online, and luckily on Amazon, they had a Febi pump ready for next day delivery via Prime, and it was £7.32!! (bargain) - I knew from searching that a lot of sellers like GSF and ECP either did not stock a pump or offered the one for the car (or van with rear wiper) that has 2 nozzles. No use to me. But the Febi one was the proper single outlet pump and true to their word, it appeared today.

I'll have to jack the van up, remove the wheel to access the arch liner and hopefully can replace the pump without too much grief. It came with no grommet so will have to use the existing one but I expect that is fine since there is no leak evident. I did intend to syphon out the summer wash fluid and replace with winter stuff (-20 spec for those hard temperatures we can get up here) so I guess it will be easy now as the fluid will fall out when I pull the old pump.

Anyone got any caveats or insights I've missed before I do the job?

[Pedronicus]

Z, I would be inclined to check there is voltage at the existing motor before you whip it out just to confirm it's not a wiring issue (which would do you no good with the new pump).

[Sol]

Yeah good point P, I'll do that. The fact you can pull the stalk briefly and not hold it, and it washes by itself for 3 seconds makes me think the BSI controls the output. I hope it's not a BSI relay fault.

[jj9]

Give the old one a whack, that usually gets them going again for a little while.


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[Sol]

Good call JJ, could be siezed. I have the new one so once I've gone to the bother of exposing it I'll just swap it over but you make a good point.

[Surfchickkelly]

Good call JJ, could be siezed. I have the new one so once I've gone to the bother of exposing it I'll just swap it over but you make a good point.

I had that at the start of the year the fuse was fine when I pulled it out but I took it out replaced with a new one and hey presto all back working.

[Sol]

Hmmm well I had a pack of new fuses delivered today, it could be a tiny crack in the fuse as it did look good. I haven't continuity checked it yet, but I had a very good look and it looked perfect. You've got me wondering now Kelly.

Thanks to all for your excellent replies, I'll try a new fuse, the pump won't go wrong if it is a cracked fuse.

If not, then in goes the new pump. You never appreciate a part like the washer pump till it fails. Winter is coming, and MOT time in November...got to get it back online asap.

[Surfchickkelly]

Hmmm well I had a pack of new fuses delivered today, it could be a tiny crack in the fuse as it did look good. I haven't continuity checked it yet, but I had a very good look and it looked perfect. You've got me wondering now Kelly.

Thanks to all for your excellent replies, I'll try a new fuse, the pump won't go wrong if it is a cracked fuse.

If not, then in goes the new pump. You never appreciate a part like the washer pump till it fails. Winter is coming, and MOT time in November...got to get it back online asap.

Your have to update us with your findings.

[Sol]

Will do. At least I now have my electrical tools home from work so can test stuff. The mk1 eyeball is good for most things but it has its limits lol.

[Sol]

Ok so it was the pump after all. The old one measured 1.5 ohms and the new one 4 ohms, and I never realised how noisy the old pump was till I fitted the new one. It's silent. But, it washes the windows with plenty of pressure.

Unfortunately the sodding tank was full to the top when the pump failed, so it was a bit of a waterfall when I pulled the pump out. At least it's now fixed, and filled up with winter strength fluid.

Getting the arch liner off was a bit of a pig, but go there in the end.