Workshop Basics

Stay on top of your windscreen washers.

Low winter sun, dried road salt on the windscreen and a barrage of traffic spray can be a tedious combination. It’s made particularly dismal if your windscreen washers emit nothing but a badly-aimed dribble of fluid. It can become quite hairy if you operate the washers and nothing happens at all – or, worse, if the wipers automatically operate and trowel translucent gunk across a semi-dry screen.

In short, decent windscreen washers are a really good idea in the winter. This feature explains how to maintain your washer system to beyond the standard required by the MOT. The MOT doesn’t ask much. Your car will only fail if the washer control is missing or inaccessible to the driver, or it doesn’t provide enough liquid to clear the windscreen in conjunction with the wiper(s).

Washers can be manually operated by hand or foot; electrically via a motor and pump; by air pressure from a spare wheel; or by vacuum. Many older classics didn’t have washers as standard but have since had them fitted with varying degrees of success, professionalism and authenticity.

Classic specialists stock a good selection of period-looking parts to maintain and upgrade retro-fitted kits – from correctlooking electric pumps, to glass reservoirs and chrome-plated washer jets.

Modern classics often have quite sophisticated washer systems fitted as standard, possibly involving rear-screen cleaning and even headlamp washers. Mainstream motor factors can supply generic modern washer jets, clear plastic tubing, connecting T-pieces, one-way valves and remote washer pumps.