Windshield Washer Leak
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 388
Likes: 5
From: New Bern North Carolina
Windshield Washer Leak
I have a problem with water coming out of the windshield washer hose on the wipers when I drive the car at high speed but no problem when driving slow. What can I do......Thanks!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 311
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
Gotta live with it. 
At high speed, the wind passing over the wipers creates just enough suction to pull the fluid out of the lines. Mine used to happen at about 80.
One way around it would be to purge the lines. Which means driving with no fluid in the tank. Not something I'd do, but to each his own.
Another way (which I discovered by accident) is to buy a hood (any hood with a 1.5 inch rise or more) with a broad blister that extends above both wiper fluid outlets. This raises the wind over the wipers, eliminating the issue. I have an RK Ram Air hood which ended that problem.
At high speed, the wind passing over the wipers creates just enough suction to pull the fluid out of the lines. Mine used to happen at about 80.One way around it would be to purge the lines. Which means driving with no fluid in the tank. Not something I'd do, but to each his own.
Another way (which I discovered by accident) is to buy a hood (any hood with a 1.5 inch rise or more) with a broad blister that extends above both wiper fluid outlets. This raises the wind over the wipers, eliminating the issue. I have an RK Ram Air hood which ended that problem.
Last edited by jhiiidoc; May 2, 2010 at 09:58 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,141
Likes: 4,156
From: Kannapolis NC
Do a search. A while back, someone posted about a check valve (I believe a Ford part) that you could put in the line from the washer tank to stop the fluid at speed, but allow washer to work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 4,826
From: BEST Corn-Nation
2015 C5 of the Year Winner
Couldn't you just open the little hole on top of the fill cap a bit more? Wouldn't that give it less pressure in the tank to begin with so it wouldn't force it to the wipers?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 311
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
Tank pressure isn't the problem. I'd summize that if you open the hole more, it would increase the likelihood of leaking by allowing more air pressure on the tank side as more negative pressure is created above the wipers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I just don't fill the tank all the way, keep it low enough to stop leaking but high enough that the low warning light doesn't come on. I can accelerate hard enough to force water out the nozzles. I avoid rain so it's not a problem. As also mentioned, there is a Ford check valve that will stop this problem for the bad weather drivers.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,386
Likes: 689
From: Boise ID
I just don't fill the tank all the way, keep it low enough to stop leaking but high enough that the low warning light doesn't come on. I can accelerate hard enough to force water out the nozzles. I avoid rain so it's not a problem. As also mentioned, there is a Ford check valve that will stop this problem for the bad weather drivers.
From the service manual:
Document ID# 1297626
Chevrolet/Geo Corvette
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windshield Washer Nozzle Leaks on Windshield - appearance bleed check clearance damage fluid leak valve wet water window #PI00990 - (Apr 14, 2003)
Windshield Washer Nozzle Leaks On Windshield - appearance bleed check clearance damage fluid leak wet water valve window
.
When servicing the vehicle with the VIN you entered, the following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the described symptoms.
Condition/Concern:
Windshield washer fluid drips onto windshield when accelerating or at highway speeds.
Recommendation/Instructions:
Install check valve PN 22102237 in the washer fluid hose before the tee to both nozzles with the arrow on the valve pointing in the direction of fluid flow. Verify operation of pump.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Texas, originally from San Angelo, TX
What an extremely annoying problem! Here lately the washer fluid will not stop leaking out of the wiper nozzles even after the car is parked in the garage. My entire washer fluid reservoir emptied out today...lol. I wonder if Gene can get me one of the check valves (I also ordered a new washer fluid pump)?
