Odd Windshield Washer Operation

Earlier, I commented on how the driver's side (left side) wasn't spraying the fluid high enough. A good chunk of it sprays onto the wiper arm. I had it adjusted late last summer but it didn't seem to do much.

A few here have also noted on the low spray angle.


So today, I was very surprised when my fluid spray started spraying even lower.... and lower... and by the end of the day, both sprays were not even making it over the wipers.

I thought to myself, "oh no, now what? Thankfully I have the service tomorrow. I'll bring it up. But for now, I have to be really careful in not getting road spray". Luckily, a part of my brain said, "maybe you should check under the hood."


So I did. I checked to see that the nozzles weren't blocked or the fluid tubes weren't leaking fluid. Lastly, I checked the washer bottle. The dipstick was dry until the bulb (i.e. the tip). My washer bottle was completely empty!!

I've never emptied a bottle of washer fluid before (I don't normally live in an area that gets a lot of road crud thrown up) so this surprised me. I also go to work and return home outside of rush hour so I don't have a lot of traffic on my commute to dirty the windshield.

No matter. I asked my friend if he had some spare washer fluid so i can have some for the drive out tonight before I take it in to service tomorrow. He brought out a gatorade bottle's worth of washer fluid and so I poured it in.


Now I had my moonroof open because it's such a beautiful warm day (i.e. it was above freezing). The first spray with the new liquid caught me by surprise. It shot UP TO THE MIDDLE of the windshield and I actually got a little wet from some of it making it over the wind deflector and into the open roof. .


How did it go from barely shooting over the wiper to shooting up the middle of the windshield (like it's supposed to)?? I tried a few more sprays (After closing the moonroof, of course) and it continued to spray up the middle.


I have no idea where it found the extra pressure from just a small bottle of fluid.

Anybody have any thoughts??

 

LOL. I did carry one on my trip across the country. Otherwise, I usually can get by between services on on tank of fluid.

Except that it was that way when the car was new... so unless you're telling me that they didn't fil up the bottle (still doesn't make sense unless that one gatorade bottle filled up a good chunk of the washer fluid tank)

LOL. It was red.. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..

Well, we'll see how long this "fix" lasts.

Nope. I have the standard halogens.