69 WSW washer not working

[Michael L.]

Guys,

I'm prepping my '69 for the Texas regional next month and my WSW washer isn't working. I've actually never tested it since completing my restoration a few years ago. The WSW motor and everything else was rebuilt/restored by a reputable restorer (can't remember who but I'm sure I got him through this forum). I've searched the forum and have read several posts on troubleshooting this issue and just wanted to ask if this info is applicable for a 69. Most posts seem to be on C2's. Sor far, when I push the washer button there is no discernable "click" or any other noise as has been mentioned by others. I'm going to try priming the line but I'm thinking this is probably going to be an electrical issue. Any advice/guidance is appreciated.

Mike

[Michael L.]

Forgot to post these pics.

[Terry M.]

Be sure that the part of the center instrument cluster, where the windshield washer switch is mounted, is grounded. The center instrument cluster ground is nearer the cigarette lighter and if that cluster is broken at the breakaway points, as often happens, the ground needed for the washer switch can be intermittent or missing.

It is late at night after a long day at the Illinois Chapter Meet and I am tired. I hope these words make sense. I'll look tomorrow and see if they do in the light of day.

[Joseph W.]

When I was in Vegas for Nationals, a fellow with a 70 had to prime his first and then it worked.

[Michael L.]

Ok so I figured out what was up with the motor and after tapping the wiper motor housing I got them to turn off which was mentioned in a separate post but the washers are still not working. Had my WSW motor restored with new washer pumps several years ago but I never used the washers until now and noticed they’re not working. I primed the system with fluid coming out of the nozzles but they still don’t work. When I push the washer button the pump clicks but it doesn’t run. Any idea how to further troubleshoot this? Could this pump be bad because it was never used previously? Could the seals be dry rotted or something?

Mike

[Michael L.]

Think I figured it out. I just watched a video on YouTube on how these pumps work. I did not realize that the pump is actually driven by the spinning wiper motor. I had stopped the wiper motor in the middle of the windshield with the override switch so the dry wipers weren’t just dragging across the windshield as I worked on the wiper system and primed and tested the washer. I’m pretty sure now when I let the wipers run and try the washer it will work.

[Michael L.]

Back in the shop now and unfortunately the washer still doesn’t work when I try it with the wipers running. I can hear the pump working now for 5-6 seconds after I push the button but still nothing out of the washer nozzles. Any tips? As I said, I’ve primed the pump all the way to the nozzles but it’s still not working.

[Terry M.]

Michael, if you disconnect the discharge hose from the pump and then activate the pump, does fluid come out of the pump nozzle? If so, try blowing out the line and nozzles (at the windshield) both ways with compressed air….just a thought.

[Pat M.]

Hi Michael, I'm not that familiar with 3-port pumps, but I've successfully rebuilt several 70 5-port pumps. In multiple cases with the symptoms you mentioned, the gasket(s) between the outer separate plastic parts of the pump were not sealing correctly, and not allowing a proper suction. To diagnose this situation, what I did was put a little soapy water on the outside of the pump near the gasket(s), blocked off the outlet ports, and blew air into the main inlet port, and if it produced bubbles, I knew the gasket(s) were not sealing correctly. In that case, I used a little silicone to help seal the gaskets, and that was successful multiple times.

Also, sometimes the little internal "umbrella" valves, which are supposed to hold the prime, failed, and had to be replaced, and/or the piston gasket failed. As of relatively recently, you could go on eBay and buy a service NOS 3-port, although it's colored black, and harvest these and other parts.

Good luck.