Washer warning

#1 3rd November 2009, 10:54 PM

Oh MY GOD I'M GOING TO RUN OUT OF WASHER FLUID!!!!!!!!!!!!!

not really a problem most of the time
However my car has the warning stuck on perminantly flashing at me with it's annoyingly friendly, yet strangely germanic insistence that I do something about it, which is really begining to annoy me in a less than rational way.

I have taken out the washer sensor. (pop out the rhs headlight, rip your hands to bits on the rough edges of all the plastic and pull)
I have shorted the sensor wires together.
I have tried the laptop to reset the generic codes but it keeps coming back.
I don't know the specific code for "shut the hell up I don't need to know that you don't know how much fluid I have, yet you think you do)

Since this is a less than vital warning any idea how to fix/bypass/disable the sensor. Or any idea what the exact code for this warning is and can it be disabled
I thought joining the wires would do it but alas no

any ideas???

PsYcHe · #2 4th November 2009, 05:22 PM

Have you tried it with the sensor wires as an open circuit?

#3 10th November 2009, 10:41 PM

I'll try that next
I should be able to figure out the wiring diagram

Adrian E · #4 7th March 2011, 05:48 PM

I've now got this problem, but not started investigating as only this evening did I find out that in fact I had plenty of fluid in the bottle

Am I right to assume the sensor is the only possible cause and is removing the headlight the only way to get to it? Is it possibly wiring related or is the sensor just fed up with being immersed in water after 8 years? Hate to think how much a new one will prove to be....

Any tips on removing the headlight without wrecking the alignment?

Dezzy · #5 7th March 2011, 05:57 PM

I removed one last year for a lens replacement and when she went for MOT was ok but i might have been lucky, i'll find out end of this year as i had both headlights out at the week end. There isn't a lot of movement for them when they go back in just verticly really. Enjoy the 2 bottom screws.

Adrian E · #6 7th March 2011, 06:08 PM

Does the bumper have to come off, or can you wiggle it out without?

PsYcHe · #7 7th March 2011, 07:56 PM

You can get it out with the bumper on in the PF.. not sure about the FL though.. just watch you don't drop the screw in

Dezzy · #8 8th March 2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsYcHe

You can get it out with the bumper on in the PF.. not sure about the FL though.. just watch you don't drop the screw in

Stupid self tapping screw who does it think it is, keep dropping out like that. Although i found a lot easier with the indicator out, then it's just one STUPID screw, but you can't do that if you have one of those fancy FL.

A wise man once said "use blutack on the end of screwdriver"

Adrian E · #9 8th March 2011, 12:03 PM

Well I found on the last invoice for a service before I bought the car that a replacement pump and sensor were fitted, so worst case scenario it goes back to the garage for them to look at.

They reckon the sensor is covered in frozen water after the last few days' cold snap here so advice is to leave it a week or 2 and see if it goes by itself after a decent long run.

May well be the fluid was a bit light on washing fluid consistency so I may try and drain it by using as much as possible in the next week or 2!

Ska · #10 8th March 2011, 08:53 PM

Might be way off on this one but I replaced my washer pump a while ago and pulled it apart - the sensor bit is just a float (on my PF anyway). This gets stuck with gun from the years of different washer fluids used. So a good clean may see it working properly again. That's assuming the motor housing isn't rusted to hell.