[Tannaton]

The XC90 has a single washer fluid reservoir which has three pumps running from it. The pumps actually plug into the washer bottle directly via large rubber seals. The washer bottle is the most complicated piece of plasting forming imaginable and is behind the front bumper in the o/s wheel arch.

There are two small pumps that are identical and operate the rear window and front windscreen washer jets. There is a larger pump for the headlight washers.

If the bottle has been removed it's an easy mistake to either connect the wrong pipe or wires to the two smaller pumps and transpose their operation. Note that if you remove only the front bumper and do not remove the washer bottle, you will only be able to see and access the headlamp washer pump which is at the front.

Removing the bottle is easy - if you know how. There are a number of hidden bolts for which you need a socket and long extension. It's a worthwhile job as the pumps have internal filters which on a 10 year + old car are invariably partially clogged and the washers usually work much better after a good clean up. I usually sock the bottle in a strong bleach solution overnight to get rid of the slime.

Note - the pumps are cleverly installed at different height, and the washer bottle has carefully designed compartments so when the washer bottle runs down, the headlamp washers stop working first, then the rear window, then finally the windscreen.