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The 23 year old Chevy Blazer's windshield washer has been acting up. I've been trying to jury-rig it, with hose patches and such. The water tank seemed to have a leak somewhere, that I couldn't find. And the spray nozzles were just dribbling and barely making it to the windshield.
A typical morning would find the window covered in pollen, dust and tree sap. And when I try and wash it off with the wipers, the water tank is empty from the leak, and I just smear all the goo around. Then I have to stop at a gas station to clean the window. So, I bit the bullet and fixed it.
First step, order the parts.
Plastic hoses get brittle after decades in the Texas sun and develops cracks. This hose runs from the water tank pump to the two spray nozzles on the hood.
Two spray nozzles on the hood. I didn't like the price on the squirt nozzles, but it's what everyone was asking. I tried cleaning mine out by plucking a single strand from a wire bristle brush, and using that to poke inside the hole to clean it out. But it didn't help. So I spent the money on two new ones.
A week later, all the parts had arrived, and I'm ready to do the job. Plastic water hose and spray nozzles. With some silicone sealant to make sure old rubber seals are waterproof. The rubber grommet was for the air intake, unrelated to this fix.
In order to access the bottom of the water reservoir (2), you have to remove the air intake and filter box (1). Fairly easy. Four screws on the box, and one on the hose clamp.
The top of the air intake filter box, & filter, is off. Now to remove the bottom. Pops off of two rubber grommets in front, and two screws in back. Tilt it sideways to clear the radiator hose for removal.
Air intake, top & bottom, and filter, are out and set aside. The magnetic parts holder dish is handy, to help keep nuts and bolts from running away and hiding, which they like to do.
My elusive quarry is in sight - the water tank. Unplug the two hoses and two electrical connectors. Just that one hex screw on top holds it in place. The bottom has a nub that just sits snug in a hole at the bottom.
Top pump for the rear window, bottom pump for the front window. Different color connectors, so I labeled the tank to make sure I reconnect them correctly later.
New squirt nozzles - $16 each. Ouch.
Installing the new spray nozzles in the holes on top of the hood. I finally figured out that you tilt the front down and insert it first, and then snap down the back.
Turns out, the leak was not in the water tank. It was where a water pump inserts into the water tank. That seals with a rubber grommet, and gets old, cracks, shrinks, etc. Cleaned up all the joints and re-seated the two pumps with silicone sealant. New hoses routed and reattached to pumps and nozzles. Tank reinstalled, ready for electrical connectors.
Reinstall the air intake box.
Everything reassembled. Tank filled with water - no leaks. Phew! The final test - click the window washer tab and see what happens. It works! It scared me for a second before I realized it had to pump the water up from the tank through the new hose - there was no water already primed in the system. Ta da!
I have window washers again! Good to go for another 20 years. I get the satisfaction of doing a job right, by myself, and saving money. No more gooey morning window.
Last edited by JohnRich3; Dec 11, 2024 at 06:52 PM.
The water tank seemed to have a leak somewhere, that I couldn't find.
Check the connection at the rear of the vehicle where the hose enters the tailgate
towards the rear wiper. This is where mine had a leak, and of course it's hard to find because it cannot be seen.
With the tailgate open, the bottom trim panel covering the bed carpet needs to be removed. You will see an electrical connector and a washer line connector. The washer line may have come undone.
Windshield Wiper System
