Citroen C5 - Windscreen Washer Sprays don't work below 0 degrees C

[Paul-R]

Seems to me that the heater kit will only work in cold weather for as long as the fluid in the reservoir doesn't freeze up.

[crapday69]

An update. I purchased this for the full price and fitted it to the C5 X7 in about 30 minutes. Fitted it just under the expansion tank as its near the washer hose on the bonnet. These is an earth screw right next to it, so no problem there. I then fed the power cable under the plastic trim above the radiator and connected it to the positive terminal. I then cut the washer hose and connected it to the heater. Works a treat, well it comes out warm. Will get up early in the hope of some frost and video the results. I got to use my new tools to fit it.

Gary.

[crapday69]

Seems to me that the heater kit will only work in cold weather for as long as the fluid in the reservoir doesn't freeze up.

Yes you still need to keep the concentrate just right so as not to let the fluid freeze.

Gary.

[GiveMeABreak]

Looking forward to seeing the video Gary. Sod's law, it will be sunny skies and 90 degrees now!

[crapday69]

The only problem was the tubing on the C5 is a thinner diameter, but with a bit of washing liquid and some force I got the new and old spliced together.

Gary.

[crapday69]

Heres a link to the heated washers (sorry I forget hot to upload the video on here). It takes a bit longer than the video they use to advertise this but I put this down to the C5 and its washer system. The wipers come on for a good few wipes every time I squirt, this doesn't give the heated water as much time on the windscreen to melt the ice. Also I think the pressure is too slow at the first skoosh due to the larger diameter tubbing used. But as your sitting in your car with warm hands, I'd give it 5 stars.

[GiveMeABreak]

Thanks for posting that Gary - it was a bit like watching 'Catch Phrase', trying to guess the graphic as the ice slowlly cleared!

I would say that your washer spray definitely seems a bit feeble compared to mine, but I don't use a watered down version of screen wash - just the pre-mixed straight-in stuff. But as you say, the larger diameter tubing is probably the cause of this.

Actually, that's a good point - I really don't know of any cars as per the manufacturer's video that wait for 10 seconds - plus to wipe after activating the wash!

[crapday69]

That was my wee mum pottering about her kitchen lol.

[crapday69]

I will probably try and find the same bore tubbing and redo the plumbing. it shouldn't be too hard to do.

[Mandrake]

Surely using the wipers when there is still ice on the window is a bad idea ?

Either the rubber will be frozen to the ice, or if it is rough lumpy ice it may damage the wipers...

On my Xantia I always just poured lukewarm water over the window to melt the ice taking a minute or so at most. On my Ion I just turn the heater up full for 10 minutes while the car is parked and it completely de-ices the windows! (Being electric there is no engine running so it is virtually silent...)

[Paul-R]

On my Xantia I always just poured lukewarm water over the window to melt the ice taking a minute or so at most.

Same here except I use water that's as hot as my hand will accept so probably hotter. Been doing it this way for forty odd years on dozens of cars. Haven't used so much as a single can of de-icer in all that time.

I use a kettle-full for the 308 and a kettle-and-a-half for the X7. After the ice has melted I remove the water quickly using a window wiper blade. I also try to make the windscreen as warm as possible so as to defrost/demist the inside surface.

[GiveMeABreak]

Same here - never used de-icer - biggest rip off going - I'll only use lukewarm water if I'm in a a real hurry, otherwise I start the car and use the windscreen clear / demist. On my X7 it is quite quick.

Having said that, on the C5 MK II one year, we got caught in a freak snow storm (snowflakes the size of crisps) and the main roads were rapidly layering up with snow. As I got up the hill back into rural territory, the wipers could not clear the snow quick enough and it started compacting up under the wipers, so I had to stop and clear it out with my bare hands as the wipers could not return to the rest position.

So in cases like this - on the road and with greasy dirty crap sprayed up from lorries and cars with no mud guards (don't get me started on those), I can see the benefit of a heated water jet to help melt any compacting snow and help clear mud and grease.

[Hell Razor5543]

I have found that Rain-X (which some people like and other people don't) also stops ice from sticking hard to the windscreen. Normally I can just brush the ice away. Snow also normally just slides off.

I also, every so often, really go to town on getting the inside of the glass very clean. Condensation can form quickly at 'seed' points (where there is a fleck of dirt), so if the glass is really clean it takes longer for the condensation to form, and is shifted away more quickly as well.

[Michel]

On my Xantia I always just poured lukewarm water over the window to melt the ice taking a minute or so at most.

I've done this for 25 years. I use hand-hot water with a squirt of stardrops in it. I fill a 2 litre milk container with this and then go out to the car, walk round pouring it over the windows, get in and drive off. I don't get why people stand there scraping away for 10 mins freezing!

I keep the container with me in winter in case I need it when my shift finishes. There's a few more unpleasant things than scraping ice off a car to drive home to bed at 6am after a night shift.. not that many though!