Just bought a 95 850 Turbo Wagon, 96K miles. This car was, apparently, never driven in winter. The two things that don't work are the heated seats (for which there's lots of info here and elsewhere on the net) and the windshield washer system, which is my concern in this post.

Not sure why, but the lines leading from the pump attached to the reservoir had been cut halfway between the reservoir and the jets on the hood. I got some fittings and reconnected the lines. A little fluid appeared at the jets, without much pressure. Then I noticed that fluid was gushing out (when the control lever was activated) near the passenger side headlight. I assume that a connection to the headlight washer has been disconnected.

I can't really see any connection near the headlight. I can't find any pictorial layout of the washer lines in any manual that I have, or online. The motor attached to the reservoir seems to be working. I understand that there's a motor for the rear window washer, but not sure where it is.

If anybody can enlighten me as to how these lines should be reconnected, I'd be grateful. This isn't something I really want to pay a mechanic to do if I can help it.

Thanks.

It was pretty cold today, and as mentioned, it's pretty hard to get at the headlight connections. I removed the passenger side hood latch which helped. I think that the whole deal was put together incorrectly at some point. The line that should go to the head lights was clipped onto the inside of the fender and since I thought it was the one that was meant to go to the hood, I connected it accordingly. Once I found the other hose that was leaking, and that was putting out a lot more fluid at a much higher pressure, I connected it to the hood line, and the washers began to squirt properly.

I couldn't get at the connection for the head light washers. It was way too cold to try taking much more stuff off. Fluid was coming out of that line in a dribble, so I capped it off. One of the head light wiper motors wasn't working very well anyway, so I disconnected them both.

I plan to do a proper job once the weather gets a bit warmer. But for now, I have working windshield washers and no leaks, which was the main issue.

Thanks rikp and Klaus for your help. Much appreciated.

mick

Leave the wiper motors disconnected. They are a real pain to remove and serve no good purpose. I keep a towel in my cars for that reason. Besides, gas stations have squeegies that work on the headlights and tail lights.

Now, keep your fingers warm until spring. And your windshield clean,

Klaus


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Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.

There is a T connector that is located behind the passeger side headlight that feeds the headlight washers. it has a circular piece that may be a vent?? I have fluid coming out from that same area and the vent area was the source of the leak.
I replaced with a plain T connector and no more leak.
It is a pain to get to.

The motor for the rear washer is below the motor for the front.

Both headlight wipers have washer nozzles attached to the arms. It is possible the hose was just pulled off the wiper and is now below the bumper.

Klaus
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Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.

-The motor for the rear washer is below the motor for the front.

In that case, it may not be working. I can only hear one motor. Because of the gushing near the headlight, I'm assuming it's the front one.

-Both headlight wipers have washer nozzles attached to the arms. It is possible the hose was just pulled off the wiper and is now below the bumper.

Ah. That helps. I'll venture out tomorrow and try to make that connection.

I assume then that the other long line leading away from the reservoir toward the hood nozzles, but not actually going to the hood, is the line for the rear window. If that's the case, I guess the motor for the rear isn't working, because no fluid was being pumped out of that line.

Anyway, thanks for your help Klaus.

The front washer system has long flexible lines, one goes to the hood and the other goes to the headlights. The rear washer has a metal pipe for the length of the car, it becomes flexible in the right rear wheel well. Just pull up the cover on the rear floor, next to the side panel and you will see it.

My 1998 had a cut washer line on the right headlight from a fender bender. All I had to do was tape it up, very little pressure.

Don't forget to check the "T" junction in the hood:

http://volvospeed.com/Repair/windshieldcheck.php

Klaus
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Proud owner of a 220S. If I had more room, I would have more Volvos.