Citroen Xsara - Windscreen washer jet freeze

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Thu 24 Jan 2013 11:42
Citroen Xsara - Windscreen washer jet freeze - hillman

A friend says that the washer jets on his Xsara are fan jets that spray the whole windscreen and are very good normally, but they freeze every cold spell. He has to stop the car and squirt on water fon a plastic bottle. Has anyone solved this problem ?

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Thu 24 Jan 2013 11:59
Citroen Xsara - Windscreen washer jet freeze - madf

A proper windscreen antifreeze mix down to -15C works..

Halfords sell some.

Orduinary mix is a waste of money in winter.

Edited by madf on 24/01/2013 at 11:59

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Thu 24 Jan 2013 13:47
Citroen Xsara - Windscreen washer jet freeze - gordonbennet

If stronger mix doesn't cure, could try getting some heated jets from another car and wiring up to suit, heated jets on my old MB never a problem.

Lidl sell really high concentrate washer fluid too, if they haven't run out.

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Thu 24 Jan 2013 20:14
Citroen Xsara - Windscreen washer jet freeze - Cyd

The problem with a normal "pin hole" jet is that the alcohol in the wash mix evaporates at the hole, leaving water behind which freezes.

One of the manufacturers solved this by developing jets with rubber "lips" which close over the end and prevent the alcohol evaporating. IIRC it was Volvo.

I had a Focus company car which had heated jets. But guess what, they only came on with th erear screen heater which was on a 10 minute timer!!!!! Which numb nut thought that logic up?? one of the reasons I hate Fords - when they can't even engineer something so simple properly.

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Thu 24 Jan 2013 21:26
Citroen Xsara - Windscreen washer jet freeze - MikeTorque

I've never found the Focus heated water jets to work once it freezes outside. The jets sit proud of the bonnet which leaves them very exposed.

I spray windscreen de icer directly onto the washer jets of any car I intend to drive that already has frozen washer jets, it clears them fast.

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