Weak front washer pump?

[JohnGW]

The power, or lack of from my front screen window washer is causing me concern. Is the pump on the bottom of the washer bottle or located somewhere else?

[flash22]

it's a partly blocked or dying one way valve, jets can also clog internally, it doesn't hurt to flush the system through as in can gunge up using different screen washes

pop a pipe off and see how far it squirts

[Tintaglia]

I'd be interested to know what anyone else's screenwashers are like.  Mine only ever reached to the lower part of the screen.   It can take some time and persistence to clean the top of the screen.   About two years ago when the pump died I changed it for an aftermarket one and checked the NRV at the same time but it's just the same.  With the pipe pulled off the jet there is a low pressure flow, it has plenty of volume but not much pressure. 

Here are pics with the pipe connected and without.

   

[flash22]

Replace the check valve 85321-26020 £3.20 plus post <<<<< for the Yaris

i will have to look up the estima one

[Tintaglia]

1 hour ago, JohnGW said:

The power, or lack of from my front screen window washer is causing me concern. Is the pump on the bottom of the washer bottle or located somewhere else?

It's inside the front wing.  You need to take the under-wing plastic panel off or at least undo and peel back the front end.  But best to check the NRV, jet and pipework as Flash says.  I'm wondering about the pipe on mine, having just taken it off my hand is black from degrading rubber (similar to the black you get from the rubber seal on old double glazed units.)  I'm coming up for MOT so I will fix it and report back.

[flash22]

Estima 06 onwards uses the common toyota valve 85321-28020 (same as the Auris iirc)

[Tintaglia]

I went out and took off the NRV (non-return-valve)  You could blow through it (in the correct direction) but it was clearly slightly restricted.  I found I had one in my little tin of screen washer bits from my mechanic days.  That immediately cured it and it was squirting across the lane!  A quick adjust back on to the screen and job done I thought.  A quick test later and it was right back to where it was!  I thought perhaps shutting the bonnet was kinking a pipe so I pulled the pipes to a slightly better position in their clips and it's working fine again. 

I'm really not sure exactly what the problem is but I'm going to check it again later. 

[flash22]

The valve has a flap in it these get gunged up restrict flow and cause the pipe work to drop fluid back to the tank rather than holding it in the pipe

[JohnGW]

Thanks for the replies all, I will investigate and it sounds like the NRV and gunk, probably a degrading hose as decribed. one for next week!

Thanks again.

[Tintaglia]

I did get back to it and the fault was the NRV.  Interestingly I couldn't get one at a local spares place and the annual test was due, so I replaced the NRV with a straight through connector I had and it is working perfectly even after being left for a couple of days. 

If anyone else wonders what a good screenwasher system of this type should look like, I can say that it now comes out with great pressure and hits the halfway point up the screen distributing plenty of water.  It really does its job perfectly now.  If yours is anything less, the NRV is a good place to start as advised by Flash22 above.

Apologies for posting on the wrong board (my car being a Yaris!) I came here via the 'Topics' link and didn't notice that it was the Estima board.  Similar screenwashers on both cars by the look of it though. 🙂   

[flash22]

No issue, other Toyota use a traditional 2 jet design, so the valve is a bit more important, but i suggest you replace it asap as it does serve a purpose and may lead to other issues