Rear screen washer failure.

Peterboat · Jan 26, 2025

BROC said:
I am hoping to pre-empt this screen wash leak on my MG5 Trophy LR by securing the A-pillar connection before it leaks. There seem to be at least three 'mechanical' means to do this:
1) cable ties
2) 0-clip which are crimped in place
3) spring clips

I have read of a couple of occasions where cable ties have not cured the problem, has anyone any long term experience of other methods?

What do the dealers do when people take the car in for repair?

The easiest probably a cable tie, I am going to take a look this week to see what's best

kevin ellard · Jan 26, 2025

BROC said:
I am hoping to pre-empt this screen wash leak on my MG5 Trophy LR by securing the A-pillar connection before it leaks. There seem to be at least three 'mechanical' means to do this:
1) cable ties
2) 0-clip which are crimped in place
3) spring clips

I have read of a couple of occasions where cable ties have not cured the problem, has anyone any long term experience of other methods?

What do the dealers do when people take the car in for repair?

I'm not a great fan of cable ties for really small tubes. I prefer those clips with 'ears' that you crimp in place with pliers.

WigglePig · Jan 27, 2025

Peterboat said:
Unfortunately we have had one go off with battery removed on a XJ8 seat! Ruined the seat!

You need to wait for the internal capacitor to discharge.

kevin ellard said:
I'm not a great fan of cable ties for really small tubes. I prefer those clips with 'ears' that you crimp in place with pliers.

Ditto but that's all I had available in the size required at the time.

Peterboat · Jan 27, 2025

WigglePig said:
You need to wait for the internal capacitor to discharge.

The car hadn't had a battery on it for a year! We had removed and sold the engine and gearbox and it was getting gradually stripped, the 2 dash airbags were long gone, I suspect a fault part did it

WigglePig · Jan 27, 2025

Peterboat said:
The car hadn't had a battery on it for a year! We had removed and sold the engine and gearbox and it was getting gradually stripped, the 2 dash airbags were long gone, I suspect a fault part did it

Oh, that's interesting. They generally require a decent amount of current to set them off.

TBog · Feb 24, 2025

Fokmg said:
This time of the year it is important to have a good winter screen washer solution (-20deg C)
The freezing and expansion of the screen washer solution seems to push the pipes out of the joints!
Prevention is a lot better than cure

This is not the problem here. We have the same problem, the fluid was provided by mg from new. And if refilling, which we haven't needed to yet would use the right concentrations and always prestone. They either used cheap stuff or there is a floor.

ALANB · Feb 24, 2025

TBog said:
This is not the problem here. We have the same problem, the fluid was provided by mg from new. And if refilling, which we haven't needed to yet would use the right concentrations and always prestone. They either used cheap stuff or there is a floor.

It happened to me after 6 months of owning it.....was nothing to do with MG, I was diluting it too much by adding water. the issue is there is no heat generated with EV's. I actually think a small heater in the reservoir would help tremendously if required.

M44LCY · Feb 25, 2025

ALANB said:
It happened to me after 6 months of owning it.....was nothing to do with MG, I was diluting it too much by adding water. the issue is there is no heat generated with EV's. I actually think a small heater in the reservoir would help tremendously if required.

I'm 100% sure it's noything to do with the washer fluid freezing. I think the problem is that the nozzle on the rear wiper gets wet (e.g.with rain water) and freezes, blocking the nozzle. When we operate the washer pump, the fluid can't get out, the pressure builds up and the joint pops.

Having a joint in the pipe is plain silly - especially at the screen pillar where the fluid spurts out and wets the electronic modules. Every '5' should have had metal spring clips fitted as a matter of course during the pre delivery inspection. An experienced person can do the job in (literally) 2-3 minutes and saving, in my case, the car being at the dealer for a week and a half. Even then, the dealer fixed the modules … but simply reconnected the pipe without fitting any clips!

ALANB · Feb 25, 2025

M44LCY said:
I'm 100% sure it's noything to do with the washer fluid freezing. I think the problem is that the nozzle on the rear wiper gets wet (e.g.with rain water) and freezes, blocking the nozzle. When we operate the washer pump, the fluid can't get out, the pressure builds up and the joint pops.

Having a joint in the pipe is plain silly - especially at the screen pillar where the fluid spurts out and wets the electronic modules. Every '5' should have had metal spring clips fitted as a matter of course during the pre delivery inspection. An experienced person can do the job in (literally) 2-3 minutes and saving, in my case, the car being at the dealer for a week and a half. Even then, the dealer fixed the modules … but simply reconnected the pipe without fitting any clips!

I just popped mine into the dealer and waited while they did it, it had come off the connector to the nozzle in my case and he fitted cable ties to keep it in place...no charge, 30mins and a free cup of coffee.

Fokmg · Feb 25, 2025

It was freezing fluid in my case. The fluid was frozen solid ! At the time we had had a few days below -10 deg C.
I did not use the car until it warmed up and the pipe had become disconnected, so I had the "footwash" when I first used the rear wiper
No garage in the UK is sensible enough to put screen washer fluid in to protect much below -10 deg C in the winter. (the British moto is don`t be prepared and then blame someone else?)
The only solution is to make sure of the concentration yoursleves.
I have not had any problem since .

PVperson · Feb 25, 2025

Steve Orton said:
When I try to use my rear screen washer water can be heard swishing in the top right end of the dashboard on my MG5EV. I think the pipe may have been pushed apart during a frost. Water can be seen dripping from below the dash onto the drivers side door post.
How can I gain access to that upper dashboard area to see what's going on and attempt a repair?

Hi Steve,

I see no one actually answered your question, they just expected MG service to fix it under warranty! Those of us with practical skills, whose cars (MG5) are not under warranty would fix it ourselves! Also owners of other cars (MG4, ZS, etc) were answering, pipe not nec. in the same place! if it is under the brake servo on the MG5, I guess it might be possible to do by feeling along the pipe, (maybe sitting in the motor bay) re-mating the pipe to the coupler, and then putting a couple of small tie-wraps to firmly hold them in place. Easy job!

ALANB said:
I just popped mine into the dealer and waited while they did it, it had come off the connector to the nozzle in my case and he fitted cable ties to keep it in place...no charge, 30mins and a free cup of coffee.

Clean out your jets twice a year, and it won't pop off due to too much pressure in the pipe. Cars DO require maintenance!!!

Rear screen washer failure.

Peterboat

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kevin ellard

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WigglePig

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Peterboat

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WigglePig

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TBog

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ALANB

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M44LCY

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ALANB

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Fokmg

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PVperson

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