Absolutely,i am sure there are other components on a 7 year old car that look "tired"but still function ok .(how about the driver?).Anyway,the pump will be a 12 volt device.I would check for sludge in the bottom of the reservoir before replacing any pump.Give it a good clean out.
Absolutely,i am sure there are other components on a 7 year old car that look "tired"but still function ok .(how about the driver?).Anyway,the pump will be a 12 volt device.I would check for sludge in the bottom of the reservoir before replacing any pump.Give it a good clean out.
Bleugh. I remember doing that on a 3 series a few years ago. It was rank.
Sounds like the washer pump filter is partially blocked. If it is the same as my 2005 TDCi 1.6 estate, you need to jack the front right if the car up, remove the front offside wheel (for access), remove the plastic wheel arch liner and then you can get access to the washer pump and reservoir, clean the reservoir out and the important bit is to pull the washer pump out of the reservoir, and there will be a plastic/rubber simple filter which is probably gummed up, clean up and you should be ok.
Obviously if you do the above you need to support the front offside of the car on axle stands, and you will need to unbolt and remove the reservoir/ pump completely, the bolts to undo are obvious once you have unscrewed and removed the plastic wheel arch liner
Hi Ian. Thanks a lot for your input. I'll give that a try.
Before you do, try sticking a water hose down the reservoir as far as it will go and turn on the tap full to give it a blast. I read about this trick shortly after spending ages doing what has just been advised above on our 2000 Focus!
And I haven't actually tried this, but if 'blasting' doesn't de-gunge it, try emptying the reservoir [syphon if necessary] then add a kettleful of very hot water and keep the pump on. Might save taking the wheel arch to bits.
The user manual for my 2008 Focus states that you should never operate the washer motor for more than 10 seconds at a time, or when the reservoir is empty. I assumed the 10 second rule was to stop it overheating, perhaps there's a design fault as I've never heard anything like that on other cars. Just thought I'd mention it if you're going to be using it a lot.
Just to mention I had a washer pump go on my 2009 Focus, it started as weak spray then died. I got the part on ebay (new but unbranded) for about £8 although time will tell if it lasts. Didn't seem to be any gunk in the water tank. Quite easy to fit if rather fiddly, have to take the wheel off.