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Screen washers

PostPosted: Sat Jan 23, 2016 5:07 pm
by Geoff Butcher
Another ten minute job turns into a nightmare! I need to get my windscreen washer jet off for cleaning or replacement. It's a twin jet nozzle in the centre and it seems impossible to remove it without releasing the wiper assembly and I can't really make out how that's held on. Advice please!

Re: Screen washers

PostPosted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 12:18 am
by Rich
From memory the glass is so thick at that point there's every chance they are glued in place.

Re: Screen washers

PostPosted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 11:18 am
by Geoff Butcher
There is some kind of flimsy nut underneath, but it's impossible to get spanner or fingers on it. Is the wiper assembly only held on via the nuts which retain the arms? I'm guessing this jet has been there since 1987 and was fitted before the wipers... :(

Re: Screen washers

PostPosted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 11:22 am
by DavidL
From memory, on the Mk 3, there are the two main nuts which hold the wiper spindles in place, plus one more nut/bolt somewhere under the dash, somewhere in the region of the bracket which holds the motor.
Sorry to be so vague...

Re: Screen washers

PostPosted: Sun Jan 24, 2016 12:35 pm
by Geoff Butcher
Got the little varmint! You can see from the kink in the short tube how little clearance there is above the wiper bracket, i.e. none. That plastic elbow is a bit slack which could account for a bit of damp under the dasboard over the years...I might email this pic to the original builder and express my displeasure... :lol:
Now I have a nasty feeling that getting it all back will be the hardest part

Image

Re: Screen washers

PostPosted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 12:22 am
by Geoff Butcher
This has become my latest 'worst job on a Midas' but by way of consolation I now have better washers than at any time during my 13 years of ownership :)

Re: Screen washers

PostPosted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 2:16 pm
by Stuart
Who'll be the first to fit heated washer jets I wonder.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-one-coop ... Swe-FU5464

Re: Screen washers

PostPosted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 3:25 pm
by DavidL
Stuart wrote:Who'll be the first to fit heated washer jets I wonder.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-one-coop ... Swe-FU5464

I fitted heated washer jets on mine in 1986, but what I did was wrap about 6 coils of copper brake pipe around a 3/4" copper pipe, all soldered together, then plumbed the big pipe into the cooling system and passed the washer fluid through the brake pipe... :D

My heater was air blending, so that I could get rid of that valve on the cylinder head, and that meant the washer jets weren't affected by the heat in the car. Although I suppose that probably wouldn't have mattered.

At one time I noticed a similar system for sale in a local car accessory shop. I did mine before that, though!

Re: Screen washers

PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 9:30 am
by goldeneye
what is the need of heated washer jets? why not use anti-freeze?

Re: Screen washers

PostPosted: Fri Feb 05, 2016 9:38 am
by Stuart
goldeneye wrote:what is the need of heated washer jets? why not use anti-freeze?


They still freeze up in extreme conditions, more from the snow or ice that forms on them than the washer fluid. I doubt many Midas owners require that feature though.