LEAKY SCOOSHER BOTTLE

Cpt_Spalding · Post by **Cpt_Spalding** » 01 Oct 2007, 13:48

Ok, ok! But do YOU know its proper name? No, didn't think so.

I was going to ask the garage last time it was in to have a quick look at this & they said this would involve taking off the inner wing. Sooo... it sounds like a labour intensive job that I should do myself.

The trouble with these things is you don't know what you're going to find until you get it all stripped down. Then you've got to get to the Citroen place to get the parts & your transport is in bits &...

My question is has anyone else had any such issues & therefore any advice? Please tell me it's easily sorted & a my wife will manage it before she's made the breakfast. Ta.

Also the passenger side scoosher doesn't scoosh.

Post by **CitroJim** » 01 Oct 2007, 14:15

I'm assuming you mean the windscreen washers

Stock fault is the little one-way valve between the pump (mounted in the bottle) and the piping to the windscreen jets going duff. It stops being a one-way valve or even a non-retuern valve.

No need to have the wing off. The tank and pump can be got at by removing the offside mudshield undr the wing. You'll need to move this mudshield and the arch-liner to get at the one-way valve.

So, not quite a before breakfast job but certainly doable between elevenses and tiffin....

Cpt_Spalding · Post by **Cpt_Spalding** » 01 Oct 2007, 14:25

Hmm.

When I try to fill up the scoosher bottle, it fills up so far then p*shes out under the engine compartment. 2 or 3 scooshes & the warning light flashes again. Hence I suspect a major leak somewhere.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 01 Oct 2007, 16:11

You've probably got a pump fitting through a hole near the bottom of the washer bottle. It could be dislodged through frost - something we don't get in Hampshire.

dnsey · Post by **dnsey** » 01 Oct 2007, 17:44

I have just the same problem, and haven't yet got round to investigating.
I think the filler neck is seperate rom the bottle itself, and has come adrift, as the leakage only happens when filling up. If you 'waste' enough water, it's still possible to fill the bottle so that it lasts for ages.

reblack68 · Post by **reblack68** » 01 Oct 2007, 18:16

I was in about the washer bottle on my car today as it happens. It might be the seal around your pump that's gone. Mine wasn't leaking but something had gone horribly wrong with the fluid and the seal was rotten.

You can see the pump from underneath the car, it shouldn't be too hard to see if that's where the water is coming from. The seals seem to be pretty standard for bottles with right-angle pumps. I got a replacement seal off a SAAB that just happened to be missing a wing. Take care when plugging the pump back in, it's very easy to push the seal into the bottle. Luckily the SAAB had two pumps

Post by **admiral51** » 01 Oct 2007, 22:49

assuming the washer bottles are the same on all xantias is the basis for the following (i have a 1996 P plate)

the filler neck is seperate from the bottle itself and is sat/sealed into the top of bottle.this neck is run through the inner wing and is a real pig to get out

they capacity of the bottle itself is approx 4-5 litres and to remove the bottle i believe you have to take the bumper off to access the retaining bolts
you can see the underside of the bottle inc pump outlets from beneath the car just set it on high
is it possible that your filler neck is not sat in the top of bottle hence lots of water goes onto floor and very little goes in the bottle

or maybe the filler is split a flexible garden hose should bend enough to drop into the bottle through the neck (it twists and narrows as it goes through wing) you should see then if its filling bottle or still coming out onto floor

i have a spare bottle so will check capacity tomorrow and post result

colin

Post by **admiral51** » 01 Oct 2007, 23:11

sometimes i wonder how i get up in the mornings

from what i can see there is only one electrical connection to the washer bottle that sits on top of the pump is it possible that you have a faulty level sensor and in fact the bottle is still full. how long does it take to empty when using the jets?? have you a split in the pipes to the jets as it will take very little time to pump 2-3 litres out of the pipe compared to pushing it through the jets assuming the level sensor is set about 2/3rds of capacity

as soon as bottle is full it will pour out from filler neck join as you pour it in mine does and it runs down towards front of car and looks like ive emptied kettle straight on to floor

hope some of this helps

colin

andmcit · Post by **andmcit** » 01 Oct 2007, 23:30

The wheel arch lining removal will only help if the washers aren't getting
any water due to the non return valve blocking or even splitting due to
a blockage in the pipe creating excessive pressure in the line.

As has been previously posted, the leak is due to the seal not being
watertight where the pump sits into the main bottle. It only sits in a
pair of molded lugs in the bottle itself, acting against a rubber o ring.
The water can fill up and the pump WILL work, but the motor's poor
sealing will eventually allow the contents to spill out, especially when
the car goes around corners!!

You can indeed access the motor and the feed pipe/electrics from it
without removal of the bumper, BUT will need to dismantle it if the
bottle needs to come off! The strap that holds the bottle in place will
likely be rusted in place thanks to non captive captives that wont undo...

Andrew

Cpt_Spalding · Post by **Cpt_Spalding** » 02 Oct 2007, 08:50

Bugger. She's not going to get that done before breakfast is she? Looks like I'll be having Sausage McMuffins on Saturday then...

Post by **admiral51** » 02 Oct 2007, 10:13

Cpt_Spalding wrote:Bugger. She's not going to get that done before breakfast is she? Looks like I'll be having Sausage McMuffins on Saturday then...

it all depends on what time she starts

colin