Windshield washer front and back doesn’t work

I have a 2004 ford explor, 4.0. Its full of flouid, but I cant get them to work front or back. I dont think the lines are frozen, where should I start?

Thanks

Not sure if one pump does both on those, but if so, I'd suspect the pump.

Does the pump come on? If so does it seem to labour? If the pump doesn't come on, I would say fuse. If it comes on but labours something is pluging your line.

Some lines have anti-syphon junctions or T's, on my friends Tiburon he had low flow on from his washers and these turned out to be half plugged.

Dissconnect your line as close to the jug as you can get at and see if you have flow there, then work your way to you actual spray nozzles.

Denis

Not sure if one pump does both on those, but if so, I'd suspect the pump.

Does the pump come on? If so does it seem to labour? If the pump doesn't come on, I would say fuse. If it comes on but labours something is pluging your line.

Some lines have anti-syphon junctions or T's, on my friends Tiburon he had low flow on from his washers and these turned out to be half plugged.

Dissconnect your line as close to the jug as you can get at and see if you have flow there, then work your way to you actual spray nozzles.

Denis

Thanks for the info.

Its hard to tell if the pump comes on. I cant hear anything, and where I live it has been super cold out. So its tought to get out side the car and search around.

However, I can hear a click sound when I try to turn the rear one on, but nothing comes out.

also the when I press the button, the windshield wipers dont come on? Shouldnt they come on automatically when you press the washer button?

where would the fuse be located for the pump?

Sounds like you have a blown fuse. You should hear the pump, it is fairly loud.

It's also cold where I am. when I get around tomorrow I'll try to remember to look in my owners manual. It should have a fuse list.

so today I while I was driving, just tired the washer button, and the windshield wipers came on. but still no washer fluid? Does this mean that it might be in the controller? or electrical?

I don't know how loud the pump is - i'm having a similar problem (94 explorer), except the rear fluid works. I can't hear the pump even when I have my ear under the hood and I'm reaching around to push the switch for the rear wiper. Therefore, I wouldn't automatically say it's the pump just because you can't hear it.
I read somewhere else that there are two lines coming from the reservoir, but I checked thare's only one that makes a 'T' before the firewall and then runs to the rear. I would guess it's a plug or leak in the line before the lines split at the firewall.
It's also too freakin cold here for me to check the lines for blockages. It did look like there were no leaks, though.

Whoops. It's my girlfriend's car. She just informed me that there's a rear washer reservoir that I had forgotten about. No idea where the pump is, though. I don't know what I was looking at - maybe the electrical runs with the fluid lines until it enters the firewall. Maybe it is the pump for me.
Sorry for the highjack.

For the 2002 Explorer, there is one pump for both front and rear. I expect the 2004 is similar. Keep in mind that it may take a few seconds to prime the lines if they haven't been used in awhile (or if the check valve is not working).

My suggestion would be to access the electrical connector for the pump and install a test light or multimeter. Check for voltage when someone presses and holds the washer button. If there is voltage to the pump, but the pump does not work, then you likely have a bad pump.

-Rod

so today I while I was driving, just tired the washer button, and the windshield wipers came on. but still no washer fluid? Does this mean that it might be in the controller? or electrical?

Windsheild wipers should come on even if your pump doesn't. You might be able to hear the pump running with the car on and should most probably hear it be able to hear it if your vehicle is off.

Windsheild wipers should come on even if your pump doesn't. You might be able to hear the pump running with the car on and should most probably hear it be able to hear it if your vehicle is off.

well, when I tried it before, the wipers didnt come on, which was confusing me, b/c I know they should. and then just today, they decided to work??? im trying to trouble shoot the issue.

im sure its not leaking, and im sure the lines are not frozen. The wipers didnt work with the washer button pressed and now they do. Im guess maybe a relay?? or washer motor?

Fortunately Im still under a 60 day warranty from the dealer.

I've seen on my Taurus were I had to take the end of the stalk switch (the end of the blinker arm that turns for your delay) off and clean the contacts. Sometimes my wipers wouldn't work and I had to tap the windshield washers a few times before they owuld work.

The cap pops out and there's a phillips screw head that holds the knob on. If you take the knob off be carefull, there's a spring and two pins that rub onto notches on the inside that give you that click feel when you adjust the wiper speed. Then there's a set of contacts inside that can be cleaned. If you take your time it can be done, but it's a little teadeous.

Denis

okay, so today, I checked all the fuses that i could, and they seem to be fine. I checked the lines as much as I could, they dont seem to be cloged. I couldnt hear the motor when I pressed the washer button.

is there a relay? and if so where? I didnt get an owners manual when I bought the truck.

if the moter is gone, how much do they cost. I have a 60 day warranty but it only covers over 100$

I just called my loca auto parts store, and they said I can only get the washer pump motor and relay from the dealer?? that stinks I have been having a hard time finding the cost for these

On the 98 explorer, the washer relay is located in a little black box, beneath the air intake tube on the passenger side frame rail.

Dean

today, when I press the washer button, the wipers dont even come on???

One possibility is the turn signal switch assembly could be going out. Since it affects both the wiper and washers.


Dean

One possibility is the turn signal switch assembly could be going out. Since it affects both the wiper and washers.


Dean

How much do they cost??

I've got an '00 Mountaineer with the rear washer working and the front washer not working. However, the front wipers did work when I pushed the switch for the front washer.

I replaced the relay (mentioned in a previous post) that is located behind the passenger side headlight ($11.81 from dealer). Works great now!

Dealership could not supply a schematic for the relay box...but in other posts it was stated that it was 1 of the relays closest to the passenger compartment.

How much do they cost??

A few years back when I disassembled and cleaned the wiper switch in my '93 Taurus SHO, I took photos along the way and wrote up the steps I performed to clean it. I just verifed that I still have the document. If you'd like me to send a copy to you, send me a private message with an e-mail address for you that can accept PDF attachments and I'll send it your way.

-Rod

Okay, so I finaly got it fixed. I brought it back, they had a new pump on hand, plugged that one it, and it worked, so they switched them. Everything good to go.

Thanks for all the help!

Okay well im a liar. Its not fixed. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. When I press the washer button in, sometimes the wipers don’t work, which makes the washer fluid not come out.

All other function on the controller work. The back washer works all the time. Would it be a realy that just works for the front wiper? Or would the best guess be the controller?

Okay well im a liar. Its not fixed. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. When I press the washer button in, sometimes the wipers don’t work, which makes the washer fluid not come out.

All other function on the controller work. The back washer works all the time. Would it be a realy that just works for the front wiper? Or would the best guess be the controller?
That's excatly how my Taurus was acting, except I only had one speed for the wipers (no interminent or fast). I had to replace the wiper control arm assembly and it fixed it.

Denis

That's excatly how my Taurus was acting, except I only had one speed for the wipers (no interminent or fast). I had to replace the wiper control arm assembly and it fixed it.

Denis

damn..lol thats what I didnt want to do. the pump was 20$ the relay is 11$ and the controle arm is 100$...

If you are a bit mechanically inclined and not afraid of working with relatively small hand tools, you could probably re-build your turn signal/wiper stalk and get a few more good years out of it. It doesn't even require you to remove the stalk from the steering column.

-Rod