Series 2a washer system

Yesterday I became the new owner of a Series 2a. I already have a few things that I need to sort but hey that’s part of the fun isn’t it?

The wipers work fine, the washer jet doesn’t (assuming I’m doing the right thing by pushing in the knob). I’ve tested the pump which works fine. The earthed connection is good. I can’t trace the positive back to the switch in the car and the cable must have been part replaced as none of the cable colours at the switch match the one at the pump (it’s got what I think is a series 3 dash). There are 3 cable terminals on the back of the switch in the 12, 6 and 9 o’clock positions - anyone able to confirm what each do/have a wiring diagram? Is there a solenoid somewhere between the switch and the pump?

None of the cables on the switch are giving a signal when I test to the positive cable on the pump so I’ve run a test cable from the switch to the pump but still nothing.

First thoughts are to run a new positive cable from the pump to the switch to replace that issue assuming it’s a straight cable link.

Any thoughts on the switch and how I can test?


So any help appreciated.

The washer switch is the green/black box at the back of the switch.

On the series 3 switch there are 4 connections on the switch. The one to the pump should be light green and black and black from the pump to earth. The other connections are (looking at the circuit diagram so may be opposite on the actual switch), brown and light green at 11 o clock to the wiper motor, washer connections at 1 o clock, red and light green at 3 o clock to the motor and a green feed from the fuse box at 6 o clock which goes out from the switch as green to the motor. The green is the common feed. Hope this helps. I should say, this is from the haynes manual which is totally reliable

That's very posh! The 'washer jet' sorry, dribble, is a push button pump, not of this modern electric stuff

Series 3 dash!

Thanks for your help, will have a bit of an explore over the next few days…

Looks like the wire with the thin brass spade terminal is missing from the green / black block , there’s a small,flathead screw to tighten it may have come loose , you can just make out the slot in the pic

steve2286w said:

Looks like the wire with the thin brass spade terminal is missing from the green / black block , there’s a small,flathead screw to tighten it may have come loose , you can just make out the slot in the pic

Click to expand...

Thanks, I’ve opened up the binnacle and as you’ve said there’s no cable there in the screw terminal. I have put a meter on the terminals of the knob/push switch and it completes the circuit when depressed so that’s good news. I can’t see any loose cable there which is a little odd (it may have fallen down the back so I’ll have a proper look in daylight tomorrow. If not I’ll run a new one in from there to the pump.

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.