Washer pump was changed a few months back when original failed completely. For a while all was well. Now, when I press the button on the end of the stalk, instead of always operating the front wash only, it regularly operates the rear wash only instead. Sometimes, moving the stalk up, down, forwards and backwards clears the fault and sometimes it doesn't.

As the washer pump is a simple two wire device to give bi-directional pump operation, I'm struggling to figure out as to why pulling the stalk for rear wash ALWAYS operates rear wash and NEVER the front whilst pressing the front wash button seems to operate EITHER the rear or front screen wash at random although usually the rear first until the fault is cleared albeit temporarily.

If not a case of pure coincidence after moving all the switches, the switch assembly would seem to be where the problem lies but I would be interested to know if anyone else has had this problem before replacing it only to find that the problem lies elsewhere.

9 hours ago, KeithM73 said:

the switch assembly would seem to be where the problem lies but I would be interested to know if anyone else has had this problem before replacing it only to find that the problem lies elsewhere.

The wiper / washer stalk switch assembly has been mentioned a few times on the forum, with the same fault that you have.

Unofix, thanks for the reply.

Took the car out for a short run last night. Tried the front wash and got rear again instead. Jiggled the switch stalk and again got the front working. Parked up at home, tried the front a couple more times and all was well. Went out today, pressed the button and again got the rear wash despite having not operated or disturbed the stalk at all since the night before. Weird. I have the car serviced and MOT'd annually at a Ford dealership. Both are due in March, so I might contact them and get a quote for replacing it. The switch unit seems to cost about £65 and it looks like less than an hour's work for a mechanic. I've looked at the wiring diagram and it appears that if it isn't the switch it must be something in the GEM which then might not be as cheap to fix!