rear windshield washer delivery line plugged

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weathercoach@gmail.com - 20 Jan 2007 23:54 GMT

Hello.
I have a 1999 vw gti. The rear windshield washer does not squirt
fluid onto the window anymore.
I removed the nipple where the fluid squirts out in case it was
plugged and that didnt help. Next I verified that fluid is actually
leaving the reservoir in the engine compartment. To do this I
disconnected the tube that carries the fluid from the reservoir to the
rear wiper mechanism and then trigger the squirting mechanism and got
fluid to shoot out of the reservoir opening. So now I am confident
that the problem lies in the tube that carries the fluid from the
reservoir to the rear wiper mechanism. I can imagine replacing that
tube is impossible and I'm wondering if I should take my car to a
garage and have them try to blow out the clog with high pressure air?
Is their any risk of causing any other damage by this approach? Any
suggestion on the safety of using high pressure to clear the clog are
welcome.

TIA. Guid.

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Nate Nagel - 21 Jan 2007 00:02 GMT

> Hello.
> I have a 1999 vw gti. The rear windshield washer does not squirt
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> TIA. Guid.

I had the same issue with a Corrado; the high pressure air cleared the
line but also caused it to blow apart at a point where two pieces of
hard plastic line joined together with a little rubber hose. This was
behind the carpeting in the trunk, on the driver's side just forward of
the taillight.

I just ASSumed when the high pressure air blew something apart that it
was screwed, but I found the blown apart joint while running a wire to
enable the rear fog light and was very happy. Shortly thereafter the
wiper switch failed, so now it doesn't work again :(

good luck,

nate

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Jonathan Wile <"jonathanwile"@ - 22 Jan 2007 01:53 GMT

>> Hello.
>> I have a 1999 vw gti. The rear windshield washer does not squirt
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>
> nate

Had the same issue with my 02 Passat wagon.

I purchased a new pump just in case, and started by removing the inner
fender liner to gain access to the pump.
Pump worked just fine. Hmmm. Blew out the line with air, and found the
same rubber elbow had been separated in the jack compartment.

Proceeded to blow from there back to the wiper, and cleared whatever the
stoppage was. Reconnected everything back, and it works just fine.

I can't imagine bursting the plastic supply line, but the fittings will
surely disconnect under the pressure. You will either hear the air, or
see the fluid if you don't already know where they are.

Hope this helps.

Jon

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samstone@aol.com - 21 Jan 2007 01:31 GMT

> Hello.
> I have a 1999 vw gti. The rear windshield washer does not squirt
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> TIA. Guid.

A thought : if water was ever used instead of fluid and you live where it freezes,
maybe that line is frozen/blocked.

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Baz - 25 Jan 2007 15:56 GMT

> Hello.
> I have a 1999 vw gti. The rear windshield washer does not squirt
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> TIA. Guid.

http://www.golfmk4.co.uk/rear_screen_washer_repair.htm

Have a look at this.
Baz

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