Rear Windshield Washer Flood Nightmare.

[BlazerLT]

So it is cold here in Canuck land now (go figure eh) and I was travelling down our local snowy highway when I noticed that my rear windshield was dirty. So I fired up the rear washer only to find nothing coming out. Oh well, didn't need it right now anyways and it was cold and it is probably frozen a bit.

So I stopped off at the local auto store and picked up some windshield washer fluid and filled the tank up. Then I tried it again and everything was fine and the washer was working.

Now the fun part......

A day later I was again on the road and tried the rear washer and again it was not working and the pump was free wheeling like it had nothing. I opened the hood only to find the resevoir half empty even though I never used it.

Oh great, a broken resevoir now........ or was that the problem?

So again, I fill up the resevoir and the pump caught prime but nothing was coming out the rear spray nozzle. BUT A FLOOD WAS COMING OUT MY DRIVER'S REAR QUARTER PANEL DRAIN THOUGH........... SHIT!!!!

Oh great, have to find where something has worn through the damn hose some where in the area they route the tubing through the body which is a nightmare to find when you are on your side in a 1/2 foot of snow with wet hands and a windchill of -23c looking up into a dark void under your truck with a flashlight. DAMMMIT! THIS IS NOT A JOB I CAN DO OUTSIDE THIS TIME OF YEAR.......

So I pop open my trusty service manual and start the hunt only to find a "description" of the routing, but no illustrations. Useless.......

Called the dealer and service shops and they want a minimum $100 to fix it. GREAT!!!!

So I was check out the body section and how the rear wiring goes into the tailgate when I found the rear bottom back trim piece on the floor of the cargo bay and how it pops out and you can see the connections for the wiring and the windshield washer hose. Hmmmmmm....

So I got back outside, pop that piece off and there before my eyes is the washer hose completely out of the 90 degree connection coupler that is under it. Everytime I hit the rear washer, that hose was 100% open and dumping into the frame rail which empties into the rear quarter panel drains. This leak continued even though the pump was turned off and the hose gravity drined and was losing a lot of fluid.

Pop the hose back in, and everything is fine and working great.

BUT, the carpet underlay is completely soaked with windshield washer fluid and by the looks of it, it has been leaking for a while. Soaking it up is impossible without removing the whole rear carpet which is just not worth it, it will dry over time.

And that concludes my Blazer adventure of the day. One crisis fixed and all is good.

[dmbrisket 51]

dont ya just love the way GM put some lines/wires through on these things, it can be a real nightmear

[BlazerLT]

yea, through the frame rail, then up into and under the cargo compartment carpet??

[dmbrisket 51]

yes sir, i dont think a day goes by when i dont look at a GM vehical (i love my chevy, but GM keeps garauges open, honestly) and ask myselfe 'WTF were the engeneers thinking?!!?@?!!!???'

[mountie1982]

I kinda had the same problem. I was driving down the hwy the window got a nice thick white film on it. Cant see anything while doing a 110km is no fun so I hit the window cleaner........................................... ... nuttin...........give her one more try....................nutin. I stopped off at the store pick up some fluid and fill up the container dropped the hood hit the switch and...........nuttin. Open the hood and hit the switch and fluid pissing all over the engine. Its the plastic hose that comes out of the cantainer and goes the sprayer for the front window. It broken in two. Not sure if there are replacement parts but i just used a rubber hose conecting the broken pieces together.


Anyone know if there are replacement parts or is what i did the best fix?

[Teal95Jimmy]

Speaking of washer fluid freezing and breaking stuff. Anyone know what the filter like piece is called on the front washer line. It's the peice with the white cylinder and the hose going in and out. Mine froze and cracked. Where can i find one, or should is just stick with the piece of vacuum hose?

[BlazerLT]

Windshield washer fluid shouldn't freeze.

It is good for cold temperatures if you buy the right stuff.

[gman2153]

I noticed a puddle under my back end of the blazer one day after I filled the resovoir.. Same problem - the connector must have pulled free in the hose in the back from freezing... It was a simple fix, just pull up the molding and snap the hose back together..

Use Premium Washer Fluid if you can. I use the Rainex Stuff.

I never use the rear wiper or washer. I have mirrors to see behind me and I believe that the wiper will scratch the glass from all the soot that gets thrown up in from driving.

[BlazerLT]

I wouldn't use the rainX stuff, just causes smearing at night.

I almost had an accident with it in. I use standard -45c fluid with no additives.

[DaveLance]

I would use the rainX stuff, just causes smearing at night.

Sorry BlazerLT, is that would or would not use it? Personally I don't like it. It does cause smearing like you said and I believe that it shortens the life of the wiperblade. I bought Rainex antifog a little while ago and I still have to defrost my windshield before I can drive anywhere.

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by DaveLance

Sorry BlazerLT, is that would or would not use it? Personally I don't like it. It does cause smearing like you said and I believe that it shortens the life of the wiperblade. I bought Rainex antifog a little while ago and I still have to defrost my windshield before I can drive anywhere.

Sorry, I meant to say WOULD NOT use it.

It causes the blinding smearing effect at night.

With normal fluid, there is no residue, the rainX stuff actually causes a residue to form on the windshield and its grime removing capability blows big time.

You can get two jugs of good normal stuff for the price of the crap rainx shit.

[DaveLance]

That's what I thought. Just clarifying.

[LTBlazer97]

Ahhhh the rear washer waterfall thing. Funny story. When i went looking for a used blazer i test drove 4 from local dealers and they ALL had this problem, but the one i bought didnt have this problem YET. 1 week later, the waterfall haha, but i just extended the tube to put some slack on it, because it was way to taut, that is some advice for anyone having this problem

[BlazerLT]

Wish I knew that beforehand.

Man, I thought this was going to cost me a fortune.

But one thing that did happen was that the carpet underlay got soaked badly in that area. Will take some time to dry out.

[dmbrisket 51]

get a wet/dri vac. could get mold/mildu if you don't