2011 XC70 rear washer stopped - help please

[rowleray]

Hi all. Thanks in advance for any help.....
So the rear wash has stopped on my 2011 XC70.
It's one pump isn't it ? And a new one was fitted a year or so ago. Thats my first question - how does the car send water to the back? whats the process? - I cant tell from the drawings - see attached.
The front washers, including the headlight washers are all working fine.
I drained the system (by disconnecting the first windscreen jet and pumping it out bit by bit)) and did a flush with clean water. I got some tiny bits out, but nothing that looks like it would cause any issues.
I have checked the rear nozzle which is absolutely clear - but the pipe looks dry - like no water is getting there.
I can hear the motor running and the rear wiper does its sweeps, when I operate the rear wash / wipe.
Any advice please what to do?
Could there be something wrong at the tank / pump - as I said I dont understand how the car changes the flow to rear - I cant even see where the outlet to the back is from the drawings.
I can see that there is a 'check valve' (item 3 in the drawing) at the rear - could that be faulty / blocked?
How do you get to it (without wrecking all the lovely interior trims!)
Cheers,
Ray

[bananarama]

I also have this problem but haven't got round to investigating. I assume my nozzle is blocked or something like that. Shame no one has said anything.

[Bomster]

Same problem for me as of a few days ago.

[Tatsfield]

Originally Posted by rowleray

It's one pump isn't it ? And a new one was fitted a year or so ago. Thats my first question - how does the car send water to the back? whats the process?

Apparently the motor spins one way for front and the other for back and there is a valve which responds to the direction of spin. My assumption is that the valve is the problem as the direction of spin is controlled by the polarity of the current and that is simply provided by the position of the control lever.

[bananarama]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

Apparently the motor spins one way for front and the other for back and there is a valve which responds to the direction of spin. My assumption is that the valve is the problem as the direction of spin is controlled by the polarity of the current and that is simply provided by the position of the control lever.

Ah good to know, thanks! Something to investigate when the weather improves.

[sellxc70]

Hi, the feed pipe for the rear screen wash runs up the passenger A pillar and then above the roof lining.

There is a joint/connector in the pipe behind the A pillar cover. This might help out with where the problem lies but imo, if you can hear the pump working then it could be a blockage in the feed pipe.

[rowleray]

Thanks for those replies, especially those with the explanation of front or back washing. Sounds funky!

As I’d heard nothing for some time, I did more investigation, I got the overhead trim off that houses the boot light (is it still called a boot in an estate???) anyway and found the pipe and non return valve.

When I took the valve off, I just found frozen water in the pipes!

So it seems it really was just that cold, just hadn’t got my antifreeze strong enough - where the solution was in a very thin channel, unlike the tank, which hadn’t froze.

It’s all worked fine since!