P38A Washer fluid pouring out behind headlights

I bought a 1996 (N Reg) P38 HSE last week. Today washer fluid has started pouring out from behind the front headlights as soon as the power is turned on. If I turn the power off, it stops.

I've had a look in RAVE however I'm not sure what I'm looking for. Is this an electrical fault or is it something as simple as a loose nut? The headlight washers are missing from my vehicle however what I assume are the mounting bolts are still there.

Both headlights or just the drivers side
The washer bottle is underneath the drivers headlight and has 3 pumps supplying the front rear screens and the headlamps

biggeeeee said:

Both headlights or just the drivers side
The washer bottle is underneath the drivers headlight and has 3 pumps supplying the front rear screens and the headlamps

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It's on both sides.

Pump to the headlamps seems to be powered on continually pumping the fluid out....disconnect the pump and see what happens!

Headlamp washers should only operate every third windscreen wash cycle. If pump is running constantly you have a BECM switching problem.

wammers said:

Headlamp washers should only operate every third windscreen wash cycle. If pump is running constantly you have a BECM switching problem.

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Does it go to ground to switch them on? Has a wire chafed and grounded it causing it to run continually?

I've had a quick look now that I've got some daylight and the water is coming from the drivers side, I swear it was both sides last night! Anyway, I've found a hose behind the headlight lying loose. I can't seem to find where it connects to, however this must be for the headlight washers. I've had a go at removing the headlight to take a better look, however I must be missing something as I can't seem to get it out. I've removed a couple of bolts (one behind the headlight at the base and one or two on top), however it's still won't come out. Rain (and two toddlers wanting Daddy) have now stopped play.

My suspicion is that the loose hose is just a symptom and not the actual cause.

Grrrrrr said:

Does it go to ground to switch them on? Has a wire chafed and grounded it causing it to run continually?

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Possibly.

When removing the headlight, what do you have to remove? Are there two small horizontal bolts fixed to the rear of the headlight that have to be removed? And do these rust so that the bolt turns when you try to remove them...

If so, what is the best way of removing them? Access is a little tight for me to get my trusty drill in there.

Also, I tried removing fuse 25 (wipers and headlight wash), the wipers stopped however I could still hear the pump going.

DurhamGary said:

When removing the headlight, what do you have to remove? Are there two small horizontal bolts fixed to the rear of the headlight that have to be removed? And do these rust so that the bolt turns when you try to remove them...

If so, what is the best way of removing them? Access is a little tight for me to get my trusty drill in there.

Also, I tried removing fuse 25 (wipers and headlight wash), the wipers stopped however I could still hear the pump going.

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You should be able to get at the motors from underneath. Just unplug the headlamp washer pump. It is the middle one of the three.