I thought the motor/pump should be either working or just be broken. Sometimes when it is cold (like below 30F in the morning on snow day), the motor does not run but it started running after I parked the car in the office garage during the day. I know that the nozzle could be blocked by the ice but this should not stop the motor from running. Is this a feature or there is something wrong with the motor/pump.

 

water in the pump can be solid too. it works fine after the car is warmed up isn't it? get better anit-freeze.

 

Anti-freeze windshield is used.

Even if the fluid became solid or clogged the nozzle due to freezing, I thought the motor and pump should be turning but no windshield fluid will be sprayed, does it?

 

I haven't exposed my TL to below freezing temperature. But it might be that the motor intentionally won't run if it sees too much pressure or load to avoid damage on itself.

 

no.
it's just a $5. washer pump. they don't build complicated failsafe/failovers into them.

 

if u mix it yourself add less water so its harder to freez

 

i meant solid in the pump. that will stop it "cold". i use 100% with no water added.

 

I have the same problem with everything freezing up. I recently took my car in for service and they filled the wiper fluid iwth water. Not the most intellegent thing for a service department to do with a vehicle on the east coast. The service manager will get an ear full for that one...

 

Interesting point .. mine is going in next week I'll be sure to top off the windshield washer fluid before I go

 

Just so you all know....the freezing of the pump caused the number 20 fuse to blow when I tried to operate the pump, not knowing it was frozen of course.

There's an SB out to replace the #20 fuse from a 7.5 amp to 10 amp fuse. Once the fuse blew I lost memory seating, rearview mirror dimming, auto-tilt of external mirrors in reverse, external mirrors could only be adjusted to the right and down.

Oh, and the dealer made sure to replace the washer fluid with the proper stuff...

 

6 years ago I had a 1G 3.2 TL. My wife (fiance at the time) and I were coming home from a weekend up in Montreal and it hapened to me.

We were driving through a blizzard on the way home and the ww was spraying less and less fluid, then eventually stopped working at all. I had to get out on the side of the highway(b/c I couldn't see anymore), pop the hood, and warm up the line with my hands.

Eventually my body heat warmed it up enough to spray again. That's something I wouldn't want to repeat.

I thought NH was cold.... I don't know how you Canadians do it

 

it was -5F yesterday morning and my washer pump worked fine

 

that's bcuz you didn't add water in it.

 

anyone recommend any particular brand of washer fluid?

My driver's side washer seemed to just spit w/ a recent cold snap

I'm afraid just any old brand might mess w/ my NBP paint?

 

Try the Rain X De-Icer fluid...

 

A pint of Jack Daniels will solve the problem!

 

RainX De-Icer works great and it puts a RainX coating on the windshield everytime you use it. I remember buying some cheap blue stuff, rated for negative temperatures when I lived in FL. Well I guess the company figured they could get by selling blue water in FL, which really sucked during my trip North for Xmas.

 

thnx for the feedback-

 

Its the stupid fuse #20 7.5 amp. the same thing happened to mine i had to drive back from PA in a snow storm it sucked really bad. My dealer told me it had happened to a couple of TL's....weird

 

Depending on the mix, even an "anti-freezing" washer fluid can freeze if it gets cold enough. If you're up north you need to buy the expensive stuff.