Hi folks I'm looking for a bit of advice to solve an unusual problem that has just manifested itself with my screen wash system. This is a 2006 Mk2 Focus.

System has always worked fine (11 years of ownership) until yesterday. When trying to wash the front screen the front wipers operated fine (4 sweeps, pause then another sweep) but no water. But I realised that water was coming out of the rear screen jet while I was operating the front wash stalk. The rear wiper didn't operate.

Somewhat confused I then tested the rear wash wipe and this operated fine, both water jet and wiping. So I tried the front wash again. Same result as first time. The wipers operate correctly (4 sweeps, pause, one sweep) but no water on the windscreen. But again the rear jet squirted the rear screen! I can hear the pump operating when I use the both the front & rear wash stalk. I've disconnected the hose under the bonnet before the front screen nozzles, tested the front wash and no water came out of the open hose (BUT... it did squirt the rear screen again!!).

Has anyone got any suggestions please before I have to resort to dirty hands and lots of swearing trying to get the washer bottle out. (where did Ford get their design ideas from?) 

thanks

You might already know this but the front/rear direction is controlled by reversing the pump motor and I think there's a valve in the pump that responds to the flow to seal off the unwanted direction. I'm guessing that valve could have stuck, possibly due to a build-up of bacterial goo,

Looks like there's going to be lots of swearing.

mjt - thanks for your reply. I did know (from reading similar posts) that the front / rear function was from reversing the pump so guessed that there must be some sort of 'stuck' non return valve/flap as I was always getting water to the rear. I was just hoping against hope that there was some shortcut fix. But there never is with a Ford it seems.

So as I'm going to have to swear it apart I've just ordered a replacement pump from a well known online auction site. They're so cheap that it hardly seems worth trying to clean out the old pump. (although I will still be giving that a go!)

Thanks again