Windshield washer doesn't work - United Bimmer Community

**jerryd** · 05-02-2007, 06:53 PM

Hi-This is my first post to this forum, so bear with me. I recently purchased a wonderful '97 528i-a real creampuff and I am thrilled!
However, the windshield washer has stopped working and my initial search for the problem left me wanting more info. Is this a typical system with a pump, reservoir, etc., or something entirely different?
I discovered wires running to the jets under the hood that made me wonder are they merely sensors or minipumps. How do you access the reservoir? Through the wheel well? Thanks to anyone who might be able to enlighten me.

JD

**BMWLotAttendant** · 05-02-2007, 06:58 PM

You sir have an e39. (year and bodystyle).

It would be under the hood. You pull the hood latch at your left foot underneath the trunk release button.

Lift the hood up and it should be on the left side. Top left, it would be a white reservior.

Welcome and you have a nice BMW.

Any other questions type away.

**mullethunter3** · 05-02-2007, 07:45 PM

If your problem isn't solved by the reservoir check or by check to see if your jets are clogged, you can try one more thing.

Those "wires" you talked about earlier are actually washer fluid tubes. They run underneath the heat shielding and end at a stop-valve. Once the fluid passed through the stop-valve, it'll come out of the jets. I've had the stop-valve clog up on me so bad that it quit spraying fluid altogether. That may be your problem.

**c1apton** · 05-02-2007, 08:12 PM

actually the wires he spotted were probably the heating element wires for the washers.

**3050rpm** · 05-02-2007, 08:42 PM

I actually had one of the lines leading to the jets somehow get disconnected. Solution was to undo the insulation under the hood and get at the little bugger that way.

**jerryd** · 05-03-2007, 09:13 AM

Thanks for the reply. I think that my pump is not working as I discovered a place to disconnect the tube coming from the reservoir/pump (wherever it is down there at the bottom of the fill tube that you pointed out,) and when I activate the washer, there is no sound from the pump and nothing comes out the open tube. I still think I need to find the pump and reservoir. I'm inclined to think that I have to remove the covers on the inside of the left front wheel well, but don't want to go there until I am sure that I am going to find what I want when I get there.

**jerryd** · 05-03-2007, 09:23 AM

Thanks for the reply. I think that my pump is not working as I discovered a place to disconnect the tube coming from the reservoir/pump (wherever it is down there at the bottom of the fill tube,) and when I activate the washer, there is no sound from the pump and nothing comes out the open tube. I still think I need to find the pump and reservoir. I'm inclined to think that I have to remove the covers on the inside of the left front wheel well, but don't want to go there until I am sure that I am going to find what I want when I get there.

**mullethunter3** · 05-03-2007, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c1apton

actually the wires he spotted were probably the heating element wires for the washers.

Damn you guys and your fancy cars!

**jerryd** · 05-03-2007, 03:45 PM

Thanks to all who responded to my intitial request for info. I discovered what I believe to be the hose coming from the reservoir/
pump up to the hood. It has a press fit coupler (I assume so that the hood can be removed without having to mess with the plumbing to the nozzles,) and when I pulled this coupler apart and tried the washer, there was no sound of a pump running or liquid coming from the line from the reservoir/pump. This leads me to believe that the pump is not working and I would like to find it so that I can troubleshoot the problem. Can anyone tell how to access the pump and reservoir?
Thanks in advance for any assistance rendered. JD

**jerryd** · 05-03-2007, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mullethunter3

Damn you guys and your fancy cars!

I could do without a bunch of this fancy stuff-just seems like more things to go wrong as the car ages. Unfortunately, you get what they import and I wanted/needed to get a car that was in the ten year/
100K mile department and this sweetheart was what was available.