Had my mk4 mondeo about a month now and ive noticed that the passenger side headlight washer doesnt always fire.

First noticed it in the spate of frost ice and or snow we had, the driverside would fire but the passenger wouldnt. I figured it had frozen up and when i tried it a few hours later both was firing as they should.

On another occasion after parking up in a carpark i noticed it to still be sticking out and hadnt gone back in with the driverside.

I have just tested them again now and i again have found that the passenger side is not firing

Has anyone got ideas what could be wrong with it and why it is acting up? Its a recurring problem so i needed to get it sorted while ive got my 3month warranty

The light washers come out under the water pressure so it may be a sticky valve.

Cold weather obviously not helping of course.

Maybe add a tad more wash to the bottle to reduce icing?

(I find a half bottle of cheap vodka in the washer bottle works in extreme cold).

Its a recurring problem so i needed to get it sorted while ive got my 3month warranty

If you think that it is a problem with the car, then it is a problem of the seller; get them to fix it, in this case.

If, on the other hand, you think the problem is with a fluid (for example, it freezing...and not, therefore, being fluid), it would probably be unreasonable to lay that at the door of the supplying dealer.

The water in the jets can easily be a couple of degrees lower than the environment, so it can freeze even though ambient isn't quite below zero. Stoney's suggestion of cheap Vodka could work, I've tried Surgical Spirit in the past (probably cheaper than vodka!), but it goes a bit cloudy and doesn't depress the FP much (like meths, for example), and I wonder about whether it strips any wax off the car paint. Prestone have an additive specifically to depress FP, and although I've got some as a possible emergency measure, I haven't had the need to try it.

Also, looking at Halfords, they have additives rated to different minimum temps, and, at least so far this year, -5 or -10 would have done me fine; the lower temperatures are pretty much always achieved with the relatively high concentrations of additive, so that's usually the more expensive option, in actual use. Been tempted to get some of their -20 stuff and see how it works diluted, but haven't done that yet.

i dont think it is that its freezing up, my washer bottle must be at least 70% halfrauds screenwash if not more

the driverside has always fired fine and even after a 4 hour drive the passenger side isnt fireing

i think i can hear it but it isnt raising out of the bumper

Duff valve or a stuck mechanism then.

Definitely chase up under warranty.

I'll dig out the part number and approximate cost if you like.

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You may want to check the supply pipes for leaks first as they are only about £15 to source.

first noticed it a day or 2 after getting it back from the dealer, this was when the frost n ice hit and the washer jets was frozen up as the windscreen jets wasnt firing either. must have been pure water in the bottle. I topped up the bottle with the little halfords washer fluid i could fit in and took it for a short drive. the windscreen jets and driverside headlight jet now fired but not the passenger jet.

i then took the car on a good drive so the engine could warm up n unfreeze the the fluid and always drained a lot of the water to make room for a few litres of washer fluid

tested the jets again and now both was firing

i know the passenger side must fire sometimes as mentioned before it was sprayed and failed to return back into the bumper

the jets havent froze up sinse the first time they froze as ive now put in a whole bottle of screenwash in

but like i said today after a 4 hour drive its still not raising out of the bumper

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Mondeo MK4 lamp wash nozzles.jpg

You may want to check the supply pipes for leaks first as they are only about £15 to source.

how do i go about checking mate?

Get your head down by the jet and while someone fires them see if any leaks become aparrent.

It may well be that since the nozzles froze up a pipe may have split or come adrift.

Im assuming the headlight needs removing?

Probably make any fault finding easier.

You may be more able to manually manipulate the nozzle mechanism too.

I would remove the headlight (and that is a bit tricky on these motors) and agree with Clive, check for a split or a dislodge. However, if you park on a dry area of ground and then fire it off for about 10 seconds, see if there is any drops or puddles under the headlight first. If there is a leak, this should be apparent first.

Had the headlight out and got her indoors to fire the gets while I had my head in the engine bay

Can't say I noticed any leaks, and the jet is firing, albeit only out of one of the 2 nozzles. But the mechanism is just not raising the jet out of the bumper so it just ends up squirting water around the engine bay

I recorded a video which I'll upload later

Sounds like low pressure to that unit.

One jet only and not rising seems to point to that.

I reckon a gummed up unit or a clogged pipe.

what is it exactly that raised it out of the bumper? is it something mechanical/electrical or is it purely the water pressure forcing it up?

If it is a clogged up pipe etc what do I do to fix it?

Just water pressure.

Try using a can of compressed air designed for dusting out computers.

The nozzle minus the straw should fit nicely into the pipe.

Keep squirting until clear.

where can i buy one from?

so your saying spray it into the nozzle itself?

am i able to upload a video directly to the forum like i would a photo or do i need to youtube it?

Youtube it.

You can spray directly into the nozzle.

You can also pull off the tubing and spray down the pipe and also into where the pipe connects to the spray unit which should cause the nozzles to pop up as if in normal use.

was about to say do you mean pull the pipe from the nozzle

where can i purchase one of the cans from without having to order online and wait for delivery?

PC world or any computer shop should stock it.

If you can find the Fellowes brand of air duster spray I find the spray pressure is higher than other types.

this it?

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/office-supplies/office-supplies/pc-care-cleaning/fellowes-hfc-free-air-duster-10810373-pdt.html#srcid=11026

That's the stuff.

Reserved some for collection in store tomorrow

If it doesnt work what is the next plan of attack?

Take the hose off and see how it flows without back pressure from the nozzle.

TBH I reckon the nozzle is clogged up or defective.