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'98 V70 -- Loss of Windshield Washer Spray Strength

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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E Showell
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'98 V70 -- Loss of Windshield Washer Spray Strength

Post by E Showell »

Low washer fluid light went on. I used the washer a few time since. Refilled the reservoir and it took a full gallon of washer fluid. Since refill, the sprayer will only reach about 1" up from the bottom of the windshield -- not nearly enough to actually wash the windshield. Possible the pump is gone or could something else be going on? If the pump is shot, how big a job is replacement? Should I go with a pick and pull pump?

Any thoughts?

Thanks, Guys and Gals.
'98 V70 NA FWD 5 spd, silver sand metallic (sold)
'99 V70 NA FWD Auto, dark blue (sold)
'99 S70 NA FWD Auto, black (sold and resurrected -- Don't cry for me Argentina . . . )
'07 S80 3.2 FWD Auto, Barents Blue Metallic
'06 V70 R AWD Auto, Sonic Blue Metallic (sold)
'04 XC70 Ruby Red Metallic (sold)
'95 855 auto (sold)
'86 245 manual (sold)
'05 V70 T5 M (totalled)
'06 V70 FWD Auto (totalled)
'02 Honda Insight CVT
‘04 Honda Insight CVT — “Yesterday’s car of tomorrow” (sold)
‘06 Honda Insight CVT

jblackburn
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Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
Location: Alexandria, VA
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Post by jblackburn »

I bet the 3-way valve busted. It has a pressure relief valve that goes bad with age.

There's one right by the headlight, and another somewhere under the hood on a wagon.

Something like a $1.50 part at the dealer. It will spray fluid out of the opening there if it is bad.

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'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

rmmagow
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Joined: 11 March 2006
Year and Model: V70 1998
Location: Rhode Island USA
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Post by rmmagow »

And you need the fingers of a seven year-old girl to change that damn thing! I just did it and ended up removing the headlight, it was still a PITA.
1998 V70 AWD 228K - Daily Driver
1985 Mercedes Benz 300D - 197K Off Road For Now Brakes Failed
1998 S70 135K - FOR SALE
2003 GMC Sonoma - 114K - POS
1958 Mercedes Benz 220S 66K Original and never to be restored.
2006 Saturn ION 5-Speed - 150K Son's weird little easy to fix car

jblackburn
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Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
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Post by jblackburn »

Reason #36 why you need a set of long needlenose pliers! Extremely helpful.

Image
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

echase76
Posts: 105
Joined: 6 December 2011
Year and Model: 1998 v70 T5m
Location: State College, PA

Post by echase76 »

I wish the 3-way valve I bought was $1.50. The one under the hood cost me $9 at my local dealer! But it did solved the no-spray issue on the passenger side i was having.
1998 V70 T5m Silver/Charcoal - 150K

jblackburn
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14043
Joined: 8 June 2008
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
Location: Alexandria, VA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Post by jblackburn »

Sorry bout that. They actually gave me a 3 way t-valve that doesn't really belong there, but I managed to make it fit and it won't blow out again.

I really need to just block off the flow to the headlight wipers as neither one of them works and it just wastes a ton of washer fluid.
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

User avatar
E Showell
Posts: 3275
Joined: 16 October 2008
Year and Model: ‘07 S80 3.2
Location: Long Valley, N.J.
Has thanked: 37 times
Been thanked: 111 times

Post by E Showell »

Justin wins the prize again, but I had my mechanic swap the valve out while he was doing the engine change so I did not need to torture my hands to make the change. Mechanic said the existing valve was split in half. Mine was a little more than $1.50 as well.
'98 V70 NA FWD 5 spd, silver sand metallic (sold)
'99 V70 NA FWD Auto, dark blue (sold)
'99 S70 NA FWD Auto, black (sold and resurrected -- Don't cry for me Argentina . . . )
'07 S80 3.2 FWD Auto, Barents Blue Metallic
'06 V70 R AWD Auto, Sonic Blue Metallic (sold)
'04 XC70 Ruby Red Metallic (sold)
'95 855 auto (sold)
'86 245 manual (sold)
'05 V70 T5 M (totalled)
'06 V70 FWD Auto (totalled)
'02 Honda Insight CVT
‘04 Honda Insight CVT — “Yesterday’s car of tomorrow” (sold)
‘06 Honda Insight CVT

thecheat
Posts: 533
Joined: 9 July 2010
Year and Model: 1996 850 Turbo Wagon
Location: Sunrise, FL

Post by thecheat »

Is this the same valve in the hatch sprayer? I fixed mine by taking it apart and sandwiching it between a black nitrile glove and then trimming it.

jeez, I'm cheap...

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