rear washer connection

[glynmar]

took the coupe out today but before I did that I checked the oil, water, etc. I filled up the washer bottle as it was empty then whent up the garage for fuel. Walked back to the car and water is running fronm under the car. As it was running at normal temp I didn't worry about it as I knerw it must be something to do with having topped up the washer system. Having returned home it seems the plastic pipe connection to the rear wiper which I assume is on the bulkhead somewhere has come apart and is hanging loose in the engine bay at the offside of the car. It looks like an easy repair but at the moment I can't find where it should be connected. I looked in the Bentley manual and the exploded diagrams online but they don't seem to cover this. Any ideas?

[Broccers]

The pipes came off mine once under the bonnet's sound insulation - have a look there - undo clips and re attach pipe.

[glynmar]

The pipe I am talking about goes to the rear washer and not the ones on the front located on the bonnet

[cxtwo]

On mine, the pump at the side of the water bottle has two nozzles, one for the front washer and one for the rear, perhaps trace the pipe back from here?

[glynmar]

Washed the car today and had a better look at where this pipe goes. It seens to go behind the brake servo cylinder as it feels like there is a spigot there next to the wiring loon. Only trouble is there is not enough roonm to push it on again witout removing then servo cylinder.

On other coupes does the pipe to the rear washer disappear behind the servo. If so what sort of job is it to remove the servo or move it forward to get behind it. I thought it was going to be a simple job but again on the coupe nothing seems to be that straight forward. i still love it though.

[pdwarren]

Ah yes, this one's a pig. The connection you're looking for is behind the brake master cylinder. If I remember right, it's right at the bottom, so you should be able to feel it if you put your fingers below and behind the brake cylinder. The problem is that that the pipe is quite flexible, and if you try and push the connector back on, the pipe on the bulkhead will bend away (upwards) and you'll never get it on. I think I managed to do it by pushing a bent coat hanger down from the top to bend the bulkhead pipe down a little. This made it just possible to reconnect the loose pipe.

EDIT: posted the above before I saw your reply. You can do it without taking the servo off, but I won't say it's not fiddly. I did remove various wiring looms when I was doing this, but I can't remember if this was actually necessary, or just part of my attempt to figure out what was what.

Paul

[glynmar]

I think your spot on. As I suspected the connection is behind the servo (booster), How you ever managed to reconnect it in your case I don't know. Having now looked at the Bentley manual if I disconnect the spindle from the pedal there are 4 bolts that hold the servo to the bulkhead so I reckon I might be able to prise the servo forward to get more room to make the connection. You would think that from a design principle they would have made this more simple. As with everything in life you seem to have designers and the people who have to actually do the job with no consideration for the other.

[pdwarren]

My theory is that this was a victim of the RHD conversion. There are two right-angle connectors in that pipe. I suspect that it has a nice clean route with no right-angles on the LHD version.

Paul

[glynmar]

You are probably right. I never thought of that.

[glynmar]

Update: Back at Munich Legends today and they have fixed it back on. Rear washer jet was blocked so the presure may have blown off the conection under the bonnet.:hurray:

[paulzeee]

just had to do this myself. What a pain to get it on. As fiddly as Joseph Fritzel!!!

[glynmar]

I seem to remember someone on this forum said there is a panel you can remove inside the car to get to this connection. That sounds a lot easier.

[maph]

If anyone know anything about this panel it woukld help me a lot.......I will try and have another look at the weekend.

My pipe came detached inside the car first time I used it after buying the car (owner claimed he never had an issue with it) so when I tried using the rear wash jet it would fill the footwell under the seat with screen wash (I have disconnected it now).

I gave up on fixing it a year ago but may have another crack at it.....

If anyone has any ideas as to how I find out the path of the pipe through the car that would also be really useful :yesnod:

[-Keith-]

If anyone know anything about this panel it would help me a lot....... I will try and have another look at the weekend.

If anyone has any ideas as to how I find out the path of the pipe through the car that would also be really useful :yesnod:

x2 - Some pictures/further explanation would be great - it seems a common problem (mine too does not work) and then this could be moved to our growing knowledgebase. :thumbsup:

[pdwarren]

My pipe came detached inside the car first time I used it after buying the car (owner claimed he never had an issue with it) so when I tried using the rear wash jet it would fill the footwell under the seat with screen wash (I have disconnected it now).


That sounds like it might be a different issue. The usual problem is that the pipe becomes disconnected in front of the bulkhead so the water ends up on the street behind the front wheel, rather than in the car.

I'd guess it's the same thing that's happened: blockage in the washer has lead to the pressure pushing one of the connectors apart.

Paul

[maph]

Hi Paul,

Yeah, I am sure it is the same issue, the pipe seems pretty tough. What I am trying to find out is what the route of the pipe is from the bulkhead to the jet.

I am sure someone who has stripped out the carpet at some point will know :o

If anyone know of any other connectors all the better!

Thanks

Matthew

[kwoffa]

The whole rear wash/wipe thing drives me mad !! i have to continually put a pin in the small jets on the wiper as they get blocked very quickly !! never had anything blow apart tho! who done the conversion to a vw rear wiper? not only does it look smarter but ime sure it works better!

[glynmar]

In answer to the previous question. Chippy has a modified a Mk5 VW Golf rear wash wiper fitted and front aero wipers on his car. They look really good in my opinion.

[-Keith-]

Check out from post #48 in this thread;

http://www.z3mcoupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9058&page=5

If you have had a problem with the washer feed hoses popping off, or blocked nozzles, have a go at what I did to refresh the system.

I removed the washer nozzle (just pulls off with some twisting and a carefull grip on the hose as to not tear it), cleared each nozzle (3) with a pin, and then soaked it in a strong detergent and boiling water. I shook it about to help dislodge anything lurking inside and then blew it clean with an airduster.

I then removed my washer bottle to clean out 10years worth of scum which was blocking the pump filters (and consequently only allowing my washer jets to squirt with about 50% force), and I also believe this to be a major contributing factor to blocking the rear wiper nozzles;

http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab46/ksoundwerx/DSCF3457.jpg

Once this was all cleaned, I blasted a litre or so of water through the system to flush it out, and refitted the nice clean nozzle on the rear wiper.

Once you have done this, do not use hard (drinking water) in the system as the mineral deposits are what create the scrum. Use only soft water or filtered rainwater (or if your feeling very flush, de-ionised/distilled water) to avoid it clogging again :thumbsup:

I'm sure doing this as a preventative measure will avoid problem in the future, if you do not have them already. I could not believe the extra pressure my jets had after cleaning the filters... They went from being hoses to pressure washers!

All nice and clean
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab46/ksoundwerx/DSCF3469.jpg

:thumbsup:

[dochemic]

I had the same problem last year
The front washers worked fine, but as soon as i tried the rear washer (it didn't work) water started pouring out onto the road behind the front offside wheel, and continued until the bottle was pretty much empty.

As the car was going into Prestige for a service i got them to look at it - it took them a little while but they sorted it. They look after a few MC's but it was the first time they had seen this problem, so they were taking notice for future reference.

John at Prestige (0191 4566623 / 2728977) is always very helpful, it can't harm to give him a call to pick his brains

Michael

[turbo blackbeard]

I have the same problem with a blocked rear nozzel (the top of the two). I removed it and tested the line and that seems fine. I soaked the head in limscale removed and put pins in and all sorts. The line however is still blocked. Anyone got a spare one knocking about after switching wipers or can point me to where I can get a replacement?

[-Keith-]

Put mine in boiling detergent solution and shook it around to disturb/dislodge any blockage, and then blasted it through with IPA spray. That cleared it.

If not, it's a dealer part so just call them up and they'll order you one.

[turbo blackbeard]

Thanks keith,

I put it in boiling limescale removing solution and then blasted it with compressed air but no joy. Sorted the kettle out a treat though!

[ZZZEMMCO]

I had this problem a year or so ago---tried all the posted tips--Zilch.Decided to remove washer container and look at washer pipe.Under the container is a trough to allow the pipe to pass under the container without getting squashed---the hose had got squashed flat, so repositioned hose with full bore diameter in trough, and ducktaped over.Job done.

[-Keith-]

In fact that is a very valid point ZZZEMMCO.

Blackbeard, if you look from post #48 in my journal HERE (http://www.z3mcoupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9058&page=5), you will see that after I cleaned the nozzle I had some success.

But I had further sucess after removing the washer bottle itself, removing the pumps and cleaning the the filters at the base of each pump - mine were clogged up and only allowing a small percentage of the pressure through to the nozzles. Your may be so blocked that is appears to be a nozzle problem? Whilst you are there you can check no pipes are bent or being crushed and causing a restriction.

Even if you are sure it is the nozzle itself, it's well worth removing the washer bottle and cleaning all of the filters anyway. :thumbsup:

[turbo blackbeard]

Thanks Keith.

I had had a look at your thread and thought about removing the bottle but after a few exporatory prods this looked a larger task then I thought. Is there a how to somewhere?

[-Keith-]

I promise it's not that hard.

The washer bottle is held on by the single black plastic screw you will see, then it simply lifts off. In order to fully remove, you need to pull the pumps out - this is done simply by pulling stright up. Just try not to lose the O-ring seals! They simply push back in afterwards too.

Very simple I assure you.

[turbo blackbeard]

I will give it a shot at the weekend :p I will still replace the head though. I am worried that with renewed pressure I might pop the rear washer connector off as some people have had happen.

[turbo blackbeard]

Got the bottle off and gave it a good clean. It seemed pretty reasonable, some bits of scum but nothing like yours Keith. Back washer is still gunked though so a replacement is in order.

[kwoffa]

I have poked needles in mine! removed left in de-scaler over night etc..still no good so ordered a new one ..not much money..and noted that the jets are shiney silver not brass like my ols one....was tempted to leave it off all together as when its not there you get a serious amount of water on the screen but empties the bottle in no time !

[brg 990]

i had all of the above issues with my mc , filling the washer bottle only resulted in water pouring from the bulkhead :mad5: which on first inspection seems nigh on impossible to remedy . however i found that just pulling back the sound deadening in the pedal area i could access the pipe where it passes through the bulkhead , to which i fitted a 90 deg connector and several feet of clear washer pipe from halfrauds which i then pushed through the bulkhead and fitted a non return valve and routed neatly to the washer bottle. this had the added bonus of losing the rubbish plastic pipe bmw use !

[don.juan]

The rear window washer is not working. I've cleaned the 5lt container and the connections to it and swapped the connection tubes so that that front washers would be "feed" from the other side of the 5lt container and vice-versa. The front washers always work...but I never get water on the rear window.

First I do not know exactly where is the water supposed to come out at rear...

I also do not see water anywhere inside the car so I do not know where to go now...what should be my next step? Is it a case of the tube being blocked? (I was able to suck some water from it but did not fancy doing so)...What could be the most plausible reason for this?

I would like to add that when I bought the car it was like this so I thought that was normal...then when "inspection day" came, my indy (at that time) told me it was supposed to work and he got it to work. I did not ask how (bummer!!) and since the car now goes to a BMW dealer I have no way of knowing...

[don.juan]

He is another I took yesterday. It a little bit further away than the one before...

http://www.z3mcoupe.com/photopost/uploads/852/DSC02821.JPG

[-Keith-]

Paulo, I think you need to have a stab at some engine bay detailing. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if my bay was as filthy as those pics suggest!!!

[kwoffa]

Disconect the rear washer pipe from the top of the inner wing ,then blast some water up it,this should result in finding whether youve got a hose off or just a blockage !

[don.juan]

Paulo, I think you need to have a stab at some engine bay detailing. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if my bay was as filthy as those pics suggest!!!

The Hi-Res and the flash of the camera contribute to that. At regular day light the car is not bad at all and the 5lt as some dirt at surface. The engine and some parts (not the entire bay) were detailed 18 months ago and I keep the engine parts looking good and everytime I work around the engine bay I clean something else but time is short...

A complete detailing will have to wait for summer vacations...

[don.juan]

Disconect the rear washer pipe from the top of the inner wing ,then blast some water up it,this should result in finding whether youve got a hose off or just a blockage !

Thanks!!! Will do!