Windshield washer leaking at nozzle; fluid in rubber channel Options

[Marcel Aircooled]

Just have my 73 914 for a month and learning every day. I noticed a few times that there was some fluid/water at the nozzles of the windshield washer system even though I did not use the system but did not pay much attention to it. Yesterday it was quite warm here and I parked my 914 in the sun and when I moved it I saw a wet spot were I had parked at the right front. I also noticed some spill at the nozzles again and did some further inspection. Looking at the front trunk I found that water/fluid had run into channel for the rubber and after removing the rubber I found that it was wet at many spots and some water had build up in the corners. It looks like this has been an issue for quite a while already because the paint was coming loose in the channel and some rust has formed. Maybe has to do with pressure building up in the washer tank due to the heat? So now I removed the loose paint from channel and will use some rust converter and paint the channel again.

Here's the channel with the paint removed



My question is if this leak from the nozzles is common and if there is a (easy) fix? I don't want to have the same rust issue returning obviously. Here's a pic of my washer set up



It looks like it works with a pump and not with the pressure from the spare tire. I can empty the washer tank to prevent from leaking now but prefer a solution where I will be able to use the window washer system. Any advise will be greatly appreciated.

[FlacaProductions]

I would look to see that you have the proper check valves in the fluid tubing route - and that they're operating. They can get crusty...

[SirAndy]

It looks like it works with a pump and not with the pressure from the spare tire. I can empty the washer tank to prevent from leaking now but prefer a solution where I will be able to use the window washer system. Any advise will be greatly appreciated.

Am i correct to understand that your system has been converted to use an electric pump?

If so, the tank needs to be vented. If not, it will build pressure when getting warm to the point that fluid could drain out the nozzles. It also means the pump will have a hard time pumping fluid since it will have to work against a vacuum in the bottle.

The /4 bottle with its check valve in the cap was never designed to work with an electric pump.

See this tech article for my (admittedly crude) solution to that problem:
http://www.914world.com/specs/tech_el_washer.php
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[Marcel Aircooled]

I would look to see that you have the proper check valves in the fluid tubing route - and that they're operating. They can get crusty...

Will check but from what I can see the tubes and connectors are not that old.

[Marcel Aircooled]

It looks like it works with a pump and not with the pressure from the spare tire. I can empty the washer tank to prevent from leaking now but prefer a solution where I will be able to use the window washer system. Any advise will be greatly appreciated.

Am i correct to understand that your system has been converted to use an electric pump?

If so, the tank needs to be vented. If not, it will build pressure when getting warm to the point that fluid could drain out the nozzles. It also means the pump will have a hard time pumping fluid since it will have to work against a vacuum in the bottle.

The /4 bottle with its check valve in the cap was never designed to work with an electric pump.

See this tech article for my (admittedly crude) solution to that problem:
http://www.914world.com/specs/tech_el_washer.php
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

Thanks Andy, you might be on to something. Yes, one of the POs added an electric pump to the window washer system. Not sure why because unfortunately I do not have any history on the car. I don't think they thought of any vent solution but will try to have a closer look tomorrow. Will look at the tech article but might decide to convert back to the original spare tire system.

[Marcel Aircooled]

Here's a close up of the electrical pump that was added. It looks like an aftermarket pump and not standard.



I read the tech article from Andy and if I understand correctly to have the pump working and not build up too much pressure I need to have an extra vent hole in the bottle cap.

This is what my cap looks like now



So it looks like I need to drill the additional hole. Can I just drill between the "hp" and "5" close to the valve in the picture? Do you think this would solve the issue with the washer system leaking from the nozzles? Thanks for the help!

[Marcel Aircooled]

Double post

[SirAndy]

It's been 18 years since it did this so forgive me if my memory is a bit foggy.
I don't remember what the back side of the cap looks like.

I drilled mine next to the old inlet with the check valve, i'm sure there was a reason why i picked that spot.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/specs/el_washer/el_washer_03.jpg)

[friethmiller]

I have an electric pump and, like Sir Andy, I don't remember all the details but I do remember drilling out the hole in the cap. The other problem that I had was that I only had a check-valve at the "T", which allowed it to leak on one side. I ended up buying another inline one to solve that problem.

[Marcel Aircooled]

Thanks both. It should not be a problem to drill a hole at the same spot you did Andy.

Here's a pic of the other side and from the side.





I suppose I should not drill all the way through, right?

Mine is leaking at both nozzles so I hope drilling the hole will solve the issue.

[Marcel Aircooled]

Drilled the hole in the same spot as Andy did. So no way back now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Window washer with the electrical pump was working already without the additional hole and still works now (very good woth the pump) so fingers crossed the system will not leak from the nozzles anymore now! Thanks everyone for the advise!

[davep]

I designed and 3D printed a bunch of discs to replace the valve in the washer bottle cap. This disc has 4 small holes for venting, but small enough that little can enter other than air. Being 3D printed the disc is somewhat porous already.