Volvo 850 Wagon Rear Window Washer

alangiles · Post by **alangiles** » 24 Dec 2008, 04:18

The rear window washer has stopped working (It never worked very well!). The wiper function is OK so the electrical connections are presumably OK - just no wash fluid. The jet does not appear to be blocked and the reservoir is full (!). Could somebody tell me where the pump is located and how I should access it & check it and its associated plumbing out? Any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated. In my first posting I forgot to mention that it is a 1996 Volvo 850. Thanks!

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 24 Dec 2008, 07:35

Welcome to MVS.
The pump is in the front of the car, under the fluid tank...ususally what happens with these is the plastic tubing gets clogged along the way... There are several "T" connectors for them and where they connect is usually the clogged area...you'll need to follow yours....one "T" connector (I believe) up under the front of the car and then another one closer to where the squirter is near the rear of the car, in the tail gate. Someone correct me if I'm wrong- it's been awhile since we had an 850 wagon.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 24 Dec 2008, 07:51

I'm using my cell phone tethered to my laptop, away from home right now but have a copy of VADIS on my laptop and am able to look some things up. After my last response, I got curious and did some searching- I found this (converted to pdf from VADIS). It may or may not apply, but it will at least give you some ideas of the construction of the system as well as a possible reason/fix for your problem:

850 Rear Windshield Washer Fix.pdf: (1.35 MiB) Downloaded 3958 times

The information you need is near the end of the document.
Regards,
-MIJ

alangiles · Post by **alangiles** » 26 Dec 2008, 10:24

Dear MIJ,
Thanks! That was just what I needed. As soon as the Christmas festivities are over I shall get busy. The document you sent was perfect and it looks as if it could be the washer bleed valve and/or the washer pressure valve and/or the pump. Thanks again.
Alan

dahjelle · Post by **dahjelle** » 26 Dec 2008, 14:12

Is a '98 V70 similar enough to the 850 to use the same document? Or is there a similar document for the V70? We have the same problem--the main windshield washers work fine, but the headlight washers and the rear window washers don't get any fluid despite the wipers working fine.

Thanks!

alangiles · Post by **alangiles** » 22 Jan 2009, 01:36

Just an update on the solution to my problem with my 850, which may help with your S70 problem. The problem was with rear washer nozzle pressure valve accessed underneath the rear windshield panel-it was blocked. I have temporarily connected the tubing to the nozzle whilst I wait for the replacement part and it works fine for now confirming that the pump is fine. The supplier tells me that it is the same valve for the S70. This will not explain the problem with your headlight washers but may be there is a valve(s) that controls the plumbing for them?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 22 Jan 2009, 15:43

Or the holes could be clogged...a thin needle has been known to unclog these...try it and if that doesn't get it, dig deeper into it. My car doesn't have the squirters on the lights, so I'm just repeating what I've read from others.

The Quik-Brik · Post by **The Quik-Brik** » 13 Feb 2010, 22:22

I was about to ask about this but think that you have provided me with the answer so I'm going to go out and try this now.

It didn't seem to work but I also don't hear the whirring sound that normally comes when I hit the button. Mabye the pump for the back window is done. Anyone have an idea where this pump is?

LabRat · Post by **LabRat** » 15 Feb 2010, 01:57

The Quik-Brik wrote:...Anyone have an idea where this pump is?

See second post above:

MadeInJapan wrote:...The pump is in the front of the car, under the fluid tank...

alangiles · Post by **alangiles** » 15 Feb 2010, 07:02

I think the pump you are referring to is for the front not the rear washer. I did not have to replace the pump (my problem was a blocked valve-see earlier post) but the pdf document MadeinJapan kindly sent me showed a separate pump for the rear washer alongside the FUEL tank at the rear of the car. I have sent this document to Quik-Brik so please anybody correct my advice if it is wrong