My windscreen washer pump has stopped working, and the only thing I am sure of is that it is not the fuse. I took the wire connector off the pump, and the contacts could do with a bit of a clean, but are not corroded.
I am not sure if the problem is the pump itself or the switch. Is it as simple as putting a phase tester to the wire connector to find if it has power coming through when the switch is operated? If there is power coming through then could I assume it is the pump?
I am supposing there isn't a blockage anywhere otherwise I would still get some kind of sound from the pump.
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To test the pump simply wire it directly to the battery, use a fuse in the live wire ;O)
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Or you could unplug the pump and connect a bulb (e.g. a 21W indicator one) to the terminals instead. When you operate the pump switch, the bulb should light up with full brightness.
Nick.
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Thanks for that guys. The last option sounds much easier. I would prefer not to use myself as a fuse is possible ;)
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Hi,could it be the relay my rear stopped working turned out to be the relay,,,,, number 11 springs to mind,not sure which relay works the front though,,,,, :( but i would imagine it would click if working, and silent if broke when you switch wipers on..
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No, it must be the pump because it is getting power but not working. I'll just get a new pump and hope that the two way valve is not at fault as well.
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The pump needs a good earth return loop to the battery as well as a good power supply, one's no good without the other.
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So you mean I haven't tested it properly? I assume you mean I should have done it the other way as well. Put the tester clamp onto the positive battery terminal, and then put the tester probe into the earth side of the electrical connector?
If it was an earth problem wouldn't other things be affected? I think the pump was always funny, and always had a bit of a delay before coming on.
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From what you have said it sounds like the pump is knackered. Its most unlikely to be a faulty earth issue. These pumps don't last forever, I would just get a new one bang it on and it will almost certainly work just fine.
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Cheers, Simon. I don't think it is an earth issue.
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Stick your probe on both terminals on the pump plug and you'll test the full circuit.
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Stick your probe on both terminals on the pump plug and you'll test the full circuit.
Not really, because the meter/probe doesn't draw enough current for the (unlikely) earth fault to reproduce itself. Obvoiusly a totally broken wire will be detectable, but earth faults are usually due to a high resistance earth (bad earth), rather than a totally broken one.
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Someone above suggested using a 21W bulb, I presume he's following the instruction.
The last MK2 was sold in 1992 (built 1991), to suggest that its "unlikely" to be an earth problem is way off, I'd suggest a car of this age could well have many poor / corroded earth connections.
How to test a washer switch was the question OP first asked, the bulb suggestion was a good one, if the bulb was connected to both terminals of the pump plug.
I suggested he connected the pump to the battery with a suitable fuse in the live wire to test the pump itself, but the OP is scared of getting a shock. Its a simple enough item to test and as the OP runs a car of this age I'd guess money is tight.
I'm just trying to save this guy money, sometime I wonder why I bother :-(
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Sorry if that annoyed you, Mr Dox. I tried to figure out how I could wire such a thing up, but couldn't figure it out, and the only wire I have at home is for PCB boards.
I'm ordering a pump now anyway, so that should be it. And you're right - I'm a bit skint.
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I'm not annoyed with you, you asked how to test the switch, "not how to bang on a new pump"
Find your self a local scrap yard and collect some lengths of wire, bulbs, bulb holders (older classic cars have individual bulb holders), fuses, hose clips etc. It'll only cost you a few pounds and save you a lot in the long run, you could get a pump from their too ( ask them to test it for you)
How much is the pump?
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