Headlight washers remain on indefinitely/won't stop
01-17-21, 03:23 PM
#1
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Headlight washers remain on indefinitely/won't stop
Hello,
I ran into quite a weird issue problem with my car. Yesterday, once stopped, I ran the headlight washers to clean the headlights a bit because we had a heavy a snow fall. The only problem is, to my big surprise, they remained on instead of stopping after 2 seconds. I got out and tried to push them in, pressed again the headlight washer button, which didn't work. I eventually got the low fluid message. I finally had the idea to turn off the car, which worked. The nozzles just went in like normal.
I bought a gallon of fluid this afternoon. I checked for leaks during the refill, there was none. I tried again, same thing. And it emptied the entire brand new gallon doing this in 45 seconds. I swear.
To me it looks like a software issue, like if the ECU didn't tell the pump to stop. But bugs never appear in cars ECU, they are either there from factory (and the manufacturer recalls the cars) or there is none. The pumps works fine. The nozzles work fine. The circuit works fine. The button works fine too, I think if it was at fault, either the washers wouldn't work or they would come on all the time or at random moments.
The only thing related to the car which has happened between now and the last moment the washers worked fine is the car has been to the dealer to fix the front left parking sensor. If I remember correctly, the washer fluid pumps are in this area of the bumper. But I don't see any reason they messed up the headlight washers during the operation.
The car goes in again anyway to maybe finally fix my CEL by replacing again the O2 sensor (which I'll detail in the corresponding thread) and when I took the appointment online, I specified them to call me back to review what it will be about. So I'll make them aware of the problem then. But I would still like to know some other opinions in case they say "well, it will be a new pump" although it isn't that, because for example, they told me they weren't able to adjust my headlights and they would have to replace them if I absolutely wanted them adjusted. Headlights I replaced for a fortune 4 months ago. And guess what, I adjusted them.
I really don't know what to think about that because I see tons of threads across several brands from people having stuck open nozzles or washers that don't work at all but didn't find one similar case. Would it have happened to me on the highway without being able to stop the engine, the pump would have self-destructed due to lack of lubrication and overheating. So if you have an idea, thank you by advance.
I ran into quite a weird issue problem with my car. Yesterday, once stopped, I ran the headlight washers to clean the headlights a bit because we had a heavy a snow fall. The only problem is, to my big surprise, they remained on instead of stopping after 2 seconds. I got out and tried to push them in, pressed again the headlight washer button, which didn't work. I eventually got the low fluid message. I finally had the idea to turn off the car, which worked. The nozzles just went in like normal.
I bought a gallon of fluid this afternoon. I checked for leaks during the refill, there was none. I tried again, same thing. And it emptied the entire brand new gallon doing this in 45 seconds. I swear.
To me it looks like a software issue, like if the ECU didn't tell the pump to stop. But bugs never appear in cars ECU, they are either there from factory (and the manufacturer recalls the cars) or there is none. The pumps works fine. The nozzles work fine. The circuit works fine. The button works fine too, I think if it was at fault, either the washers wouldn't work or they would come on all the time or at random moments.
The only thing related to the car which has happened between now and the last moment the washers worked fine is the car has been to the dealer to fix the front left parking sensor. If I remember correctly, the washer fluid pumps are in this area of the bumper. But I don't see any reason they messed up the headlight washers during the operation.
The car goes in again anyway to maybe finally fix my CEL by replacing again the O2 sensor (which I'll detail in the corresponding thread) and when I took the appointment online, I specified them to call me back to review what it will be about. So I'll make them aware of the problem then. But I would still like to know some other opinions in case they say "well, it will be a new pump" although it isn't that, because for example, they told me they weren't able to adjust my headlights and they would have to replace them if I absolutely wanted them adjusted. Headlights I replaced for a fortune 4 months ago. And guess what, I adjusted them.
I really don't know what to think about that because I see tons of threads across several brands from people having stuck open nozzles or washers that don't work at all but didn't find one similar case. Would it have happened to me on the highway without being able to stop the engine, the pump would have self-destructed due to lack of lubrication and overheating. So if you have an idea, thank you by advance.
01-21-21, 08:55 PM
#4
Pole Position
Thread Starter
They activated the washers and they told me they worked! They also thought it may be related to cold weather, or more rarely an interference from the HID ballasts or a LED bulb. To be honest I didn't try again because temperatures didn't go up and I'm a little bit less keen to use them now. I admit every bulb except fogs and low beams are upgraded to LEDs, but they didn't cause any problem before. I'll try to remember to check tomorrow.
Trending Topics
01-24-21, 03:04 AM
#8
I wouldnt recommend that unless you can test and diagnose what failed. Throwing parts at it in hopes of a repair, is like gambling.
It could be a number of issues like the relay, turn signal stalks, clock spring, the pump itself, etc. What you can do is have a test light ready in the car and before hand know which terminal in the relay is for the washer signal wire. If that lights up and gets stuck, then you can trace your issue further up and check the turn signal stalks or the clock spring.
It could be a number of issues like the relay, turn signal stalks, clock spring, the pump itself, etc. What you can do is have a test light ready in the car and before hand know which terminal in the relay is for the washer signal wire. If that lights up and gets stuck, then you can trace your issue further up and check the turn signal stalks or the clock spring.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Acrad
GX - 2nd Gen (2010-2023)
1280
08-27-23 09:51 AM
sojah
LS - 3rd Gen (2001-2006)
11
10-07-09 06:23 AM