When I took the car to my indy specialist for its service, I asked them to sort out the screen washer jets . The jets didn't reach high enough up the screen, so only the bottom half got wet and the rest just smeared. Since the jets looked a bit lethargic, I originally assumed that the pump was failing - that was 'confirmed', and they replaced the pump. But when I next used the washers, it didn't actually make any difference.

I was somewhat annoyed at having forked out a couple of hundred quid on parts & labour, when it appeared they hadn't actually investigated the problem or even tested it afterwards. So I took the car back to them for a moan.

One of their guys came out to take a look - I showed him the problem, and he said "Oh, that's normal - they're all like that". Now, I know that's bollocks - I've owned the car for 5 years, and it wasn't a problem until recently. We had a debate about this, so he said "OK, I'll show you on this other XK". Overconfident - the jets on that one (which was an early 4.2) reached much further up the screen - not quite all the way, but a damned sight further than mine. He had to concede that halfway wasn't 'normal'.

I asked if the jets were adjustable - he didn't think they were, but gave the nozzles a good pull in the right direction. Tada! - much better coverage. It's still not as good as I'd like, but a big improvement. Despite the new pump, the flow (compared to the 4.2 XK) is a bit 'stuttered' rather than a single pulse.

Therefore, question to the assembled masses: are the rest of you getting good washer coverage, or is only part of the screen ending up getting wet?

 

Ngarara,

The washer jets in my 4.2 are strong and do a very nice job of clearing the whole windshield. I'd go out and do a video but I just detailed my car. I'll do a video of the washer jets the next time I get ready to wash it and then I'll post it here.

Cheers,

Peter

 

I'm not sure I understand the problem. On the X150, the washer nozzles on the wiper arms spray washer fluid right next to the blades, and it's up to the blades to spread the fluid across the windscreen, right?

I just took this video (view in 1080P and 0.25x speed):


EDIT:
Realized I have a 60fps dashcam, so another angle:

 

On mine, the jets did not squirt the fluid far enough up the blades to be pushed to the top of the screen. So only the bottom half of the blade arc was getting fluid and being cleaned. It's now a lot better, but nowhere near as good as yours.

 

I see, do both nozzles work on each arm? The big, angled one seems like the important one here.

Looking at my 2nd video, slowed-down, it looks like the fluid just about reaches the middle of the blade before the wiper arm starts moving.

 

Yes, they both work - it was the angled ones that shoot up the blade that were not aimed correctly. I'm still not happy with the volume or throw of the washer fluid, but at least I can get the screen clear enough to see through.

 

Odd, if both work equally badly...perhaps there's some buildup clogging it? Though if the spray is "stuttered", is the pump getting power properly?

If the nozzles seem to be the culprit, at least the wiper arms (C2P1264 & C2P1266) aren't as expensive as I expected them to be; this site has them for $35 each.

 

I've always used compressed air to blow-back through the jets to clean them after the feed lines are disconnected, then run the washer for some seconds to clean the lines.

 

The pump is brand new, but I suppose there's some chance it isn't working correctly.

I'll give the back-blow of the jets a try (need to get a can of compressed air first).

 

What sort of fluid do you use? We have a Mercedes ML320 and the (heated) jets on that get clogged up if you use a fluid that has some sort of Rain-X type of hydrophobic additive, I have to keep pushing a fine pin into the nozzles to clear them. Could be a similar thing happening for you I guess but seems less likely given all of yours are the same.

Also, are you sure you haven't got a loose pipe somewhere, i.e. not off completely so there's no fluid reaching the jets but enough for some of what should get there to be lost elsewhere? I used to have a SEAT Leon and they had a common issue in that the rear washer feed hoses had a 90-degree push-fit plastic elbow in them which would come loose over time. The early symptoms were that the washer jet at the rear would lose pressure/flow and the fluid would leak into the boot and soak the carpet.

 

Thanks, 8bit. It's a Jaguar screen wash concentrate that I was given as a freebie at a dealer. It doesn't have any hydrophobic properties, it's just a hydrophilic detergent. It's possible the jets are a bit clogged; I'll take 'em off and give them a once-over.

I don't think there's a leak - if there was, I'd expect to see water underneath in an odd place. I'll double-check, though.