Windscreen Washers not working (maybe really frozen??)

[Lemoney93]

Hey everyone,

This is the first toyota I've had. Got a ex demo Aygo X 22 plate back in October. It's been perfect so far. 

Two nights ago, the temp where I am got to -2 for the first time. I was out driving yesterday and noticed my windscreen wash wasn't coming out. I assumed the garage probably hadn't used any winter concentrate as it wasn't needed when I got the car. I hadn't used all their stuff up yet as I hadn't needed too so the tank was maybe still halfway full. 

I bought some -20 stuff from the shops I was at in hopes I could wash my screen on the way home but to no avail. Still not working. 

This morning, it's about 3 degrees and I needed to use my car but they still weren't working. The engine had been on for a 15 minute drive so surely that should have heat them up enough to start working again? 

 

Does anyone have any advice? I'm absolutely mobbed at work this week before I go on holiday for a big birthday so I don't even think I have time to take it to the garage. I'm just hoping that someone has some advice that I've maybe not thought of yet. Or knows if this is a common thing with the aygo/aygo x models. 

Any advice will be greatly appreciated though! 

[aygowhereugo]

Has the washer fluid ever come out before? Do you suspect a crack in the system that is allowing liquid to leak out?

Unfortunately the Aygo X doesn't come with washer fluid level indicator.
People make their own washer fluids, but I prefer Prestone one which can be diluted differently based on the weather.
You can fill up the entire washer fluid tank with the newer washer fluid designed for cold weather and see if that works.

 

[Lemoney93]

1 minute ago, aygowhereugo said:

Has the washer fluid ever come out before? Do you suspect a crack in the system that is allowing liquid to leak out?

Unfortunately the Aygo X doesn't come with washer fluid level indicator.
People make their own washer fluids, but I prefer Prestone one which can be diluted differently based on the weather.
You can fill up the entire washer fluid tank with the newer washer fluid designed for cold weather and see if that works.

 

Hey, thanks for the response! Yeah, it used to work and has done until yesterday. There was definitely still fluid left in it and I can see the solution I used yesterday is liquid at the top of the washerfluid tank but it just won't come out. My husband said he thought he could hear the motor trying to get the fluid out but wasn't 100% sure it was that and not the windscreen wipers motor. 
It's driving me insane, as I've never had this issue before with a car. 

My only thought it siphoning out the stuff I put in yesterday and getting my hands on some heavy duty winter concentrate, hoping that will melt whatever is in there. 

[Roy124]

Boil a kettle, pour it over the jets which get least engine warmth.   Check the clear tubing.   Pour hot water over the bottle 

[DerekHa]

Hi Emily,

Agree with the previous posters on this!

One other problem you may have is a blown fuse, from trying to run the washers repeatedly when they're frozen! Check your owners hand book which should tell you where the fuse is located and it's fuse number/rating.

I noticed that Sainsbury's are selling Daytona -20 concentrate screenwash in the last few weeks. Last year for the  first  time I bought some -10 screenwash from Halfords, it was the best I could get locally and it kept my washers free of ice. Think I'm going to opt for the minus -20 stuff this time round myself.

[Lemoney93]

3 minutes ago, DerekHa said:

Hi Emily,

Agree with the previous posters on this!

One other problem you may have is a blown fuse, from trying to run the washers repeatedly when they're frozen! Check your owners hand book which should tell you where the fuse is located and it's fuse number/rating.

I noticed that Sainsbury's are selling Daytona -20 concentrate screenwash in the last few weeks. Last year for the  first  time I bought some -10 screenwash from Halfords, it was the best I could get locally and it kept my washers free of ice. Think I'm going to opt for the minus -20 stuff this time round myself.

Thanks Derek. 

I've got my manual out as I was suspecting I could have damaged the fuse. Might be a daft question but there are a couple that sound maybe correct to me. "washer - wiper module" and "washer system, ignition system" 
Do you reckon I should just check both of them? 

 

[Wiz201]

yeah I had a Jazz where the screen squirters got frozen, but they defrosted on their own. You could try sticking a small pin down the holes?

[Lemoney93]

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for all your help!! 

Turns out, the fuse had blown with all my failed attempts. Lesson learnt! 

I really appreciate all your responses! It's helped so much 🙂

[Roy124]

Emily, as for checking both fuses, if there is more than one always worth checking after all it will save time I'm the long run.

[DJ123]

7 hours ago, Lemoney93 said:

Hey everyone,

This is the first toyota I've had. Got a ex demo Aygo X 22 plate back in October. It's been perfect so far. 

Two nights ago, the temp where I am got to -2 for the first time. I was out driving yesterday and noticed my windscreen wash wasn't coming out. I assumed the garage probably hadn't used any winter concentrate as it wasn't needed when I got the car. I hadn't used all their stuff up yet as I hadn't needed too so the tank was maybe still halfway full. 

I bought some -20 stuff from the shops I was at in hopes I could wash my screen on the way home but to no avail. Still not working. 

This morning, it's about 3 degrees and I needed to use my car but they still weren't working. The engine had been on for a 15 minute drive so surely that should have heat them up enough to start working again? 

 

Does anyone have any advice? I'm absolutely mobbed at work this week before I go on holiday for a big birthday so I don't even think I have time to take it to the garage. I'm just hoping that someone has some advice that I've maybe not thought of yet. Or knows if this is a common thing with the aygo/aygo x models. 

Any advice will be greatly appreciated though! 

Don't forget that it's only a narrow pipe that leads from the fluid tank up to the washer jets - so it'll easily freeze due to the volume of fluid being so low. With the Aygo engine being so small also does not generate a lot of heat to fill the space under the bonnet either, helping to defrost the pipes quickly.

You could potentially add some insulation (if you really wanted) to reduce the chances of it freezing again in the pipes.