Windshield washer probs

[sirsmiley]

Its like -2C out, not too cold...cant get windshield washer to work, i filled it up with fluid, i cant see its leaking...

i had my gf use it and i can hear the whine of it like the pump or whatever...and its not producing anything i just hear the wipers moving and the pump trying to pump..

smelt something like antifreeze a few days ago but it went away..i dont see any ice build up on the ends of the wiper blades where it shoots out, i trace the hoses back inside the car, nothing looks split or cracked...

is it possible that some has frozen inside and wont pump? its strange that both wont produce any spray..is it possible the hose fell off the pump between either the resevoir and pump or pump and nozzles?

UPDATE
------------
removed some frozen leaves where it splits from 1 to 2 hoses to go to the wipers, smacked the wipers against windshield to break up any ice on them, etc and started car up again after letting it sit, now sprays on both wipers (left wiper is ab it clogged but slowly working better, right is normal again) success!!!! must have gotten frozen up because the resevoir seemed awfully low

[chuckeieio]

Hey Chris. Try using the washer fluid that is good to -40 and run it through the lines. i accidently used a regular bottle good to 0, and i had the same problem.You can buy em at any gas station here in ontario. I don't think your fluid level had much to do with it, it's just the wrong fluid for the climate here.

you also risk cracking your fluid tank fittings and washer fluid motor housing.

[sirsmiley]

Originally Posted by chuckeieio

Hey Chris. Try using the washer fluid that is good to -40 and run it through the lines. i accidently used a regular bottle good to 0, and i had the same problem.You can buy em at any gas station here in ontario. I don't think your fluid level had much to do with it, it's just the wrong fluid for the climate here.

you also risk cracking your fluid tank fittings and washer fluid motor housing.

it is the green stuff, i used to use the blue stuff in the fall, it says its good to -20C :S

yeah i should spring for the -40 stuff for 50 cents more, maybe the yanks dont realize what kinda climate we have, and we have flash freezing, was 5C one day and -15 the next

[roth_k]

Do these happen to be newer model Cavaliers with the hoses that run up the wiper blades that you're talking about? I have an '03 with the same problems in the winter. Never really looked at wiper fluid, just thought it would be a given it would hold up in winter, especially if its sold in Minnesota!! I usually fix the problem by stopping at a gas station and filling a jug of the HOT water from the coffee maker and pouring it along the lines. That did the trick last winter, but I'm gonna get some of the "green stuff".