Strange Washer Fluid issue

[FJUNO78]

Hi all,

I recently tried to clean my windshield with washer fluid, but nothing comes out. I hear the motor working, but no fluid.

I do not think I am low because I have not received a low fluid alert on the dash, and the headlamp fluid sprays fine.

The other day this happened too, but once the car warmed the fluid started coming out of the jets, but not at full force.

I plan on topping it off after work, but I was just curious to see if anyone else had any similiar issues.

[BrokenVert]

Did you change out your fluid from your summer stuff? Could be frozen in the tank.

[FJUNO78]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Did you change out your fluid from your summer stuff? Could be frozen in the tank.

no, but my summer stuff is the same stuff I use in the winter. The blue juice from the gas station. I don't think it freezes.

[vanbmw]

How cold was it out? The summer stuff is better at cleaning off the bugs but it is not rated for really cold weather. The winter stuff is rated to a much lower temperature. The summer stuff will work but only up to a certain point.

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by FJUNO78

no, but my summer stuff is the same stuff I use in the winter. The blue juice from the gas station. I don't think it freezes.

Ehh thats usually it. I had a similar issue when I switched to my winter fluid. My fluid system went out for a few days with the same symptoms that you had...I just assumed that it was some old bug juice left in the system that froze.

Maybe its a bigger problem

[Focusedintntions]

most likely some of the fluid froze in the small rubber hoses and is blocking it. Generally they defrost after the car has warmed up for a while.

Something to try is after a long drive where the car has had time to warm up, let it sit for 10 minutes running and then try spraying...if nothing comes out the nozzles check the ground to see if its leaking anywhere. Maybe one of the hoses came loose or cracked nad the fluid is going to the gound.

[1quick35]

Mine does/did the same thing. In the morning when it was cold the nozzles on the hood wouldn't spray but the headlights would spray. I was confused about that but once you drove it for awhile, it would warm up and then they would spray just fine. I've since sold the car but it was just odd to me. I used the same exact fluid as I use in my A4 and it wouldn't freeze up in that car but I do know that car has heated washer nozzles. I don't know if the bmw did though...

[Sylon]

If the fluid is frozen, why is the headlight sprayers working fine? Isnt that the same stuff?

[Focusedintntions]

It is, but they go through different hoses....one set could be frozen while the other is fine....

[escobar929]

Originally Posted by Sylon

If the fluid is frozen, why is the headlight sprayers working fine? Isnt that the same stuff?

maybe there is a lil build up of ice near the nozzle on the hood

[FJUNO78]

last night it was about 28-30 degrees out. I did not drive the car long enough to warm it up. I will try a better fluid.

funny thing is I do not remember this problem last year, I probably had the BMW fluid in the car through the cold months,

I know the mirrors are heated, but are the nozzles heated too?

[Sylon]

20F outside this evening when I left work. I was sitting in the parking lot and JUST started the car, no time for it to warm up. I turned my headlights off just so the headlight sprayers didnt pop up (because I think those things are fucking dumb, but thats another story), hood sprayers worked just fine, but after the wipers were done, the windshield started to ice over instantly with what little bit of moisture remained on the windshield. It was cool as hell watching the ice form so quickly but didnt last long as my heater started warming up.

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by FJUNO78

last night it was about 28-30 degrees out. I did not drive the car long enough to warm it up. I will try a better fluid.

funny thing is I do not remember this problem last year, I probably had the BMW fluid in the car through the cold months,

I know the mirrors are heated, but are the nozzles heated too?

It wasnt 28-30, It was 20F and lower last nite in the metro NY area. Its 20F right now and expected to drop to 12-19 tonite.

[JOE2391]

yea its COLD in NY i left a box of poland spring water in the car... Fail Frozen.....

[bch92]

I had a similar experience. Though I had been driving for about a half hour and when the jets went to spray only the drivers side did.

[mryakanisachoad]

Your fill tank and lines are frozen. If you can get the car inside somewhere for and hour or two you'll be good to go.

Just remember - the fluid serves as the coolant so don't keep pulling on the stalk or you'll burn out the motor.

[AussieRacer]

Is there a not so nice smell from the washer filler pipe?

If so you could have sludge around the pump inlet blocking the windscreen pump. I've had this happen to three different 1ers. Easy way to test is to gently pull off one of the lines to the hood and blow some compressed air down the line. If you get bubbling in the filler pipe, then the pipes aren't blocked, but the pump is. Note that blowing air down the line will temporarily clear the sludge, but you need to properly clean the tank out to solve it longer term.

[Lester]

Originally Posted by FJUNO78

last night it was about 28-30 degrees out. I did not drive the car long enough to warm it up. I will try a better fluid.

funny thing is I do not remember this problem last year, I probably had the BMW fluid in the car through the cold months,

I know the mirrors are heated, but are the nozzles heated too?

Yes they are. You can see the electrical wires going to the nozzles under the hood. You should always switch from summer to winter washer fluid well before the weather changes to give the fluid time to swap out.

[Sylon]

Not to jack the thread or anything, but since we are on the topic of winter washer fluid, we can just refill it with any washer fluid ourselves or do we need to take it in and have it done? Stupid question, sorry, first winter with the car.

[Lexington]

Originally Posted by Lester

Yes they are. You can see the electrical wires going to the nozzles under the hood. You should always switch from summer to winter washer fluid well before the weather changes to give the fluid time to swap out.

Are the heated nozzles only on the premium package? Looking at the manual it appears they were optional.

[Lester]

Originally Posted by Lexington

Are the heated nozzles only on the premium package? Looking at the manual it appears they were optional.

I don't have the premium package, and I have the wires going to the nozzles. Although all Canada 1er's are equipped with the cold weather package as standard.

It does look like there are heated and non-heated nozzles.

[Lester]

Originally Posted by Sylon

Not to jack the thread or anything, but since we are on the topic of winter washer fluid, we can just refill it with any washer fluid ourselves or do we need to take it in and have it done? Stupid question, sorry, first winter with the car.

Yes, you can fill the tank with any good quality auto washer fluid. Start filling up with winter fluid early (before freezing weather) so that the mix will be ready for the cold temps.