Washer Pump Advice

One of the numerous electrical problems I'm now trying to eliminate on the landy is the washer pump.

The pump is not working as it should, it doesn't work at idle or when driving normally but when you rev the engine higher on acceleration it magically starts working :-/

The wipers won't turn off for about 3 days every couple of months but they are fine just now so I'm ruling out the relay for now.

When I push the washer button the wipers are working as they should I am just getting no fluid from the nozzle and the pump is not making any noise. What should I test first? Does this sound like an earth problem.

It's on a 1990 Defender 90 200tdi with the twin washer pump setup btw

Thanks guys

Hi Bud,
At first it does sound like an earth issue. 1 Check the fuse first, 2 check to see if power is getting to the pump, 3 if power is getting to the pump, pump may be shot.

Hope this helps

celt69

Thanks mate, I'm assuming the fuse is ok as there is power getting to the pump (When the revs are high) I'll check it tonight with a multimeter and see what results I get.

Also to test the pump can I just connect wires from the battery straight to the pump and test it that way?

Sounds like the wash/wipe switch personally, I would replace this first and whilst there I would check each wite for continuity and excessive resistence (if you can find a diagram for it that is)

The thing with the switch though is that it turns the wipers on as it should regardless of the revs eg when I press the button on the stalk the wipers swipe a couple of times, unless there are two switches on that button or something else I'm not aware of.

when you say high revs, is it just a case of not on tickover, or rev the nuts off it?
if the former id go high earth resistance at pump, needs extra voltage to get over the resistance. tickover only usually gives 13V ish, higher revs needed to get to yer full 14.4

Rev the nuts off it basically, you've got to rev it harder than you would do on normal acceleration. So you reckon I could just renew the earth and earth it to the chassis or somewhere on the body?

soubds a bit extreme, full voltage is reached at around 1500-1700 rpm.
wonder if the revs are misleading, and just causing enough vibration to make a contact. new earth will not hurt.
twin washer pump, swap the plugs over on the bottom, if it works fine (albeit the front switch operating the rear squirt) the pumps fubard, if its still a problem check your getting voltage through, trace back, do you get voltage at the fuse etc.

Not really checked much on it just now tbh was more looking for a place to start, I'll try swapping the wires over and see if that works and if not will crack out the multimeter and start fault finding.

When I say revving hard I'm not talking really hard, it's probably at the point it hits near full boost that it's working.

If your pump works being wired direct, your fuses are OK and you aren't getting power to it from the stalk, you can gently remove the end off the stalk and see if you are getting power to there.

If you have got a power supply, check the condition of the return spring and the brass washer, clean or replace the washer as required.

A word of warning though, be careful whilst taking it apart, otherwise the spring will try to escape ... and it's only a little one!

Got this sorted, went to swap the front and back connections and the live spade connector has broke off, held it against the pump and tried it and it worked so new pump to be ordered

Pleased to hear you've got it sorted.

for now, just swap the power connector and hoses over on the pump, you wont have rear wash, but front will work.
Then you can add the non-working rear washer to the round-tuit list for nicer weather