Windscreen Washer Nozzles - how to remove/unblock? | FerrariChat
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Windscreen Washer Nozzles - how to remove/unblock?

Discussion in '308/328' started by Andy 308GTB, Jun 29, 2017.

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  1. Andy 308GTB

    Andy 308GTB F1 Rookie
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    #1 Andy 308GTB, Jun 29, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Such is the minimal mileage that I drive my car each year, the annual (MOT) test is the only time that the windscreen washers get used. They have been blocked on the last 3 tests - the MOT Tester merely laughs, as this is the least of the problems that he works around to get the car through the test...

    The washer fluid has clotted. I removed all the pipes and washed/poked out the congealed goo. When I use the pump, water is flowing out of the pipes but when connected up to the nozzles it stops. Clearly muck has got into the fine nozzles and blocked them.

    Any bright ideas on what to do?
    Ideally, I don't want to remove the nozzles but I can't think of how to clear the blockage in situ. I don't have access to compressed air - which could be used to blow the crap out.

    For those that are hard of thinking, a picture of a washer nozzle is below...
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  2. jersey308gtb

    jersey308gtb Formula Junior

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    Alex Heynes
    #2 jersey308gtb, Jun 29, 2017


    Best to remove them and take them apart for a proper clean. I recently did mine, same type as yours. You have to reach under the scuttle plate, pull the rubber pipe off and then pinch the two sides of the protrusion underneath (with the split in the middle) and pull from the top.

    Once they are off you can soak them, or blast water from the nozzle side to shift the blockage back out.

    To refit, simply push back with a little bit of clear silicone. Reattaching the pipes is not that easy!

    Good luck


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  3. ClydeM

    ClydeM F1 World Champ
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    #3 ClydeM, Jun 29, 2017
    I just bought two new ones from Ferrari about 7 years ago they were $8ea
     
  4. derekw

    derekw Formula 3

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    #4 derekw, Jun 29, 2017
    Make a cup around the nozzle with masking tape or playdoh and fill it with vinegar or another medium strength acid. Leave it for a couple of days. Also try unplugging the hose at the pump and sucking hard.
     
  5. Andy 308GTB

    Andy 308GTB F1 Rookie
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    #5 Andy 308GTB, Jun 30, 2017
    Thanks all.
    I've already had the pipes on and off so refitting the pipes isn't beyond my ability. It was how they actual nozzles were held in place that was puzzling me. I'll have a crack at removing them this evening and then can decide whether to replace them or clean them out.
     
  6. DGS

    DGS Six Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 DGS, Jun 30, 2017
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2017
    I cleaned one out (while it was off the 328), by poking a straight pin in the nozzle hole, then attaching a hand vacuum pump (brake bleed pump) to the hose connection and putting vacuum on the nozzle until it sucked air.

    I also dipped the nozzle in a jar of clean water and used the bleed pump to draw water backward through the nozzle.
    Then I pushed water forward through the nozzle (again with the hand pump).

    Once it was passing water, I reinstalled.
    Then I had to readjust, because the clean nozzle was throwing water onto the garage door behind the car. ;)

    I briefly toyed with the idea of replacing the nozzles with wiper mounted sprayers, because the nozzles can only be adjusted for one vehicle speed (generally when stationary).
    But the windscreen is sloped enough that the washer fluid will flow *upwards* on the windscreen when the car is moving. So the wind deflecting the washer stream downward when moving doesn't keep you from getting fluid across the window.
     
  7. Andy 308GTB

    Andy 308GTB F1 Rookie
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    #7 Andy 308GTB, Jul 2, 2017
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Just for completeness, as I appreciate this isn't going to win the 'Interesting Thread of Year 2017' award. I removed the nozzles and they are shown below.
    One I was able to pinch the legs in and pull it out. But the second one was less accessible - so having seen that there was no 'step' on the legs, I was able to withdraw it from the top just with gentle wiggling.
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  8. Ferraridoc

    Ferraridoc F1 World Champ
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    #8 Ferraridoc, Jul 2, 2017
    Hint: Pass the hose through the hole in the body work and attach to the nozzles before reinstalling (assuming they fit - haven't looked myself).
     
  9. godabitibi

    godabitibi F1 Veteran

    Jan 11, 2012
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    Claude Laforest
    #9 godabitibi, Jul 2, 2017
    Those are totally different from my 77 which IIRC have threads and a nut under the panel.
     

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