 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Heated Washer Jets |
 
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| consumerize Member Since: 27 May 2014 Location: Berkshire Posts: 121   
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There have been many people added second window washer jets to compensate for the pathetic dribble produced by the single central jet. Thought id add a second, and then the thought of heated ones came to mind, and the project was born...
Found 2 suitable heated jets, from a Range Rover Sport on EBAY " Genuine Range Rover Sport Heated Washer Jet(LR018834)" 
Next, was how to power them. Should they be on all the time, or switched. Some more Ebay scouring came up with a temperature controlled 12v switch : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371218255002
An amazing little bit of kit. temperature reading from -50 to +110 Deg C. Tells you the ambient temperature, and enables switching via a 12v relay based on either heat low or high temp. and for £3.48... Sourced some warjet pipes and a T piece from Halfords. Total cost of project approx. £30 Quick power up to check it works, and configure the temperature trigger. have set this to be 3 Deg C. Showing room temp in this pic. Click image to enlarge As these are designed to futon the bonnet, and having worked out the trajectory of the jet, they needed to be mounted forward on the bonnet. They could probably have been closer to the window, but not right up close because of the spray angle. Started by cutting a hole for first jet : Click image to enlarge Much careful drilling and filing resulted in the right sized hole and jet clipped in perfectly and tightly. Made a template of the hole simplifying the second cutting. Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge First fitted. and tested. followed by second Click image to enlarge I then wired in the temperature switch into the battery compartment, dropping the temp sensor through a drumbeat in the floor of the compartment. This is wired to a switched live. Luckily the switch remembers the low temp setting even when powered off, so doesn't need permanent live. Click image to enlarge Power to the washer kets is switched live via the really. the wires and jet pipe are held under the bonnet by the sound proofing i already had attached. Small adjustment the the jet direction and all four jets hit the centre of the screen, with even spacing across the width. Im using the normal washer jet pump that was there before, non-return valve still in place. Its like a super-soaker ! Tested at standstill and at 70Mph still work perfectly. Now I've gone to this much trouble, the heat wave officially begins today. |
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10th Jan 2015 9:27pm |
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| Brewstop Member Since: 28 Oct 2012 Location: South Oxfordshire Posts: 313 
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Great build! Sandy
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10th Jan 2015 9:34pm |
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| consumerize Member Since: 27 May 2014 Location: Berkshire Posts: 121
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That would mean I then have really hot water coming out of the already inadequate single jet. I'm guessing the hotshot can't spray water out of already frozen jets ?
And besides, what else was I gonna do with my Saturday! |
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11th Jan 2015 8:06am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8582
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Have been having a good look at the Heatshot system in real life.
The Heatshot system delivers water at about 60C from a very small reservoir. Yes they claim it will clear frozen nozzles. However frozen nozzles does to a certain extent depends on concentration of washer fluid. Now if your wiper blades are frozen to the wind screen I would suggest freeing them first. I have used 'night before spray' and that is beneficial for ice not adhering so well to the windscreen. The spray pattern from the current twin central nozzle is not perfect but flow rate is good. Temperature drop from Heatshot to Defender nozzles would be about 3C Looking at the cable size for the Heatshot and your cable size and comparative fuses I would say that Heatshot is a better cable size fused at 50 or 60 amps. Now I have not actually fitted one yet but we were having a good look at position and on our white 90 there was a convenient connector in the corner by bulkhead and n/s wing where you would mount the Heatshot. The Heatshot is being looked at by JLR for fitting to Disco 4's Hot windscreen fluid is not just for winter it is useful in the summer for clearing the squashed bugs of the windscreen. Can I feel a group buy coming on?. Full marks for resourcefulness  |
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11th Jan 2015 8:55am |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731  
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Too late for a group buy for me but I can highly recommend it for Winter and Summer - I've had it for 2 1/2 years now combined with wiper washers and the only issue is when the washer jets are caked in ice at minus 15. I just break the ice off or give it a quick warm blow
 and always use winter screen wash.
Actually, the water hitting the screen seems a lot less than 60 degrees (probably not a bad idea for frozen glass) but always warm enough to get the ice (and bugs) off. It senses engine voltage to switch on and keeps a small volume of washer fluid warm with very little power - then "leaps into action" when you use it. Mind you, if LR start fitting it as standard I'll worry that there's something wrong with it 
Group buy sounds like a good idea AND it's almost plug-and-play
Matt p.s. Sorry OP - those little heated jets also look very useful  Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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11th Jan 2015 9:17am |
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| cobs Member Since: 12 Jun 2008 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 336 
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I fitted one a few years ago, good piece of kit in both winter and summer.
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic4787.h...alphatherm Never needed heated jets as long as you use right concentration of of washer fluid but - combination of heated jets and heatshot should be pretty bombproof. |
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11th Jan 2015 2:18pm |
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| Wheel Member Since: 28 May 2014 Location: Essex Posts: 233
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I'd forgotten all about this until reading this thread but many moons ago before i even looked at LR's i was between cars and using my Sisters Mini and thought warm jets would be a good idea and at the time i thought the easiest route was to extend the washer jet hose and wind it around one of the hoses, either the heater or the top hose, i can't actually remember which but it worked a treat and as far as i can recall (it was a long time ago) there were no problems.
A bit more basic than some ideas on here and possibly not the best engineering solution but it was fairly simple to do and it worked. |
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12th Jan 2015 6:35am |
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| Alicat Member Since: 25 Nov 2013 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 136
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At one time you could buy a small heat exchanger that you could plumb into a heater hose. They were a very simple plastic moulding, I had one on my last Lightweight in the 1980s. Worker well IIRC when matched with home made nozzles fitted directly to the wiper blades.
Tony |
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12th Jan 2015 1:27pm |
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| Morepower Member Since: 08 Jan 2013 Location: Fife, Scotland Posts: 630 
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As I've got LED Noldens fitted to the 110, I think these would be good for getting the snow off.. (Once a year).... Brendan, If your setting up a group bye, Let me know..
Cheers Tim It doesn't matter how bad it is, It can always get worse... 2013 Bowler 110 (Sold) 2016 Bowler 90 Rally Spec (Sold) |
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12th Jan 2015 7:40pm |
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| borderterrier Member Since: 09 Dec 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 1677 
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How do these function at 70mph on the motorway? they appear to be a long way from the screen.
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12th Jan 2015 8:55pm |
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| consumerize Member Since: 27 May 2014 Location: Berkshire Posts: 121
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I have used thinner washer jet hose, and the jet holes (2 on each) are much narrower than the original. This seems to keep a high pressure from the jets.
I guess with the aerodynamics off a house brick, the gap between bonnet and windscreen do not operate within the normal laws of physics ! |
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13th Jan 2015 9:00am |
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| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069 
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A number of us have driven in the Arctic circle during winter months and used -65c washer fluid... Worked fine
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13th Jan 2015 2:06pm |
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| Sphere Member Since: 26 Apr 2013 Location: Midlands Posts: 725 
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Wanted to add my personal ideas on heatshot as I use to retail them (well kinda still have a shed full
 ) they are a great product easy to fit work super however over priced. They really should be sub £100 then they would be good value. I have them fitted on both the car and the truck and for ice on the car with good spray jets it works well to clear the screen however the landy it's useless but does help the noses from freezing but as said previously it will not replace washer fluid just small ice blockages in jet. The real advantage is the summer works great for bugs.
Would I fit them yes woukd I pay best part of £200 not a chance. If anyone wants infomation I still have the original dealer pack from heatshot. |
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13th Jan 2015 8:21pm |
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| mk1collector Member Since: 17 Sep 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 6769  
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If you have a shed full are you selling them on cheap?
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13th Jan 2015 11:13pm |
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