wvlenthe
Member Since: 07 Jan 2009
Location: Arnhem
Posts: 1967
  
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Hi all,
This last week or so, I had the little i> telling me my car was suffering from: low washer fluid.
Giving her a treat washing up, I also pleased her with the necessary nectar so poored in 4 litres of the most expensive screen washer fluid Shell had to offer.
Apparently, it doesn't taste well, wasn't draining my wallet enough or the color (pink) wasn't to her liking... for whatever reason, the little i> still comes on every time telling me: low washer fluid.
So... do I need to pump her pipes by giving the washer jets a good runthrough (bit pointless on this clean a car) or could she have a loose sensor or so?
I checked for leaks and discovered none so the dreaded split reservoir fault is not the cause.
TIA for any ideas.
regards,
Wiljo D3 V8 HSE Auto in Zermatt silver - driveway version gone but not forgotten, only the living room cupboard version remains
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 6th Jul 2009 7:35 pm |
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AndrewS
Tarquin of the Desert
Member Since: 06 May 2005
Location: Y...... because I can
Posts: 10438
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Where did you pour the fluid into?
Is it possible that you missed the hole?
Were you drinking before you filled the bottle? In the Beginning there was nothing, which exploded.
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| 6th Jul 2009 7:45 pm |
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wvlenthe
Member Since: 07 Jan 2009
Location: Arnhem
Posts: 1967
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Hi AndrewS,
Thanks for your reply. 
1 into the filler tube with the blue cap on it with a little  sign on it, on driver side for most of the world towards the far front of the car (just behind headlight).
2 no, I even used what I think is called a funnel in English
3 yep! But this being Saturday around 14.00 I doubt that would have had any influence.
BTW I would suppose there is no other hole I can pour 4 litres of fluid into on the car without running over, besides the fuel cap which is located on the other far end of the car?
When ignoring answer 3, suppose I *would* have parked the car the other way before filling and indeed *did* put it in the fuel tank, I would assume I'd be being reported other problems besides: low washer fluid.
So back to square 1 then: anybody have other suggestions?
regards,
Wiljo D3 V8 HSE Auto in Zermatt silver - driveway version gone but not forgotten, only the living room cupboard version remains
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| 6th Jul 2009 8:25 pm |
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tunstas
Member Since: 17 Dec 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 1
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Hi - still got your problem?
I was told by a dealership that the water must have a specific 'gravity' with added anti-freeze for the sensors to work properly. Incorrect amount and it tels you the level is low!
Can't help any more than this but I reckon it's all about how much antifreeze you put in.
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| 17th Dec 2009 5:29 pm |
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wiggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Manchester
Posts: 14368
 
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There was an issue with a faulty float that filled with fluid ..causing the low washer fluid light to stay on G4 Gone ...but not forgotten
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| 17th Dec 2009 5:50 pm |
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wvlenthe
Member Since: 07 Jan 2009
Location: Arnhem
Posts: 1967
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 Well I crawled under the car a couple of days later.
Turned out the reservoir was really empty.
I took the car to the dealer who changed the reservoir as it was split, so 't was the split washer fluid thing after all. I must not have noticed it leaking because of washing the car at the same time.
The crack in the reservoir was so small I could hardly see it.
Regards,
Wiljo D3 V8 HSE Auto in Zermatt silver - driveway version gone but not forgotten, only the living room cupboard version remains
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| 17th Dec 2009 6:06 pm |
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Slimer
Site Moderator
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Last Exit to Nowhere
Posts: 16295
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tunstas wrote:I was told by a dealership that the water must have a specific 'gravity' with added anti-freeze for the sensors to work properly. Incorrect amount and it tels you the level is low!
I think you're confusing screenwash with coolant, I wouldn't recommend putting antifreeze in your washer bottle  The End
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| 17th Dec 2009 7:23 pm |
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wvlenthe
Member Since: 07 Jan 2009
Location: Arnhem
Posts: 1967
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[quote="Slimer"]tunstas wrote:I wouldn't recommend putting antifreeze in your washer bottle
So... how do you keep the washer fluid from freezing then?
Wiljo D3 V8 HSE Auto in Zermatt silver - driveway version gone but not forgotten, only the living room cupboard version remains
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| 18th Dec 2009 6:39 am |
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Slimer
Site Moderator
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Last Exit to Nowhere
Posts: 16295
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Use a screenwash which contains antifreeze components. I don't know the chemical composition but suspect it's not quite the same or at least not as concentrated as the antifreeze you put in your coolant system  The End
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| 18th Dec 2009 8:06 am |
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BrumLee
Member Since: 07 Mar 2008
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 1360
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Slimer wrote:I wouldn't recommend putting antifreeze in your washer bottle
Simon's right  Antifreeze in your washer fluid smears like  . We have to drain washer tanks off on trucks that drivers have put the wrong fluid in 
You could put some cheap aftershave (that granny has sent you for christmas) in your washer tank. Smells like a brothel when you squirt your windows and might attract a few chavvy girls
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| 18th Dec 2009 3:45 pm |
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Renny
Member Since: 30 May 2006
Location: Fife, Scotland
Posts: 292
 
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Ethanol or methanol added to the screenwash water stops it freezing and a small bit of washing up liquid helps clean the screen. Renny Thomson
aka Scottish Scrutineer or MM0KOZ
MSA Scrutineer
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| 18th Dec 2009 8:51 pm |
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Mark Y
Member Since: 14 Sep 2008
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1249
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Renny wrote:Ethanol or methanol added to the screenwash water stops it freezing and a small bit of washing up liquid helps clean the screen.
Washing up liquid also contains salt which as we know is corrosive 
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| 19th Dec 2009 6:17 am |
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wvlenthe
Member Since: 07 Jan 2009
Location: Arnhem
Posts: 1967
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We used to put plain spirit (google says this is the translation of dutch 'spiritus') in the washer reservoir of our trucks. Stinks like hell as well but not salty, not greasy and will not freeze. Oh and cheap.
(Only thing is the local supermarket was out of it for a couple of weeks as for this many vehicles, we'd buy their whole supply )
Wiljo D3 V8 HSE Auto in Zermatt silver - driveway version gone but not forgotten, only the living room cupboard version remains
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| 19th Dec 2009 12:09 pm |
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Bushwanderer
Member Since: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia
Posts: 2050
 
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Hi Wiljo,
I suspect that you mean "methylated spirits" which is denatured ethanol.
Best Wishes,
Peter The Bearded Dragon
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| 20th Dec 2009 2:32 am |
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