Volvo S80 can we disable the light spray jets?

[IAmTheWalrus]

As above, jut don't want to A waste water and B have more streaks of washer up the car bonnet which is totally unnecessary. Thanks in advance.

[Rockatansky]

1) identify the fuse for the headlight washers

2) remove the fuse

[sherman]

Clamp the hose?

[Davie]

Yup, I'd agree... they are rather crap.

My V50 has similar and it sprays the lights when you wash the windsceen, but just as the windscreen wipers finish their cycle... the headlight washers spray one final "Ha ha, f**k you!" time and give the windscreen a nice light dusting in the process. Which you then have to flick the wipers on to clear again. Plus, I'm really not convinced by the effectiveness of said headlight washers.

So yes, clamp / disconnect the hoses, cut the wires or pull the entire units out and refit the blanks - but just watch yourself come MOT time.

[IAmTheWalrus]

Yes well I also found it annoying they spray after the wipers finished, upon some careful observation I noticed they don't spray at standstill and I believe they don't spray if you just flick the wiper rather than keep it spraying a lot. Here is another question, does your wiper fluid spray the whole screen or just the bottom half of it? These are the smallest jet sprays I've ever seen so just wondering if there is anything wrong with it. Thanks again for your help.

[sherman]

If it has actual nozzles you can take a pin and insert it into the nozzle jet and change the jet angle. They usually are quite stiff though. It may takecseveeal attempts to get the best coverage as a tiny movement can sim over the screen for instance.

[IAmTheWalrus]

sherman said:

If it has actual nozzles you can take a pin and insert it into the nozzle jet and change the jet angle. They usually are quite stiff though. It may takecseveeal attempts to get the best coverage as a tiny movement can sim over the screen for instance.

Thanks I'll try this.

[adsk]

If you have Xenon headlights, non-functional headlamp washers will be a MOT failure.

[Davie]

IAmTheWalrus said:

Here is another question, does your wiper fluid spray the whole screen or just the bottom half of it? These are the smallest jet sprays I've ever seen so just wondering if there is anything wrong with it. Thanks again for your help.

The V50 has a more of a mist of washer fluid whereas the V70 has two jets per nozzle... and the latter aren't as effective for clearing the screen. The V50 generally will mist, then wipe and that's pretty much it clear but the V70 sprays then needs a few wipes to move the washer fluid around the screen and thus clean it. I haven't actually investigated putting V50 washer jets on the V70... but I will. If the jets are poor as far as pressure, could be down to the lines / filter being partially clogged or the pump is weak or indeed, if the pressure is fine they may need adjusted up slightly.

[IAmTheWalrus]

adsk said:

If you have Xenon headlights, non-functional headlamp washers will be a MOT failure.

Why is that then? Not sure how to tell TBH. I seldom have to deal with lightbulbs.

[adsk]

From MOT testing manual

4.1.6 Headlamp cleaning devices

You must inspect vehicles first used on or after 1 September 2009 equipped with headlamp washers.
...
Headlamp cleaning device:
inoperative - Minor
inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID) - Major

[IAmTheWalrus]

adsk said:

From MOT testing manual

4.1.6 Headlamp cleaning devices

You must inspect vehicles first used on or after 1 September 2009 equipped with headlamp washers.
...
Headlamp cleaning device:
inoperative - Minor
inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID) - Major

But I thought xenon ones were brighter? Why do they need washing then? WTF is a gas discharge system?

[mickyh7]

I use Carista on my car.
I turn the Headlamp Washers off.
I turn them on again for an MOT.
I think they give a free months trail, then about £40 a year.
Worth it just to turn the Service message off after I've serviced it !
Google is your friend.

[IAmTheWalrus]

mickyh7 said:

I use Carista on my car.
I think they give a free months trail, then about £40 a year.
Google is your friend.

Hacking is your friend...

Well I don't yet know what the lights are, but I generally don't get my hands dirty doing oil changes, although to be fair, having run a dodgy BMW 320 sport for 6 years I've got them dirty plenty of times.