Just an abservation: You would think that a manufacturer who builds cars up in the northern climes would take into consideration that it gets COLD ENOUGH during the winter to freeze the windshield washers. Why then for goodness' sake is the washer pump right in the FRONT of the car so that ANY possible heat from the engine can't hope to reach it when you're driving? Is there an aftermarket heater for the squirters?

Brad

This post reminds me--

I may not be the only one at risk of pulling this stunt:

When I moved to the frozen north, I narrowly escaped destroying my windshield wipers in the first ice/snow storm.

If you're in freezing rain or snow that's going to refreeze on your wipers, be SURE you never leave them on when you turn off the ignition.

If you do that, the next time you start the car, they will want to cycle once into their "park" position. But if they're frozen to the windshield, they can't. In trying, they will break themselves or the linkage or burn out the motor.

Good luck.

Doug Harvey

This month, you could be talking about South Carolina.

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Art Benstein near Baltimore

One thing to look at is the check valve. When it starts to fail, it allows the washer fluid to slowly drain back to the reservoir. If you happen to have thawing snow or ice on the hood, the back-draining fluid can suck ordinary water back through the nozzle. Then, when the temperature drops, it's solid as a rock.

You'll never recognize the problem 'til you have the specific conditions -- freezing weather and a pool of melt water on the hood at the nozzle.

Pour boiling water over the nozzle and see if it restores the squirt.
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Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Mine froze up last week. My guess as to why, is the fluid was the same as was in the car when I bought it two years ago; all the alcohol was evaporated. Suppose I could replace it, but Spring is on the way soon!

Sorry, the reason I replied was your question about aftermarket warmer. I'd seen such an animal and mostly recalled it was way more expensive than I believed possible. Was on the front of JC Whitney's page: hot windshield washer

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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Art, I have something which I would like to send you in the mail. All I need is your mailing address. Why don't you send it to my e-mail address instead of posting it.

how did you go 2 years without cycling the washer fluid? i have to fill up mine every two weeks from all the usage during the winter. :)
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Kenric Tam
1990 Volvo 740 base sedan (B230F)
My Volvo 'Project'

Well, I promised myself it would stay home from before the first snow until the the last of the salt was washed away in April, May, June, whenever that is. But due to a collision, the family fleet is down one volvo so I am using it. We really didn't have a winter last year, but this one is making up for it. Heck, the stuff in there is blue, and I don't buy blue stuff.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

haha well that explains it then. i was wondering how you got through a real winter without using your wipers once. was hoping you had some sort of secret ;)
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Kenric Tam
1990 Volvo 740 base sedan (B230F)
My Volvo 'Project'

Rainx ain't that good.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

my squirters have clogged before, but not frozen. you might want to make sure they're not just clogged.

if the mixture of windshield washer fluid you have in the reservoir is right, it shouldn't freeze, unless you get REALLY cold weather... somewhere in the -40F or -50F range.

you should not be diluting your fluid with water in the winter.
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Kenric Tam
1990 Volvo 740 base sedan (B230F)
My Volvo 'Project'

Using proper washer fluid will generally prevent this problem. An old trick from here around the Arctic Circle is to replace the fluid line with one long enough to wind it a few times around the radiator hose. Some say that the heated fluid also cleans the windshield better.

Erling.
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1987 240 GL 81K miles

Hey. Sounds like a good idea. I might do that.

Isn't the windshield washer fluid made with some antifreeze quality?

The WW system can go bad. I have enperienced all these:

(1) The nozzles clog up. I use a twist-tie with the paper removed from about a inch to reveal the wire. Poke it in, wiggle it about (WOW!!) and test the system.

(2) The hoses go bad. Pull off one at a nozzle and see if thing get wet when you run the system.

(3) The pumps clog up. They can be removed ("they" because a 245 has two) from the tank. Little tricky and best done with either a dry reservoir or some other set up to handle the fluid running out. I was able to disasseble the pump and clean it up. Worked fine thereafter.

Keep trying.

Good Luck,

bob

:>)

Brad .... it's been running -28C here in Nova Scotia .... and so far no problem with my squirters .... remember that in winter climes there is a definate difference between what you get for Windshield washer fluid in the winter than in the summer .... MUCH higher percentagwe of Alcohol in the winter ... have NEVER had one freeze up as long as I was using winter fluid ......
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Brett Sutherland & the 1.5 million mile 122 Canadian