Why is the car windshield washer fluid not spraying?
2 Answers
There may be several reasons why the car windshield washer fluid is not spraying: 1. The washer fluid level is too low. Even if there is still water in the reservoir, it may not reach the standard height, preventing it from spraying. Simply refill the washer fluid. 2. If the washer fluid is full but still not spraying, the nozzle might be clogged with dust. Use a fine needle to gently poke the nozzle to clear the blockage. 3. Considering it's winter, the reservoir or pipes might be frozen. After warming up the car, try parking it in the sun to thaw. If it starts spraying, it means you need to switch to a higher-grade antifreeze washer fluid. 4. If there is no sound from the motor when trying to spray the washer fluid and the windshield wipers also don't work, it could be due to a blown fuse or a damaged motor. 5. If none of the above reasons apply and the washer fluid still won't spray, the issue might be due to clogged pipes caused by impurities.
I've been driving for decades, and it's quite common for the windshield washer fluid not to spray. There are usually just a few possible issues: the reservoir is empty, or the nozzles are clogged with dust. A faulty pump is also a common culprit—listen for a humming sound when you flip the switch; if there's no noise, the pump might be broken. Winter is when problems arise most often—regular water freezes and won't spray, so you need to use antifreeze washer fluid. Don't overlook wiring and fuses either—check the fuse box to see if the corresponding fuse is blown. I recommend troubleshooting first: try refilling the reservoir or cleaning the nozzles with a fine needle. If that doesn't work, get it fixed at a shop sooner rather than later. Driving in the rain with poor visibility is highly dangerous, so regular maintenance of the nozzles and reservoir can prevent a lot of trouble.
