MG5 Washer Jets Freezing

[paulpk]

Is anyone having trouble with screen wash jets freezing up not working properly in this weather if so any ideas please?

 

[Jomarkh]

Use a higher concentration mix in the washer fluid.

 

[Tweed98]

Mine have been fine with pre-mixed screen wash that is supposed to be good down to -5 and I've seen -6!

 

[Lguk]

Yes, yesterday and today (-6) not first thing, but whilst driving down the A road, windchill etc froze them up mid journey.

Made the mistake of mixing up the concentrate too weak, based on previous ICE vehicles that obviously have a heat source under the bonnet. Now remixed stronger, due to be -7 tomorrow, so let's see.

 

[turpsey123]

Something to watch out for is the pipe going to the rear washer. I had to take the boot trim off and reattach it this afternoon because the nozzle froze and the pressure buildup blew the pipe off when I was trying to use it. It’s very soft, stretchy rubber so doesn’t hold onto the fittings very well.

 

[Buchanty]

Is anyone having trouble with screen wash jets freezing up not working properly in this weather if so any ideas please?

Yes, my offside washer froze yesterday whilst using undiluted solution. I’ve noticed that the nozzles have always produced a very fine spray and wondered if this might have been relevant, but put it down to the extremely low temp combined with a longish rural drive.

 

[Gomev]

Did 90 miles yesterday temp never above zero and actually commented to her sat next to me that the washers were still working well both back and front. Considering a lack of a fossil heat source to keep the pipes clear I was impressed.

 

[BravoDelta]

Something to watch out for is the pipe going to the rear washer. I had to take the boot trim off and reattach it this afternoon because the nozzle froze and the pressure buildup blew the pipe off when I was trying to use it. It’s very soft, stretchy rubber so doesn’t hold onto the fittings very well.

Now I've read this, I think that this has happened on our car as I saw some blue-ish coloured marks on the floor of the boot.

Could you explain how you took the trim off or post a video? (I don't want to break anything)
Thanks

 

[turpsey123]

Now I've read this, I think that this has happened on our car as I saw some blue-ish coloured marks on the floor of the boot.

Could you explain how you took the trim off or post a video? (I don't want to break anything)
Thanks

Certainly. If you look in the bottom of the grab handle holes you’ll be able to see two little panels. Use a screwdriver or a pick to take these out and you’ll see a Phillips head screw underneath each one. These need to be removed. I then removed one of the tail light access hatches to give me something to pull down and gave it a hard yank downwards, don’t be shy with that, it took a bit of force.

 

[Fokmg]

Just went to top up my screenwashers this morning and the container of pre-mixed solution from famous automotive retailer was almost frozen solid ( 5 litre lump of ice)
It was at least -11 deg where I live.
THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO MIX FROM CONCENTRATE AND DON`T BUY PREMIX.
Suppliers seem to forget it still gets cold in the UK

 

[Dino]

Something to watch out for is the pipe going to the rear washer. I had to take the boot trim off and reattach it this afternoon because the nozzle froze and the pressure buildup blew the pipe off when I was trying to use it. It’s very soft, stretchy rubber so doesn’t hold onto the fittings very well.

Think this just happened to me! Cleared rear window with the heater, wiped the excess water off with rear wiper but think I put it on spray instead of just wipe. Looked out back when driving and there was water spraying out the back which seemed to be coming from around the rear wiper. Checked when I pulled up and the rear nozzle looks frozen solid and seems to have gone through a lot if not all my screen wash (only topped up a couple of days ago and not used much since). Won’t be using car till after weekend so will check when it gets warmer. Thanks for the info on getting the trim off ?

So I couldn’t wait, rear hose connection was fine (also checked connection from the front) but when I tried topping up the washer reservoir with neat screen wash it bubbled up a load of semi frozen mush. Guess it didn’t get the right mix/ had more wash in than I thought when I added some neat the other day and it couldn’t cope with the extreme cold last night. See what happens when it thaws

 

[BravoDelta]

Certainly. If you look in the bottom of the grab handle holes you’ll be able to see two little panels. Use a screwdriver or a pick to take these out and you’ll see a Phillips head screw underneath each one. These need to be removed. I then removed one of the tail light access hatches to give me something to pull down and gave it a hard yank downwards, don’t be shy with that, it took a bit of force.

Thanks for the detailed info. I feel this is pretty dumb but I need more help to get started.

I had a go this afternoon but for the life of me I can't get the little panels at the bottom of the grab handles out. I've tried various small screwdrivers in the slot but all I can make happen is that the panel moves around a bit. I can't work out how or where to press (or pull) to get the panel to release.

The plastic isn't very hard and it's all got a bit scratched from my efforts and so I thought it best to come back and ask before trying anything else.

 

[Dino]

Thanks for the detailed info. I feel this is pretty dumb but I need more help to get started.

I had a go this afternoon but for the life of me I can't get the little panels at the bottom of the grab handles out. I've tried various small screwdrivers in the slot but all I can make happen is that the panel moves around a bit. I can't work out how or where to press (or pull) to get the panel to release.

The plastic isn't very hard and it's all got a bit scratched from my efforts and so I thought it best to come back and ask before trying anything else.

I had to use my largest flat head and rotate and prise it out, after the smaller heads just scratched the surface! I also found I needed to work the panel out from the back of each side.
Also some of the blue plastic clips need to be pulled out and put on the panel before you put it back on

 

[cjb]

So I couldn’t wait, rear hose connection was fine (also checked connection from the front) but when I tried topping up the washer reservoir with neat screen wash it bubbled up a load of semi frozen mush. Guess it didn’t get the right mix/ had more wash in than I thought when I added some neat the other day and it couldn’t cope with the extreme cold last night. See what happens when it thaws

Any advice on where to check the connection for the rear washer at the front would be appreciated. Think mines has popped off there as I'm getting fluid in the footwell when I tried to use the rear washer this afternoon.

 

[Dino]

Any advice on where to check the connection for the rear washer at the front would be appreciated. Think mines has popped off there as I'm getting fluid in the footwell when I tried to use the rear washer this afternoon.

I just followed the pipes from the front left hand/driver side to the front wipers and reservoir to check they were connected. You can see the washer pipes with the motor cover on and take that off and you can follow the pipe to the reservoir

 

[turpsey123]

Thanks for the detailed info. I feel this is pretty dumb but I need more help to get started.

I had a go this afternoon but for the life of me I can't get the little panels at the bottom of the grab handles out. I've tried various small screwdrivers in the slot but all I can make happen is that the panel moves around a bit. I can't work out how or where to press (or pull) to get the panel to release.

The plastic isn't very hard and it's all got a bit scratched from my efforts and so I thought it best to come back and ask before trying anything else.

They are a bit of a pig to get out. I was lucky enough that one of my screwdrivers has lead such a hard life that the end is slightly bent over.

 

[gus]

Any work on plastic in this weather might help with an input from a fan heater to warm it up, plus your hands might thank you

 

[cjb]

I just followed the pipes from the front left hand/driver side to the front wipers and reservoir to check they were connected. You can see the washer pipes with the motor cover on and take that off and you can follow the pipe to the reservoir

Thanks Dino
Got the cover off under the bonnet and traced from reservoir to the point it disappears behind the other plastic panel (see photo). No leak on that run.

Having tried it again this morning, some fluid is making it to the rear jet, but I'm still getting some leaking into the footwell (around the area behind the bonnet release catch - photo attached). I can get the side panel open, but I think it's a bit higher than that as it's running/dripping down.
Any suggestions welcome before I have to admit defeat and take a trip to the garage

 

[BravoDelta]

I had to use my largest flat head and rotate and prise it out, after the smaller heads just scratched the surface! I also found I needed to work the panel out from the back of each side.
Also some of the blue plastic clips need to be pulled out and put on the panel before you put it back on

Success! Thanks @Dino and @turpsey123

I put a large flathead screwdriver into the slot and twisted firmly - the panels then just popped out to allow me to unscrew the Phillips head screws. I took off both of the tail light acccess hatches and gave each side of the trim in turn a sharp pull and then the whole of the trim panel came away easily with all of the blue plastic clips attached to the trim panel.

When putting the trim back on, I pressed pretty firmly/sharply on the panel over where I guessed the the blue plastic clips to be and got a positive click from some of them. Then screws back in and panels back into the grab handles to cover the screws. Job done.

But, as it turned out, the hose had not become disconnected and when I tried a rear wash with the panel off, there was no leakage. My best guess is that the nozzle itself may have frozen and the pump was strong enough for the washer fluid to come out around the pipe but there's no real way of knowing. We've never filled the washer reservoir as the car is only 9 months old. When I next fill up the washer, I'll use a stronger solution if it's still wintery weather.

 

[akendall1966]

Any advice on where to check the connection for the rear washer at the front would be appreciated. Think mines has popped off there as I'm getting fluid in the footwell when I tried to use the rear washer this afternoon.

Mine did the same today except I washed the inside of the windscreen. There is a joint in the pipe feeding the rear washer behind the plastic trim on the driver side a pillar. The trim is clipped in place so can be popped of. Put a cable tie around the rubber joint to hopefully make it grip a bit more.