Front wipers don't spray while rear works fine

[Moodiemoods]

Hello!

 

I have a strange issue- my front windshield wiper pump isn't functioning, while the rear works fine. Both pull from the same fluid reservoir so I know there's enough fluid. What I can't see is if where the hoses mount to check and see if they're attached/leaking.

 

After the pump runs, there's washer fluid coming out of the sealed hood, dripping onto the engine.

 

Is there a site where I can see a schematic or something like that to do a little troubleshooting prior to scheduling maintenance?

 

Thanks in advance,

Matthew

Edited December 11, 2015 by Moodiemoods

[evh]

Matthew,

 

Lift your hood and have someone do the front washers. I had to replace the plastic inserts mounted in the hood on my 2009 (one broke somehow - actually rotted and became brittle and broke). Now, having typed this, I see you have a 2013. I am not sure if you have the same setup as mine.

[Moodiemoods]

Hi evh- thanks for your reply. I do have the little plastic lock things. Any tricks on removing them w/o breaking them?

[evh]

No need to remove them, unless you are sure they are leaking. The way that mine installed is they are a single plastic piece that push through the top of the hood. Plastic feet spread out underneath to hold it in place. You can take pliers and squeeze the feet back together and push it back through the top of the hood to remove them. You may have to remove a piece of hood insulation that is on the underside of the hood to get to them. It is usually held in place by plastic clips. Note, you may break some clips but your local auto store will have them as well as the dealer.

[Brucifer]

No need to remove them, unless you are sure they are leaking. The way that mine installed is they are a single plastic piece that push through the top of the hood. Plastic feet spread out underneath to hold it in place. You can take pliers and squeeze the feet back together and push it back through the top of the hood to remove them. You may have to remove a piece of hood insulation that is on the underside of the hood to get to them. It is usually held in place by plastic clips. Note, you may break some clips but your local auto store will have them as well as the dealer.

 

For roughly $10 you can have brand new ones that will probably outlast your ownership of the car. Then again, I had an '07 and they just crumbled when I tried to remove them.

 

What so you mean 'sealed hood'? Isn't it just a piece of hard felt held in with large plastic rivets? Place a flathead screwdriver under the flat section as close to center and pull out. They should come out fairly easy. Once they are all out, remove the felt(?) piece. You might see where a section of your tubing has come apart. If I remember right, there is hard plastic tubing as well as the connectors. If everything is crumbling in your hands, make sure to clear anything inside the tube before re-assembly. Being my car had been in the South all it's life, the nozzles disintegrated, but the tubing was fine.

 

Of course, mine is a lot older than yours......

[Moodiemoods]

Thanks to both of you for your advice! I'll get to work in the morning. Have a great night!

[Liptoss]

My 08 Focus had the same issue. My guess is the black plastic nozzles that fit through the hood holes dried up over time due to the rising engine heat. This rendering the plastic dry and brittle. A bit of resistance in the spray nozzle on the top of the hood like frozen ice or snow, and this popped the plastic where the rubber line connects to it. Happened to me in the winter as luck would have it. Easily replaced with OEMs from dealership for about $15 tax in. Pricey I think for plastic, but it is what it is when you've had enough dried salt on your windshield.

[Moodiemoods]

My 08 Focus had the same issue. My guess is the black plastic nozzles that fit through the hood holes dried up over time due to the rising engine heat. This rendering the plastic dry and brittle. A bit of resistance in the spray nozzle on the top of the hood like frozen ice or snow, and this popped the plastic where the rubber line connects to it. Happened to me in the winter as luck would have it. Easily replaced with OEMs from dealership for about $15 tax in. Pricey I think for plastic, but it is what it is when you've had enough dried salt on your windshield.

[Moodiemoods]

Thanks liptoss! Mine had the exact same issue- just a quick reattachment of the supply line. I agree about the price but it's way better than paying someone else to do it!