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Sharing my little success:
May help another another diyer.
Left hand windscreen washer didn't work, right side ok.
Removed the rubber pipe from its elbow on the cowl at the base of the wiper, tried the washer but no water from the elbow. Attaching a length of pipe and blowing/sucking demonstrated it wasn't blocked and probably leaking somewhere between the two wipers, under the cowl. This was verified when I noticed water dripping on the ground beneath.
Getting the cowl off.
First remove the wipers: disconnected washer pipes at the cowl elbows, prised off the plastic covers and undone nuts at the pivots. A straight pull on the wiper pivot point didn't budge them so thought I must invest in a puller. Applied penetrating oil and ordered a universal one to pickup. Next day tried to use the new tool, it's arms are too short. Meantime I had researched and the pivot is a splined taper, like a cone, others say a bit of leverage on the arms can free it. Yes, pushing gently down the blade end broke the bond and away they came.
Now for the cowl, held on along it's length by being clipped to a groove in an aluminium extrusion fixed to the bottom of the windscreen. It's also stuck to the glass with a soft sticky strip which is easily unstuck after 14 years. Removal was simply a case of carefully lifting the cowl at one end and working the long clip out along it's length. There are three peg type plastic clips near the centre which came out easily. Washer pipes and a T valve are clipped beneath the cowl, disconnected the feed pipe at a straight connection leading to the cowl.
Obvious fault - washer pipe was not connected to elbow, maybe caused by frost/thaw action if the last owner had not added winter screenwash. It refitted tightly and I pulled a little slack through for luck.
Before reassembly the sticky strip bits left on the screen cleaned off with a rag dampened with petrol to soften it, then meths. Vacuumed out debris in the "plenum chamber" and waxoyled the aluminium wiper mechanism castings where the bowled area around the pivots had held a deep layer of vegetable matter causing surface corrosion. Made sure the long clip groove was clean.
Cleaned the cowl: getting the old sticky strip off takes a while using finger nails, I didn't want to risk petrol on the plastic. The plastic surface had greyed in the sun. It could be painted but rubbing it with a rag and olive oil brings it back to a consistent dark grey, I don't know how long that will last.
Reassembly was, as they say, the reverse of disassembly except I decided not to use a sticky strip between cowl and screen. The flexible edge of the cowl pushes against the screen. I'll apply a sticky strip if it loosens or vibrates.
(Wiper arm nut torque 23nm)
Culprit Wiper pivot Long clip on cowl Groove below the windscreen
Had the exact same problem on mine, when I received the car. Upon reattaching the hose, I used a plastic pipe clamp (from a drip irrigation system) to hopefully prevent it from disconnecting again. Using a small zip tie would have served the same purpose.
Fun? Right?
1. The washer pipe stayed on place. 🙂
2. The cowl had returned to grey, so olive oil treatment wears off 😁
3. The absence of the adhesive strip had not been noticeable. This is good because removing the cowl was now a five minute job - paint experiment this time.
I think it's looking pretty smart now, hopefully it'll last.
Steps I took:
A. Rubbed a lot of the grey surface off with the plastic scourer on a washing up sponge.
B. Washed with detergent, rinsed and dried.
C. Masked off the flexible edge that contacts the windscreen.
D. Sprayed with rattlecan Etch primer.
E. Sprayed with Acrylic rattlecan paint.
Hi Guy,
That's a good idea.
I was going to use a 3M tape that I've found to be good and weather proof, but honestly there doesn't seem to be a problem, at normal driving speeds, with not fixing it to the screen. Double sided tape I've found to be strong and weatherproof .
1. The washer pipe stayed on place. 🙂
2. The cowl had returned to grey, so olive oil treatment wears off 😁
3. The absence of the adhesive strip had not been noticeable. This is good because removing the cowl was now a five minute job - paint experiment this time.
I think it's looking pretty smart now, hopefully it'll last.
Steps I took:
A. Rubbed a lot of the grey surface off with the plastic scourer on a washing up sponge.
B. Washed with detergent, rinsed and dried.
C. Masked off the flexible edge that contacts the windscreen.
D. Sprayed with rattlecan Etch primer.
E. Sprayed with Acrylic rattlecan paint.
when you say not connected to the elbow you meant the passengeer side hose was not joined to the T valve? The washer bottle has a main entry hose that is split into 2 with the T valve to both wiper blades.
Plastic paints have improved vastly. I used Eastwood plastic resurfacer I couldn't get the damn cowl off so I masked it and painted in situ. I didn't want to risk cracking it. Also did my spats and the diffuser. Worked great:
Hi Eric,
Olive oil rubbed in sparingly darkened the greying area of plastic. Made it look newer but only lasted a few months before drying out. It was quick, cheap and harmless.
I haven't tried any of the commercial products.
when you say not connected to the elbow you meant the passengeer side hose was not joined to the T valve? The washer bottle has a main entry hose that is split into 2 with the T valve to both wiper blades.
It parted from the elbow fitted just before the pipe passes through the cowl. View of cowl underside.
Plastic paints have improved vastly. I used Eastwood plastic resurfacer I couldn't get the damn cowl off so I masked it and painted in situ. I didn't want to risk cracking it. Also did my spats and the diffuser. Worked great:
I am interested to see how well various paint refinishes last over the years and if reduce UV aging. Brittle plastic components are a pain.
Initial removing required a lot of gentle effort and working a tool along under the windscreen seal to cut through the sealant even though that had deteriorated and looked like it had been there for the life of the car. It was very easy the second time without sealant and knowing now how the clip worked.
[QUOTE=MT2024;2829748]Is this snake oil or does it actually last
I've used it on cars and motorcycles with good lasting results..[/QUOT
I used OWATROL Polytrol Colour-Renovator on the rear cowl of a BMW motorcycle which had faded to grey, worked really well bringing the colour back to black and was still looking good a year later. You can brush it on or apply it with a cloth ( i used a cloth) then wipe off any excess. I also used it on the Jags windscreen cowl without masking tape. It's still looking great.
Windscreen washer pipe leak sorted. 2010XK
