Windscreen washer repair

[keithC70]

Since I bought my '10 V70, neither the windscreen washer nor the tailgate washer worked at all. Occasionally the headlights would wash.

I've put off repairing it until the weather improved, so finally yesterday, off with the bumper, 4 screws in each wheel arch, 7 screws along the bottom edge (all T25 bit), and the clips along the top edge. I didn't jack it up or take the wheels off, so it's possible but would be easier with them off.

Then the problem of getting the edges of the bumper free - they were trapped at the upper corners and it took brute force to pull them away at right angles to the car. The bumper then comes forward and I rested it on the ground in front of the car. I didn't bother disconnecting the fog lamps.

Access is then easy. The pump is push fit in a rubber seal and pulls straight out of the washer bottle. It's a two outlet reversing pump so I assume it has a couple of flap valves in the outlet tubes but I didn't take those apart. I've just tried blowing and sucking and can't fathom how it works!

I tried everything to get the pump to work and couldn't so ordered a replacement from FRF.

So I decided to take it apart. The top cover is a tight fit so I ran the tip of a blade around under the edge to loosen it and it lifted off over the contacts.

I could then see the top end of the motor and lots of rusty marks, so the seal has been leaking and the motor filled with water. If only they had left an open hole above the seal so that water could drain and protect the electric motor, this wouldn't have failed!

So now to get at the motor is the most difficult part. The plastic housing has an impressed ring around the upper edge, so it looks as though once the motor is in, they run a tool round the edge to shrink the plastic and retain the motor.

Once again I teased it out by running the tip of a blade round under the edge of the plastic until the motor was loose and I could pull it out. It's not easy and I managed to crack the housing a couple of times.

I cleaned and oiled the rusty motor and then ran it in each direction until it ran smoothly with plenty of oil on the bearings. I will reassemble and fit it back on tomorrow and will drill a hole in the housing above the seal so that any leak is free to drain out.

http://s910.photobucket.com/user/kei...=recent&page=1

I wonder what main dealers charge to fix this?

[bobsy852]

Hi Keith,

Is it literally a case of pulling both sides of the bumper to get it free once you've undone all the screw fixings necessary?
I need to take mine off this weekend but I'm scared of breaking any clips or anything..

[TTR]

bobsy852

if its warm like this it will help matters when removing the bumper.

if not you might try a hair dryer around the clips areas just to help flex.

use a plastic pry and tape up the area to avoid scratching paint.

the hard ones are the front near the headlights and front wing, just go slow and ease these out.

once you have done one side and got the knack the other will fly off.

Worth taping up the bumper top the front bonnet slam panel if you are on your own to avid too much pressure on the bumper

also there is a volvo download, i think its retro fitting a grill, it shows you the main principles of how to remove the bumper, it helped me no end


hope this helps