Help please Mazda headlight washers stuck.

[wildcat45]

Hi I have a Mazda CX 7 just out of warranty. The headlight washer jets have stopped working. They are the type that pop out of the bumper with i guess water pressure.

They froze and would not retract properly. After a while they went back in. Now they wont open at all.

I pulled one out manually and no water comes out.

I dont think its frozen as the screen jets which come from the same tank are OK.

Any suggestions of how to sort it appreciated.

Thanks.

[wildcat45]

Anyone?

[thinfourth2]

Probably ice still somewhere

[wildcat45]

I thought that but it was 7c today and still now.

[hornetrider]

Under warranty?

[Fun Bus]

Could part of the piping that feeds the washers have come away somewhere between reservoir and washers? Could be difficult to trace however with engine bays as cramped as they are.

[Puddenchucker]

Is the pump for the headlight washers working - have you checked the fuse?

Is there adequate screenwash in the tank? On my Nissan the headlight washers stop working if the level in the tanks drops below a certain point, to conserve fluid.

[wildcat45]

Cheers guys. I will check those things. Water level should be ok. Very cramped engine bay infact it appears that even changing a bulb reqires the bumper coming off. The car is 10 days out of warranty.

[Big HS]

Same thing has happened to my CX-7. The headlamp washers 'self-extended' on a daily basis in December due to the cold overnight temperatures. I helped them down with some hot water so I didn't run the risk of losing the colour coded covers when driving.

Now they don't extend at all. The fuse is OK (apart from now I have broken the flimsy catch on the fusebox cover in the engine compartment... d'oh!) and there is plenty of water in the tank.

Spookily, mine is 3 days out of warranty... booked it in at dealers to see if they can find out what is wrong. I'll let you know what happens...

[Parrot of Doom]

You know when a pipe freezes and it's only when it thaws you realise you have a leak?

Well perhaps the pipes to the jets froze, the ice expanded, and pushed the pipes off the jet. So now perhaps you're pumping water somewhere down into your bumper, instead of through the jet?

[*Al*]

I'd imagine would still get it done via warranty, at the least a high percentage goodwill gesture? Have you asked them?

[mr2aw11]

Mine malfunctioned (wouldn't rise/spray on the double-flick etc) a few months ago (3 MPS), but well within the warranty. Dealer changed the fuse, which had popped, and the replacement popped immediately. They took the bumper off and apparently it was a build up of crud (for want of a better word) which they cleaned off. Dodgy weather, foul roads etc. Worked fine since. Hardly a big job, so if the car's only just out of warranty, a little good will from the dealer? Can't hurt to ask.

[00161wj]

*Al* said:

I'd imagine would still get it done via warranty, at the least a high percentage goodwill gesture? Have you asked them?

I wouldnt have thought it would have been covered, even if the car was still under warranty. How is a washer system that has malfunctioned due to being frozen a manufacturers defect?

[Big HS]

Hi again, sorted mine out. Feel a bit daft but not all my fault. It was the fuse that needed replacing so it only cost me 25p to fix! The handbook doesn't make it clear which one to check - it indicates to look in the engine compartment at fuse 24 but that is for left hookers only. The one for right hand drive cars is fuse 5 on the drivers fusebox below the steering wheel.

[Parrot of Doom]

00161wj said:

*Al* said:

I'd imagine would still get it done via warranty, at the least a high percentage goodwill gesture? Have you asked them?

I wouldnt have thought it would have been covered, even if the car was still under warranty. How is a washer system that has malfunctioned due to being frozen a manufacturers defect?

So presumably if the engine's manufacturer-filled coolant froze, that wouldn't be a defect either?

[Superhoop]

Parrot of Doom said:

00161wj said:

*Al* said:

I'd imagine would still get it done via warranty, at the least a high percentage goodwill gesture? Have you asked them?

I wouldnt have thought it would have been covered, even if the car was still under warranty. How is a washer system that has malfunctioned due to being frozen a manufacturers defect?

So presumably if the engine's manufacturer-filled coolant froze, that wouldn't be a defect either?

The cooling system is filled at the factory, and is a sealed sytem that shouldn't require replenishing unless there is a leak somewhere....

The washers on the other hand, spray water contained in a tank out everytime they're used - Meaning they have to be topped up - Is it the manufacturers fault that it was too cold for the screen wash concentration it was refilled by the owner with, and it froze causing damage?

I suppose by your reckoning it would also be the manufactuers fault if a tank of poor qualityy fuel was put in leading to damage?