Choosing fan-type universal windshield washer nozzles

Author: Evgeny Zhivoglyadov. Date of publication: July 05, 2016. Category: Automotive equipment.

Maximum visibility is very important for any driver, so car manufacturers pay great attention to the windshield cleaning process, which includes the operation of several systems. Thanks to wipers, proper flow of oncoming air flow and nozzles, car owners always clearly and clearly see what is happening on the road surface. However, if one of these systems fails, the other will not be able to perform at the required level, which is why it is necessary to correctly select such important elements as nozzles or, as they are also called, jets.

To purchase the right devices, you first need to understand the existing types of these parts.

Nozzle types

The following types of jets exist:

• Jet - washer nozzles in the form of a hollow cylinder. At the bottom of the structure there is a fitting, thanks to which the nozzle itself is connected to the hose. There is a spray nozzle at the top. In this case, the fluid supply force can be adjusted using a special screw.
• Fan nozzles. A special feature of this design is the presence of many nozzles (at least 3). It is also worth noting that in this case the liquid passes through a narrower channel, due to which the liquid is sprayed with greater pressure.

The first type is more often found on “middle-aged” cars, as well as on domestically produced cars, for example, the windshield washer nozzles of the VAZ 2110 have a jet configuration. Foreign cars and cars produced in recent years already have fan jets installed.

Washer nozzles, developed using modern technologies, are not only easy to use, but also easy to install. However, these elements also have their drawbacks.

Main problems

All existing faults with the front washer can be divided into two main types, which have their own sub-problems, so to speak. We invite you to familiarize yourself with them in the table.

Fault type

Failure options

The washer fluid reservoir is empty

The hose fell off the pump

But each of these faults deserves a more detailed consideration.

Mechanical breakdowns

It is with mechanical washer malfunctions that owners of the VAZ 2110 most often encounter. This is compared with the regularity of electrical problems.

1. The washer fluid tank is empty. Inexperienced drivers often start blaming a faulty pump, although in practice they simply forget to check the antifreeze level in the tank. Hence the unjustified costs for the services of service stations. Don’t forget to check the fluid level, and in winter, be sure to drain the regular washer fluid and fill it with anti-freeze in its place. Ordinary water at subzero temperatures will turn into ice, and therefore will not be able to take part in cleaning the windshield. If you still forget to drain and the water freezes, warm up the car for a while so that the ice melts, then drain and fill with a suitable liquid.
2. The hose fell off. Anti-freeze is supplied from the tank to the windshield using a pump and special hoses. If these same hoses begin to jump out of their places, the liquid will not be able to flow to the nozzles. As a result, the washer does not function. Try to secure them better. And if they are worn out, simply replace the old hoses with new ones. If the mounting is normal, water may still not flow to the nozzles. In this case, check whether the hoses are pinched.
3. The injectors are clogged. The anti-freeze agent, supplied by a pump and passing through hoses, then exits onto the windshield using nozzles. These are the same small devices from which streams of water come. If they are dirty, disconnect the hoses from the injectors and check their condition. Often the problem lies in the jets. They are easy to clean, but in some situations they may need to be replaced.

Pump and reservoir

Electrical breakdowns

Although mechanical failures are more common, electrical problems should not be forgotten.

1. The fuse has blown. If, when you turn on the device for cleaning the windshield, the pump does not show signs of functioning, there is a fairly high probability that the cause is a failed fuse. Check its condition. If the device really burns out, you can simply replace it with a new one.
2. The switch does not work. If the pump stops working, but the fuse is intact, then the problem may be a faulty steering column switch. To check this, do a little system testing. But for this you will need an assistant. Turn on the ignition and ask a friend to turn on the washer. In this case, go to the pump yourself and check for voltage in it. If there is voltage but no functionality, you will have to change the motor, that is, the pump. If there is no voltage, then the culprit is a switch, relay or wiring. Check everything. Replace what is necessary.
3. The clamps have oxidized. Be sure to check the condition of the pump terminals. It’s not uncommon for wiring to oxidize due to moisture and literally fall apart over time. If this happens to your washer, try to properly replace the damaged wiring.

Advantages and disadvantages of fan washer nozzles

Thanks to the successful design of the fan jets, not a narrow stream hits the glass, as is the case with inkjet models, but a wide, finely dispersed stream that covers almost the entire “lobovuha”. Among other advantages, it is worth highlighting the following:

• Thanks to good atomization, dirt is dissolved more efficiently, resulting in fluid savings.
• If in the case of jet nozzles, the wipers start working a little earlier than the liquid hits the glass, then the fan models are connected simultaneously with the wiper. This helps protect the glass from scratches.

If we talk about the shortcomings, car enthusiasts highlighted the following nuances:

• Fan-type jets quickly become covered with ice at subzero temperatures. To avoid such troubles, you have to purchase an additional heating system for the washers.
• Since a large amount of liquid immediately falls on the glass, visibility is reduced for several seconds until the wipers start working.

As you can see, such a system also has disadvantages, but all of them can be solved. The main thing is to choose the right jets for your car.

How to choose washer nozzles

It is best to choose jets specifically for your car. If you compare the fan nozzles of the windshield washer of the VAZ 2114 and similar parts for a foreign car, they will be different. Of course, these differences are not critical and you can always customize the part for your car brand, but in this case the installation will be much more difficult.

Or you can purchase universal products that are suitable for different machines. These elements are considered to be injectors with numbers 30655605 and 7845009010. They are presented in the Volvo and Sang Yong catalogs. Both jets are absolutely identical with one difference - the Korean part will cost almost half as much as the Swedish counterpart. Otherwise, both products can be used as windshield washer nozzles for Ford, Mazda, Subaru, Daewoo and other models.

Another alternative option is offered by the Toyota concern, but when purchasing jets under catalog number 85381-AA042 from this manufacturer, it is worth considering that they are sold in 1 piece. Therefore, when placing an order online, you must add two items to your cart. After purchasing the products, you can install them yourself.

Tips for choosing

When a driver decides to buy something for a car, the following problem arises. What is the best way to choose and not make a mistake with the decision. This applies to both fan nozzles and foam generators for cars. But if you read our material, you won’t make mistakes.

There are two main approaches to selection:

• buy original ones;
• take universal ones.

But not all cars have the opportunity to complete or purchase original injectors. Therefore, we have to look for an alternative solution. There are no fans that fit literally every car. Be sure to take this into account, otherwise no adjustment will help you.

There are several most popular options:

• Set of injectors for Volvo S80. Suitable for many Japanese and Korean cars. One piece will cost 350 rubles;
• Korean sprayers from SsangYong. This is a high-quality clone of the previous version. Used on many machines, plus it costs only 160 rubles for 1 unit;
• Devices from Camry. Quite versatile, effective and high quality. The current price is approximately 300 rubles per piece;
• Devices from Skoda and Volkswagen. Suitable for German and Czech cars, plus well adapted to Lanos and Aveo. But the price is also high, about 300 rubles.

Look for options that are suitable specifically for your car. I absolutely do not recommend using cheap devices. This is exactly the same as choosing the wrong fog lights. They will stand on the car, but will not be able to effectively perform their functions.

How to replace washer nozzles

The process of replacing injectors is the same for all cars. Before starting work, it is necessary to prepare new hoses through which the “wash” will pass. A tube that is used for aquariums is well suited for these purposes.

After this, you need to complete the following steps:

1. Remove the upholstery and carefully pull out the plastic clips.
2. Remove the buffer foam pads. They are usually held in place by tape, so to reinstall them you will need to prepare some fresh duct tape.
3. Detach the covers on the plastic parts.
4. Remove the hoses through which the fluid is supplied.
5. Remove the old injectors.
6. Connect the pipe to the new jets.
7. Connect the check valve to the jet connections and pipes.
8. Check the system operation.

When replacing standard nozzles, it is also necessary to purchase a check valve, which will not allow the fluid to “roll back”, due to which the wipers often start working long before the cleaning composition appears on the glass.

Sometimes new washer nozzles do not work as expected (the fluid flows too high or low, offset to the side, etc.) and in this case additional adjustment of parts may be required.

How to adjust washer jets

No specialized equipment or special skills are required to adjust the nozzles. All you need is a regular needle or pin. In order to figure out how to adjust the windshield washer nozzles, it is enough to understand that they have a spherical shape and rotate freely inside the plastic housing. So it's simple:

• Feel free to insert the pin into the nozzle and begin to turn it in the direction you need.
• If the liquid hits the glass too low, then twist the pin upward.
• If the jet hits very hard, this can also be corrected with a needle.
• On foreign cars, the injectors have 3 jets, which are best adjusted differently. The extreme ones should be at the lowest points, as they hit the sides of the car. It is better to direct the middle ones to the central part of the windshield, and the remaining central jets are better to direct to the upper part of the glass.

You can also clean the washer jets yourself.

How to clean washer nozzles

If the jets begin to work incorrectly, then most often the problem can be solved by cleaning these elements from contaminants. Before cleaning the windshield washer nozzles, prepare:

• pin or sewing needle;
• compressor;
• large volume syringe;
• soap and water.

Before work, it is recommended to check the level of cleaning fluid in the tank, since the jets may not work due to a missing washer. After this, you need to disconnect the washer nozzles from the hoses and slightly press on them until they rise.

Next, follow these simple steps:

1. Wash each nozzle in soapy water.
2. Connect the compressor, turn on the blower and process the nozzle under high pressure.
3. If you don’t have a compressor at hand, you can use a syringe into which you need to draw water.
4. Clean the holes using a regular needle or pin.
5. Insert the syringe into the nozzle and start flushing.

Of course, the compressor will be much more effective, but if the nozzles are severely clogged and do not allow liquid to flow, then with the help of improvised means you can at least temporarily solve the problem.

Another way is to leave the jets overnight in a soapy solution, and in the morning try to reuse the syringe or compressor. This will be useful in case of particularly severe old contamination.

Dismantling

It will be much better if you remove the nozzle, as this will be more convenient for adjustment. This will also be useful if you just want to replace it with a new one. In order to do this, you must first remove all suitable hoses. There is a nut for fastening, you need to unscrew it and then calmly remove the washer.

If it gets hard, it’s better to spray in WD-40 and wait a little, as too much force can break the washer. Putting it back is more difficult and you need to be even more careful here than when removing it.

New injectors will cost you about 300 rubles, and for AvtoVAZ models you only need to pay 60 rubles. The price may be slightly different due to the brand of the car; of course, they will cost more for expensive cars.

Adjusting the windshield washers is not difficult, but the main thing is to do it all carefully. For more information, watch the video instructions.