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Rivarama

Member Since: 28 Aug 2021
Location: London
Posts: 155

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Zermatt Silver

Screen washer system

Hi guys, I need a bit of help…

I noticed that my screen washer jets were super weak last week. They always had been but it deteriorated as of late. I had a look at the reservoir and noticed the fluid had turned to black gunk.

I did my best to empty it with a manual pump, wash it clean with clean water and repeat the operation many times. I then applied compressed air carefully to clear the lines of the gunk. It seemed to do the trick but the remaining deposit / gunk left still came back and clogged the lines again.

I reapplied air and instead of clearing the lines, it must have disconnected a clip connecting the hose to the washer jet on the bulkhead, as the washer fluid started dripping in the cabin from the fascia.

So I now need to do 2 things: 1) reconnect the disconnected line to the front washer jet, and 2) remove the reservoir to be able to give it a proper clean.

However looking at the Haynes manual, it seems to be a huge job to get to those components… I need to remove the front fascia to access the disconnected/split hose (including removing cubby box, the steeering whee and the whole fascia needs to be disconnected from the bulkhead)… and then the reservoir can only be accessed by removing the passenger headlight (which involves removing the front grill, light guard, all lights, etc etc..)

It seems to be a bit extreme… any other way around it or any suggestion before I take the car appart for a clip??

Thank you

23rd Jan 2022 1:43pm

Oldowner

Member Since: 26 Dec 2018
Location: South west
Posts: 623

2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Aintree Green

You’ll have to take the dash out, the rear of the washer jet is obscured by the bulkhead bar and vents etc so It would be hard to access it through the centre dash. Photo shows elderly Puma with dash and vents removed if it helps (fingers crossed bulkhead isn’t like that one, which looked excellent from the outside!)

Click image to enlarge

23rd Jan 2022 2:13pm

Rivarama

Member Since: 28 Aug 2021
Location: London
Posts: 155

So according to the instruction manual, removing the panel/console involves 23 steps including…

- remove floor console
- remove H/L gear selector
- remove gewr shift
- remove steering wheel
- remove hand break
- remove transmission panel
- remove instrument cluster
- remove steering column shrouds
- remove multi function switch assembly
- remove instrument panel console
- remove passenger grab handle
- remove side demister vents
- remove panel speakers
- release climate control switch panel
- release instrument panel
- remove console / fascia w someone assistance

I am shocked !!! Doing a clutch change can’t be taking more time than that !! And that’s not even getting the reservoir out !

Please tell me there’s an alternative ?

23rd Jan 2022 2:15pm

dotom

Member Since: 04 Feb 2012
Location: Dortmund
Posts: 90

2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey

No need to remove the complete dash!!
Just take out the radio, with a little luck you can see the hose. It’s behind the metal strip on the bulkhead, where the back of the radio gets hold.
If you can’t see where the hose is disconnected, remove the middle fascia, remove the metal strip and you can see the the washer jet and the hose.
Sometimes if you turn the washer jet, the hose will turn too and the water will no longer get through it.
Have a look here https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic61244...p;start=15
Or here https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50670...p;start=45
Hope that helps
Tom Defender 90 XS, 10-2015, Corris grey

23rd Jan 2022 4:26pm

landy andy

Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5720

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver

You may have disconnected it at the non return valve. Where abouts does the water appear?

23rd Jan 2022 5:59pm

Rivarama

Member Since: 28 Aug 2021
Location: London
Posts: 155

Dotom it’s perfect. Exactly what I needed. The hose was disconnected from the jet inlet. The fluid was effectively squirting all over the dash. I am lucky it doesn’t seem to have hit any electrical connection.

It’s now all fixed and I didn’t have to remove the whole console; just the middle fascia and the radio.

PFEW life saver !

Thank you guys for the (as usual) invaluable help !!

Next week end’s job will be to remove the reservoir and clean it properly to remove all debris left in it.

23rd Jan 2022 6:05pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17417

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

You'll need to remove the n/s headlight to get access to the reservoir and (if it's a 2.4, not sure about the 2.2) unbolt the PAS reservoir and move it aside. The screenwasher reservoir can be coaxed out past the induction hoses.

To clean it, add a handful of pea-gravel and shake vigorously, repeat until clean, the empty out the gravel and flush. Refitting is the reverse of the removal procedure.

23rd Jan 2022 10:38pm

Rivarama

Member Since: 28 Aug 2021
Location: London
Posts: 155

Thanks Blackwolf !

24th Jan 2022 10:25am

Co1

Member Since: 19 Aug 2018
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 3677

blackwolf wrote:
You'll need to remove the n/s headlight to get access to the reservoir and (if it's a 2.4, not sure about the 2.2) unbolt the PAS reservoir and move it aside. The screenwasher reservoir can be coaxed out past the induction hoses.

To clean it, add a handful of pea-gravel and shake vigorously, repeat until clean, the empty out the gravel and flush. Refitting is the reverse of the removal procedure.

Uncooked rice is quicker!! Gets into the nooks and crannies faster!

24th Jan 2022 6:49pm

Screbble

Member Since: 26 Apr 2015
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2103

2004 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver

Don’t want to start a new thread…

Is it actually possible to replace the washer pump without removing the reservoir i.e. via the near side headlamp aperture (headlamp removed of course).

If so, do the pumps simply ‘click’ in as I can’t see how they actually seal against the reservoir.

Thanks in advance

24th Oct 2022 7:25pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17417

Yes it is, yes they click in, there is a rubber seal round the spigot, but they are a very tight fit and it isn't particularly easy.

24th Oct 2022 8:03pm

Screbble

Member Since: 26 Apr 2015
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2103

Thank you Blackwolf 👍

I was hoping that was the case.

24th Oct 2022 9:04pm

rustandoil

Member Since: 08 Sep 2012
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 743

2005 Defender 110 Td5 XS DCPU Bonatti Grey

You could chuck a Milton tablet in the reservoir, leave it overnight and drain. This might dissolve all the scum.

24th Oct 2022 9:22pm

Tegner

Member Since: 31 Jul 2018
Location: Alnwick Northumberland
Posts: 183

2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Zermatt Silver

If you are going that far ie strip down, you might as well go the whole way and install the Optimill system, not cheap but a revelation
https://www.optimill-uk.com/washer-jet-systems-td5-tdci.html

25th Oct 2022 8:57am

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20413

I’ve found a good solution to keeping the screenwash lines clear and without issues with the system is number one make sure that anything that goes in is clean, clean, clean.

After that, it’s not very often you need to change the washer jets front or rear but eventually you will.
During the process, with the pipe off the rear of the washer get put it in a container and run the entire or ideally 1/4 of the washer bottle through until completely empty.
That way, any small debris in the bottom of the reservoir will go straight out of the pipe.
Just using water in the resinous is ideal and chose when your standard fluid is low as you don’t want to waste costly screenwash.
Any slightest debris can get stuck behind the washer jets, and reduce their performance.

I wouldn’t go out of your way to do this, but worth doing if ever you do change the washer jets.

But overall the moral of the story is make sure whatever goes in is always clean, if you use any containers double swill and wash them out with clean tape water not once but twice.
You’d be surprised what debris can build up even in the bottle of washer fluid containers for refilling.

Everyone does theirs difference, some use pre mix others make up their own.

I used to use Motul Apple and mix that, but now I use Rain X pre mix 5L which I’m very happy with.
(You can get it from Halfords in store). $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪

25th Oct 2022 8:32pm

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