***Fix cost: $2.50+tax (Lowe's) and about 30mins of my time.***:wink
Monday morning I noticed a large puddle of washer fluid just in front of my passenger wheel. I didn't want to mess with it because it was around 30 degrees outside. Tuesday morning I noticed two puddles just in front of both front wheels and when I started my car, I got the message "Check washer fluid". It was even colder outside, but I decided to see how difficult it was to tackle.
First, I pulled the front of the car up on my ramps.
Next, I removed the front lower under-paneling.
Then, using something thin and flat, I opened up the headlight washer flap on the front bumper and using a T-25 Torx I loosened the screw holding in the washer pump. (Don't worry about dropping the screw, its permanently in place, so just loosen until its released from the pump.
Next, from under the car, I reached up and unclipped the the washer hose to the pump. If you feel with your fingers, its just a "press" type clip...just press while pulling off (it can be done with one hand).
***Be careful at this point, if there is still washer fluid in the lines, it will pour out...have an empty container handy to catch if you're concerned about it being on the floor***
Once the hose is removed, you can now just wiggle the washer pump out from the bottom. (I read of a way to get it out from the flap opening, but I found it faster and easier to just get it from the bottom).
There's an O-Ring on the end of the washer pump where the hose connects which I noticed was a bit flattened. I was going on a whim and thinking this was the source of my leak.
A quick trim to Lowe's, in the plumbing section, I found this set of O-Rings that were a perfect fit.
Brand: Danco
Part# 96724 (#7 O-Ring) see picture.
Removed the old O-Ring and installed the new one...perfect fit, slightly raised for a good seal.
Then, reinstall...I placed washer pump in place from the bottom and reached through the flap opening and positioned it in place. **there's a part of the pump that has to slide into the bottom of the bracket under the light, you will know what I'm referring to once you initially remove the pump...make sure it slides back into place before tightening the screw.
Now, just push the washer hose back onto the pump inlet until it "clicks".
Refill reservoir with clean fluid and check for leaks.
Install underbody paneling and you're done!!!
******NOTE******
After refilling my reservoir, and running the washer until fluid comes out, I didn't notice any leaks on the passenger side, however I did notice some dripping still on the drivers side. I read a post of someone saying it could be leaking from the center joint on the washer pump body.:eek
I initially left the car up on ramps with the panel off. Thinking my possible fix was unsuccessful, during my downtime at work that afternoon, I ordered 2 new washer pumps from ebay (they should be here tomorrow). When I got home that night, I went and checked to see how much "leaked" out...well to my surprise, everything was dry, NO PUDDLES OR LEAKS!!:crying
Next morning, still dry with no leaks! Weather warmed by afternoon and still dry, so I put the under panel back on and STILL DRY!
My Conclusion, the "dripping" I saw, must have been some residual fluid that had run out of the hose when I unplugged it and was sitting on top of the air tank which was running down.
--------------
Hope this fix helps some of you that might be facing this issue. For $2.50 and 30mins, it was definitely worth it. Still have my OE pump's and no leaks! :grin:grin
Unfortunately for me, because I jumped the gun, now I have two new washer pumps which I don't need. Maybe in time I guess.
Monday morning I noticed a large puddle of washer fluid just in front of my passenger wheel. I didn't want to mess with it because it was around 30 degrees outside. Tuesday morning I noticed two puddles just in front of both front wheels and when I started my car, I got the message "Check washer fluid". It was even colder outside, but I decided to see how difficult it was to tackle.
First, I pulled the front of the car up on my ramps.
Next, I removed the front lower under-paneling.
Then, using something thin and flat, I opened up the headlight washer flap on the front bumper and using a T-25 Torx I loosened the screw holding in the washer pump. (Don't worry about dropping the screw, its permanently in place, so just loosen until its released from the pump.
Next, from under the car, I reached up and unclipped the the washer hose to the pump. If you feel with your fingers, its just a "press" type clip...just press while pulling off (it can be done with one hand).
***Be careful at this point, if there is still washer fluid in the lines, it will pour out...have an empty container handy to catch if you're concerned about it being on the floor***
Once the hose is removed, you can now just wiggle the washer pump out from the bottom. (I read of a way to get it out from the flap opening, but I found it faster and easier to just get it from the bottom).
There's an O-Ring on the end of the washer pump where the hose connects which I noticed was a bit flattened. I was going on a whim and thinking this was the source of my leak.
A quick trim to Lowe's, in the plumbing section, I found this set of O-Rings that were a perfect fit.
Brand: Danco
Part# 96724 (#7 O-Ring) see picture.
Removed the old O-Ring and installed the new one...perfect fit, slightly raised for a good seal.
Then, reinstall...I placed washer pump in place from the bottom and reached through the flap opening and positioned it in place. **there's a part of the pump that has to slide into the bottom of the bracket under the light, you will know what I'm referring to once you initially remove the pump...make sure it slides back into place before tightening the screw.
Now, just push the washer hose back onto the pump inlet until it "clicks".
Refill reservoir with clean fluid and check for leaks.
Install underbody paneling and you're done!!!
******NOTE******
After refilling my reservoir, and running the washer until fluid comes out, I didn't notice any leaks on the passenger side, however I did notice some dripping still on the drivers side. I read a post of someone saying it could be leaking from the center joint on the washer pump body.:eek
I initially left the car up on ramps with the panel off. Thinking my possible fix was unsuccessful, during my downtime at work that afternoon, I ordered 2 new washer pumps from ebay (they should be here tomorrow). When I got home that night, I went and checked to see how much "leaked" out...well to my surprise, everything was dry, NO PUDDLES OR LEAKS!!:crying
Next morning, still dry with no leaks! Weather warmed by afternoon and still dry, so I put the under panel back on and STILL DRY!
My Conclusion, the "dripping" I saw, must have been some residual fluid that had run out of the hose when I unplugged it and was sitting on top of the air tank which was running down.
--------------
Hope this fix helps some of you that might be facing this issue. For $2.50 and 30mins, it was definitely worth it. Still have my OE pump's and no leaks! :grin:grin
Unfortunately for me, because I jumped the gun, now I have two new washer pumps which I don't need. Maybe in time I guess.