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If I had only known .........


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I had a small but annoying problem, all caused by this little part.

Recognize it?

But I hadn't tackled the fix because I figured, given how little thought manufacturers usually put into DIY maintenance, that disassembly to fix would be a major pain.20190901_131440.jpg

Edited by DonShockley
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It's the washer nozzle for the rear window wiper on my 2015's liftgate.

 

It stopped working a couple years back but I didn't need it that often and tended to forget about it once the weather improved. And I was avoiding what I assumed would be a major disassembly issue just to get the nozzle loose so I could dip the tip in something to dissolve the buildup causing the clog.

 

If I had only known how simple the job was, I would have done it in the rain !!!

 

First just pull on the end of the cover to flip it open for access. Then just grip the end and pull. Then it was easy to take it into the house for cleaning. A needle, some vinegar, and a couple dips in the HF ultrasonic cleaner did the job. Also flushed out the line by triggering the spray with the nozzle removed just in case there was some debris inside. When you put it back in, point it straight up, it doesn't rotate with the wiper arm. The just push the cover closed.

 

Simple once you know and actually a pretty good design. Of course, I couldn't find any mention of such a simple cleaning procedure in my owner's manual when I looked at the time i first noticed the problem. I feel stupid for postponing it so long, now.

 

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14 hours ago, Beta Don said:

I didn't know my barn door had a washer at all!  -  Now you've got me headed out to check it out . . . . tomorrow or the next day!!  ?

 

Don

Ha! Maybe I'm wrong. I thought I was once told after service that it wasn't working but I didn't care as I don't use it.

Then again it could have been a previous car so we'll just call it a senior moment and move on. But now I'm curious too.

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I see from the photo, that the opening is 12 o'clock to 4 o'clock.  I looked at mine, the nozzle is pointed at 2 o'clock, not straight up at 12 o'clock.  Just an observation.  I don't really turn on my rear wipers, even in the rain.  But this is still a useful tool.

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1 hour ago, Fifty150 said:

I see from the photo, that the opening is 12 o'clock to 4 o'clock.  I looked at mine, the nozzle is pointed at 2 o'clock, not straight up at 12 o'clock.  Just an observation.  I don't really turn on my rear wipers, even in the rain.  But this is still a useful tool.

I didn't think to make note of what direction mine was pointing before I removed it. I just assumed pointed towards the center was the correct alignment for now. I'll probably do some testing on my days off later in the week to try to figure out the best positioning. And I don't know if I may have distorted the spray pattern when clearing the clog since I had to push pretty hard and dig a low with the needle.

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1 hour ago, G B L said:

I can see none of you folks live in a dirt road in Vermont, My TC has 2 for the front and one on each rear door.  you pull the wiper   lever toward you for the front and push it for the rear.   I use lots of Rain-x

To me the lever always seemed backwards. I know the reason it works the way it does is so that it matches other cars with front washers only. But personally it seems more logical to move the wash lever towards the front to wash the front window and move it towards the back to wash the back window.

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I noticed one side on mine doesn't spray very well. I was looking at it trying to figure out how to remove it to clean the nozzle but it looks like you figured it out before I did. That is way easier than I was imagining ?.

 

I wonder if you could change the nozzle to aim it straight back. You know, for those pesky tailgaters ?

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1 minute ago, stanger_missle said:

I wonder if you could change the nozzle to aim it straight back. You know, for those pesky tailgaters ?

Just pull it out and it will do just that. That's what I did to flush the line before I reinserted the cleaned out nozzle. Of course you would to leave the cover flipped open or drill a hole in it for it to actually work. Make it better by adding some bright yellow dye to to your washer fluid.

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  • 1 year later...

Ahh, the silly little maintenance issues that I never have to worry about in my windowless van! ? Some people have said to me "Wow, your windows are really dark! How do you see through them?!" and I reply "Uhh, what windows??" (mine is Tuxedo Black, not the "Creeper White", so some people apparently think it's tint when standing 20ft away, lol)

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  • 2 months later...

Anybody know the part number for the jet. Body shop replaced lift gate on my van and lost mine. Can't seem to find this part listed or show on Ford's site. Have found lots of them on UK E bay. They look the same but can't tell if there the same size. I want to give the part number to body shop so they can buy it.

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  • 2 weeks later...

 I was blowing out the tip with compressed air and it shot the little metal piece that controls the spray out and and I never saw it.  now the water gurgles out (it does flow now).....

 

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CDPFFQ4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edited by MLB
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  • 1 month later...

I bought 2 different tips. One is an exact match and the other is a little bit longer.  I snipped the extra off and it fits and shoots water just fine.
 Problem is I can't get it to hit the window!   I've messed with the tip position endlessly, it's the same angle as the other side that works fine.

Spray goes too straight up versus angling enough to hit the window. I'lve cut one shorter to sit slightly closer to the window but that doens't fix it either.

 Annoying. 

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