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Washer pump - does it need to be primed?

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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 10:14 AM
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Default Washer pump - does it need to be primed?

I'm not getting any fluid spraying from the washers when I press the button.
Is it possible the pump needs to be primed?
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 10:17 AM
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NO, not normally the tub does that when full of water, or full enough, anyway....
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 10:46 AM
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The tub is full, but it appears like the pump isn't sucking it up.
Car has been sitting for awhile.

If it doesn't need to be primed, any advice on testing the pump to see if it's working and/or seeing if the signal is coming from the button?
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 11:45 AM
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What year of car? If your pump is mounted on the w/s wiper motor you should be able to hear it operating.
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 11:55 AM
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I got mine to work, but it was pretty weak. The rebuild kit from zip didn't help. Does the fluid tend to leak around the piston? I would advise the OP check for leaks (have another person press the button); I would see fluid leak and then I'd swap out hoses. I would raise the intake hose and use a bottle and use gravity to force feed the pump. These techniques got me to where I am right now with my crazy '69 solenoid set up.
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by moonsteel
I'm not getting any fluid spraying from the washers when I press the button.
Is it possible the pump needs to be primed?

I think the car is a 74 and the pump would be mounted on the motor. So if this is the case then Yes, I've had to prime them before.

Remove the middle hose off the pump and with a different hose installed, blow some water in the pump. Swap the hose back and you should be good to go as long as you can hear the pump working. You may have an air lock in there and this is a simple way to fix it.

If you can hear the pump working and you prime it with no success then you may have a bad diaphram in the pump. They do get old and crack.



Willcox
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 12:27 PM
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One other issue I have had is old hoses tend to draw air where they are connected. The siphon hose in the washer fluid tank is the one that got me. Replaced the hose and it was good to go. Something easy and fast to check with no outlay of funds.
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 02:18 PM
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Originally Posted by mike ward
what year of car? If your pump is mounted on the w/s wiper motor you should be able to hear it operating.
1974
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
I think the car is a 74 and the pump would be mounted on the motor. So if this is the case then Yes, I've had to prime them before.

Remove the middle hose off the pump and with a different hose installed, blow some water in the pump. Swap the hose back and you should be good to go as long as you can hear the pump working. You may have an air lock in there and this is a simple way to fix it.

If you can hear the pump working and you prime it with no success then you may have a bad diaphram in the pump. They do get old and crack.



Willcox
How noisy is it?

Thanks, I will try and prime it.
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 03:19 PM
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Listen for a change in the sound when you hit the washer button. Engine doesn't need to be running, wet the windshield so that the noise of the wipers doesn't interfere.
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by moonsteel
How noisy is it?

Thanks, I will try and prime it.
It makes a pretty good snap when you push the button to wash.
You should be able to feel some suction on the intake side.
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 05:42 PM
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I got a bad relay in my original, replaced it with another one and it worked right away without any priming.
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Old Sep 23, 2009 | 10:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
I think the car is a 74 and the pump would be mounted on the motor. So if this is the case then Yes, I've had to prime them before.

Remove the middle hose off the pump and with a different hose installed, blow some water in the pump. Swap the hose back and you should be good to go as long as you can hear the pump working. You may have an air lock in there and this is a simple way to fix it.

If you can hear the pump working and you prime it with no success then you may have a bad diaphram in the pump. They do get old and crack.



Willcox
Do you have this diaphragm for a '69?
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Old Sep 23, 2009 | 03:56 PM
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The diaphram is not available for the 1969 pump.

Willcox
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Old Sep 24, 2009 | 01:20 PM
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Can you sell me anything that would help? Is the diaphragm for another year pretty close? Can I pay you to make something? I fixed the every other part of this system. I had it spraying my headlights, but it just needs more force. It is very weak on my windshield when it actually makes it up there...
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Old Sep 24, 2009 | 08:55 PM
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I can take an old one apart at the office in the coming week and see if I can find something to work with it. Could be another Willcox Experiment!

Willcox
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Old Sep 25, 2009 | 12:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
I can take an old one apart at the office in the coming week and see if I can find something to work with it. Could be another Willcox Experiment!

Willcox
Should this diaphragm be between the piston and the valves? If we can get some juice behind my pump, that would be pretty sweet. Keep me informed and I'll buy what I need from you.
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To Washer pump - does it need to be primed?

Old Sep 27, 2009 | 09:49 PM
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Originally Posted by moonsteel
I'm not getting any fluid spraying from the washers when I press the button.
Is it possible the pump needs to be primed?
Finally found some time to try it out.
Put some water into the feed hose, nothing happened.
I took the top off the pump and the piston inside seems to just pulse a little while the wipers are working.
There seems to be no reaction to the washer button being pushed.

As a side note, my wipers only go one speed.

Can I apply 12v directly to the pump to see if it's working?
Is there a way I can find out if it's the switch or the wiring?
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Old Sep 27, 2009 | 10:38 PM
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Default washer pump

I totally rebuilt my pump. If your pump is like mine there is a doubled edged piston seal that resembles a O ring and 3 check valves most likely they are worn out. The check valve assm. is easy to get but the seal isn't. I wanted to keep my pump original so I made many phone calls and finally located a manufacture that was nice enough to send me a couple of seals. The pump works like new now. By the way there is no diaphragm in the pump. If the pump is working properly it doe's not require priming.

Last edited by barbs '69 resto; Sep 27, 2009 at 10:40 PM.
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Old Sep 28, 2009 | 12:20 AM
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Did you follow this thread?

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...1972-help.html

I don't know if the '74 is the same but this thread might help.
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