Re: Xenon headlamp power washers won't

When it is working properly, what force causes the washer jet arm to extend? Is it hydraulic pressure from the pumped washer solution, or is there some type of motor or solenoid that extends the jet arm and then, once extended, allows the fluid to be squirted? In other words, if you are out of washer fluid, does the washer jet arm still extend?

Looks like they extend solely by hydraulic pressure. Much like automatic sprinkler heads. The mechanism looks a bit cheap (from looking at my car), though, and is probably there only because it's a regulatory requirement in the US for the Xenon/HID headlights.

Check this out:

http://www.tepidcola.com/mini/Xenons & Washers.PDF

Sounds like a strange problem. It's a really simple mechanism - it shouldn't be hard to get it working right. Could the sprayers be clogged with gunk or dust from some sloppy assembly? You might try taking them apart (just the sprayers, not the high-voltage potentially-lethal headlights) and rinsing them out.

 

Re: Re: Xenon headlamp power washers won't

Looks like they extend solely by hydraulic pressure. Much like automatic sprinkler heads. The mechanism looks a bit cheap (from looking at my car), though, and is probably there only because it's a regulatory requirement in the US for the Xenon/HID headlights.

Check this out:

http://www.tepidcola.com/mini/Xenons & Washers.PDF

Sounds like a strange problem. It's a really simple mechanism - it shouldn't be hard to get it working right. Could the sprayers be clogged with gunk or dust from some sloppy assembly? You might try taking them apart (just the sprayers, not the high-voltage potentially-lethal headlights) and rinsing them out.

MiniBear, thanks for your insight (and the link ). I might fiddle with it a little to see if I can see any obvious problems with the way my car has been assembled by the bodyshop against the detailed instructions. But if I can't see the problem, I'll print out the PDF and drop it off with my car (It will probably be the first time either the bodyshop or the local BMW dealer will have seen any official MINI documentation).

 

So where is MiNiGuY when you need him?

(at the bakery I guess! )

 

washers

I'm strongly suspecting that the hosework has got kinked somewhere along the line.
A common place is where the hose leads from the r/h washer (l/h if your looking at it facing the engine) and bends to go under the bonnet blanket.
Check that the hoses are all free of kinks.
If you find no kinks, then the connection to the pump may be the culprit.
Does water run out behind the left wheel instead?
Doesn't sound like a pump problem as you can hear it, but thats not to say it couldn't be.

The washers are totally hydraulic.
They will rise sometimes without fluid just because of the air pressure in the hoses.

Hope it's sorted soon.

 

Re: washers

I'm strongly suspecting that the hosework has got kinked somewhere along the line.
A common place is where the hose leads from the r/h washer (l/h if your looking at it facing the engine) and bends to go under the bonnet blanket.
Check that the hoses are all free of kinks.
If you find no kinks, then the connection to the pump may be the culprit.
Does water run out behind the left wheel instead?
Doesn't sound like a pump problem as you can hear it, but thats not to say it couldn't be.

The washers are totally hydraulic.
They will rise sometimes without fluid just because of the air pressure in the hoses.

Hope it's sorted soon.

MiNiGuY, thanks for your help. When I got home from work last night I messed with it a little in the driveway, checking connections and hose placement. No washer fluid was leaking out anywhere. Somehow I got the headlight washers to work with the hood in the fully raised position. (I was very happy to see the jet washer mechanism still functioned properly as I was beginning to doubt they were okay). But when I closed the hood, it wouldn't work at all, so it must be a kink somewhere in the hose.

I stopped playing with it as it was getting dark and I was running out of washer fluid. I'm going let the bodyshop or BMW dealership sort it out while I'm away on a trip this weekend.

 

Re: Re: washers

when I closed the hood, it wouldn't work at all, so it must be a kink somewhere in the hose.

Yep.
Should have mentioned that one also!!

I know exactly what it is.

It's where the hose is clipped to the bonnet hinge.
If there isn't enough free hose around the clips,or it's just too tight against the hinge, the hose just bends in half when you close the bonnet.
A couple of minutes fiddling by your good self should see it sorted!!

Or you could just watch the dealer squirm for a bit and then 'suggest' it for laughs!!

 

Well, a week ago I took my Cooper S back to the bodyshop so they could take it to the local BMW (non-MINI) dealership to repair the xexon headlight washer system. I was going on a 5 day trip out of town and expected, as promised, the car to be ready for me when I returned.

So.... my car sat at the bodyshop for 3 days (plus a weekend) before the bodyshop could convince the BMW dealer to work on it, then it took the BMW dealer (who doesn't have and MINI certified technicians) fully 2 days (!) to sort out the super complicated headlight washer system. Supposedly dealer technicians were in contact with MINI national technical support on this issue. They removed the LF wheel and inner fender trim to find........... surprise, a kinked hose. Duh.

Then it was back to the bodyshop for "detailing" of one day. So yesterday afternoon, some 8 days after I dropped my car off for this simple problem, I finally got it back.

And the kicker? The BMW dealer broke the black plastic trim on the a-piller at the edge of the windshield. Completely off. As in missing from the car.

Now the bodyshop says they've got the trim piece on rush order and will install it next week, along with the replacement Cooper S rocker panel (side skirt) they also damage previously. Ugg!

 

dear oh dear!!

8 days, what a joke.

You don't make it clear if you are using the car now or not.
If you are then make sure you plug up the holes left by any missing clips on that A post finisher.

If water gets in there ,l/h side, it will run straight down to your fuse box.

If it's the r/h side, it will run straight onto the bc1 controller.

The bc1 controller problems mentioned widely on mini2 were all to do with this. Water was getting under the clips and running down the inside of the car, straight onto the bc1.
Of course it's a new design now with water shield but there's no point tempting fate, and if it rains hard, you could find wet carpets when you next get in.

Did the dealer tell you this??

I wonder!!

 

hi

Also check the grommet behind the brake servo..thats where we route the wiring for the front driving lamps,if whoever fitted them didnt seal up the grommet correctly this could cause water ingress into the BC1 and footwell,But as miniguy correctly says the bonnet hinge is a good place to start...check for tight washer pipes when you close the bonnet...

 

Thanks heretohelp and MiNiGuY.

Yes, I'm driving the car now (YAHOO again!!! ) and in fact there was an open hole where a single bright green clip was missing. No, the dealer is only BMW and quite lost on the MINI at this point, and they gave no explaination of why the trim piece was gone.

When I picked up the car yesterday the bodyshop (who shuttled it back and forth to the dealer) insisted on installing a temporary plug in the open hole and even put strong tape over that to really seal it. I thought it was bit of overkill at the time but since it's raining this weekend here I'm so glad to see a potential water damage disaster was averted. I'll have a look at the the grommet behind the brake servo, too.

Thanks again both of you.