Screen washer level indicator

[starbuckk]

Hi all,

I'm getting round to fixing all of the jobs on my receintly aquired 480ES (Auction buy).

I've done the sunroof, speedo, headlights, seatbelt arm, brakes, drivers window,tailgate struts, plug leads, the button for the rear screen wash (what a job, taking the arm to pieces) and radiator (one joint still weeps a little).

Remaining jobs are the cam belt, oil change and the washer jet low warning light is on, even though there is fluid in there.

Re the washer fluid light. I can't see how/where the sensor for the light is. I've looked around the bottle, but can only see the 3 motors for the headlight and front/rear screen wash. Can anyone tell me how it works and where it is. Is it anything stange (Volvoish) or a simple float switch?

Thanks all. Good to see the Forum back in action.

[itguy]

Well on my 850 it is quite a clever device.

It's a reed switch that is encased in plastic and then sat down a tube (in the dry) in the bottle.

Inside the bottle there is a magnet that is attached to a float and when the level gets low the float drops (obviously) and then the magnet operates against the reed switch making the ciruit and bringing the light on. Very ingenious!

I repaired my 850 one with a reed switch from Maplins but you could just buy a new complete switch from Volvo if you wanted to.

I can only presume the 480 is the same arrangement.

[niloc]

On other cars it is screwed in the top of the bottle. Look for a lead coming off it with a connector. When you unplug the connector the light will go out.

It is likely that the float has become dirty and jammed at the bottom of it's travel. You can either try washing the whole thing in washing up liquid, or try and prise the end plate off (carefully!) to extract the float and give it a thorough clean.