Front washer pump failed?
 

Greetings,
I had the exciting occurance of having the Front washer pump fail on my 3.0 during a trip to Tahoe. I had to alternate between running right up on a car's tail, so that enough wet slush coated the windshield for the wipers to work, then moving back far enough, so that they wouldn't get dirty again too quickly.
WHen I made it to our condo, I tried to determine the cause. I unplugged the pump and reconnected it. No love...

Questions:

1. How many pumps are there? I have the headlight washers as well. I see two pumps on the resevoir. Do the front washers and headlamp washers run off the same pump?

2. To be sure, which pumps are which? Looking into the engine bay from the front, is the pump at the back of the resevoir the one for the back windshield, and the one on the driver's side of the resevoir for the front windshield?

3. When I pushed the Special wash program button, I heard a pump whine twice, but no water on either the headlamps or windshield. Since I heard a whining, I assumed that the fuze wasn't blown, but I guess I could be wrong.

4. Assuming that the pump is shot, what part number is the replacement?

Regards,

Gary

The pumps have a filter screen on them, check it for clogs, if you hear a pump you probably have a clog. They just pull out of the tank.

Could also be something froze and clogged the hole.

Thanks, I'll give it a look! BTW, do the pumps have a safety mechanism, shutting them off if there is no water flow?

Regards,

Gary

No clue but i can guarantee that if there's no fluid in the reservoir it will be tough to clean your windshield ;)

LOL!

I haven't had a chance to check the filters yet...

Assuming that the pump needs to be replaced, is there a special front pump for cars with the headlamp washers?

What would the part# be?

Regards,

Gary

**UPDATE**

Well, here is what I found (Mainly for anyone else who may see this post in the future):

1. There are three pumps on the resevoir; in the back, there are both the rear washer and front windshield washer pumps. Looking in from the front of the car, the rear is on the left and the windshield pump is on the right. On the driver's side of the resevoir, is the much larger headlamp pump, for the cars with the cold weather package, I believe.

2. Both the front windshield pump and the headlamp pump are shot. They sporadically run, get very hot, and don't pump any water.

3. The filters were slightly plugged, but the pump lines were very plugged. It took a good blast of 100 psi air from my compressor to clear them. I believe that the lack of water flow may have damaged the pumps.

3. The rear and front windshield pumps are interchangeable, and this is how I am able to at least have washers for my front windshield for this weekend, while I wait for replacement pumps.

4. While the local AutoZone has a TAAP model #5-861 replacement for the windshield or rear that looks like it will work ($13), they have no part number for the headlamp washers.

Regards,

Gary