Heated Washer jet question

[jbenington86]

So today I went to drive and my windshield washer jets are either froze solid or they just arent working.. i tried to use them and no motor sound or anything... so i let the car warm up really good and drove around for about 45min and the motor would make a sound but nothing would come out :iono::bangdesk:

[Justabanana]

Even though the motor keeps a sound, you might want to check the fuses too. Might be only the headlight washer that's keeping the noise. It's quite common for a frozen washer motor to blow a fuse but the motors themselves rarely take damage (I've experienced.)

If the problem is a frozen fluid line, you may need to take the car in to a warm place and let it melt properly.

Always worth to invest in an antifreeze washer fluid this time of year. :wink:

[Lester]

I almost hate to ask, is the fluid reservoir empty?

If not, and if there is room, add as much winter (-40 deg) windshield anti freeze as you can.

[Dave]

this was probably the most frustrating part of driving the 1 in VT. The 1 did amazing in 6 inches of snow, and even in inclines. Never got stuck, but the washer jets do not work below 30 degrees F!?! I am hoping this is just the fluid bmw uses (although still stupid) it would be easy to fix with some better washer fluid.

[imported_smack]

i had the same problem ... one day later , they were working :|

[jbenington86]

i have no place to warm my car up... and it is below 20F... and i dont have headlight washers

[Si-M240i]

How do you switch these on and how long do they take to work ?

I have tried everything but even after 10 mins I can't get water out of them when its freezing:iono:

[Oregon]

Many have found the things don't respond when the weather is freezing.

[Lester]

Sorry - there is no heater for the window washer fluid. You will need to add windshield washer with anti freeze - the containers are usually marked "Winter" and "-40 Deg".

Anything that is marked "Summer" or "32 DegF/ 0 Deg C" will actually freeze up at or below freezing.

[Si-M240i]

I thought the jets had heaters in them. They definatley have wires going to them under the bonnet (hood)

[Lester]

Well look at that! Real OEM does show two versions of the widshield washer nozzles, one says 'heated'. Perhaps it is included with the cold weather package?

Nothing like that on the headlight nozzles though. Thanks for the tip on the wires, I am going to go and check mine.

They must turn on automagically, since there is no switch anywhere.

[Si-M240i]

Originally Posted by Lester

Well look at that! Real OEM does show two versions of the widshield washer nozzles, one says 'heated'. Perhaps it is included with the cold weather package?

Nothing like that on the headlight nozzles though. Thanks for the tip on the wires, I am going to go and check mine.

They must turn on automagically, since there is no switch anywhere.

All well and good me having wires to them and calling them heated, but how do they work ???????:iono:.

They dont seem to operate with the headed window / wing mirror button..... They don't seem to work with the "fast" Demist button and it would be stupid if I had to put aircon on to operate them, but hey, I'm begining to wonder what else I can try to get them to heat up. My headlight ones are spraying water still, but I can't clean my windscreen

[Lester]

The heater must come on automatically, as there is no switch evident anywhere or discussed in the manual. Do you use winter antifreeze fluid? If the lines to the nozzle are frozen, having the nozzle heated won't help. If you have an indoor garage somewhere, maybe try some warm water on the windshield washer reservoir. Otherwise a trip to the dealer, perhaps there is something wrong with the system.

[Si-M240i]

The headlight ones are still spraying so the water in the reservior must be ok and those pipes aren't freezing. I would have though the bonnet ones would be ok too. I think I will call BMW to ask, but they don't seem to be very good with operating instructions normally.

Maybe this time I will be Lucky eh ?

[Si-M240i]

Just called BMW, they are automatic and come on when the temp drops to 5 degrees C or below. Guess I need to strenghen my screen was as the pipes to only the windscreen jets must be frozen.

[123D-M]

I would have thought that after you drive around for 20 minutes or so the heat from the engine would melt them and they would work again.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by Lester

The heater must come on automatically, as there is no switch evident anywhere or discussed in the manual. Do you use winter antifreeze fluid? If the lines to the nozzle are frozen, having the nozzle heated won't help. If you have an indoor garage somewhere, maybe try some warm water on the windshield washer reservoir. Otherwise a trip to the dealer, perhaps there is something wrong with the system.

The BMWUSA website specs heated side mirrors and windshield washer jets as standard for the 2009 1 series.
On p.54 of the '08 US manual, it implies that the heated jets are standard and they come on "automatically while the engine is running or the ignition is switched on".

Tom

[123D-M]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

The BMWUSA website specs heated side mirrors and windshield washer jets as standard for the 2009 1 series.
On p.54 of the '08 US manual, it implies that the heated jets are standard and they come on "automatically while the engine is running or the ignition is switched on".

Tom

Yep I checked with my dealer and I do have heated washer nozzles. Yet this evening my washers weren't functioning after work. However, once the engine was warm they started working. I guess that the water in the reservoir was frozen and took a while to melt.

[OAKOS Automotive]

I had this happen on my 135 a few weeks ago when the temps dropped into the 10's...open the hood and flex all the hose that goes from the hood hinge area up to the nozzles. It freed it all right up.....on my '99 Z3 the lines were heated too but the 135 does not seem to have heated lines, just the nozzles.


Clayton

[jbenington86]

i know for a fact that heated nozzles come standard even w/o cold weather package... unless the heat from the engine makes the washer fluid so hot that it steams when i am able to use them