Ford windshield washer fluid freezes up

Around 1/14/2004 8:59 PM, GT-Vert-03 wrote:


Yep, blame the dealer. And you're right, they probably watered it down.

<snip>

Thanks for the reminder. Some people tend to forget about stuff like
this until they need it, and by then it could be too late.

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Put a bit of rubbing alcohol in it....
helps it clean better, and helps prevent freezing

---------------------------------------

Yes, that should definitely help lower the freezing point.  I believe the
good Prestone de-icer washer fluid does have alcohol in it, so ultimately,
it's probably best just to use that stuff.  I've found it to work very well
in almost all conditions.

GT-Vert-03 wrote:


You poor, poor soul.

Dana
(it's "only" 45F here and misted lightly today)

Um, it may not be frozen fluid provided the jug is still located under
the fender where the condition of fluid cannot be seen. Often, when I
kept my mustang outside, the fluid would just evaporate in the system and
the whole thing would need to reprime itself. I'd hit the button and
there would be nothing. Continual attempts eventually got fluid out.
It would generally work fine from that point forward.

But consider yourself lucky. The second or third day I had my mustang
after buying it new I had to drive in the snow. The wipers started
to malfuction....

---------------------

The jug was full, and there was fluid present at the nozzles.  I'll bet that
the fluid in the jug did not freeze, but the nozzles near the windshield did
freeze up.  When I first hit the button, a little fluid pissed out, shot up
maybe two inches, then that was it.  I had hit the button quite a few more
times in desperation since I could barely see where the heck I was going,
but no more fluid came out.  The nozzles became encrusted in ice.  This is
merely due too washer fluid that did not have a low freezing point....
probably 50% cheap fluid and 50% water which is what a lot of people throw
in during the summer.... this type of mixture will probably barely make it
to 30 degrees F before freezing.  The irony is, when you look at your Ford
manual, they make a big deal about using all the special Ford approved
fluids in the car... ok, fine.  But yet in the washer jug, the dealer must
have thrown in some water with just a touch of blue-stuff in it, causing
instant freeze-up.  I need to hope that the washer pump and system did not
get damaged.  If so, the dealer WILL fix it because it's their fault.  Does
it make any sense at all to EVER put ANY fluid that would freeze as high as
say 30 degrees F into an automobile???  (Maybe if you live in Florida, but
I'm in the north-east and my car originated from this region.)  Well, as
long as the system is not damaged, I guess it's just a minor thing, I'll
siphon out the shit and put in some good fluid (I'm lucky that I have a
garage that stays above 35 degrees F so I will be able to work on it...
today it's about 10 F outside.)  I'm sure if the car sat outside all day
parked, the washer jug would freeze and split.  I think I am justified in
saying that the dealer did a negligent thing by putting in fluid that would
freeze so easily.  But then again, I usually do not expect anything better
from the dealer.  Nobody on the planet will ever treat YOUR car like you
would. I think that is a universal law that has yet to be proven otherwise
in the history of the earth.

OK.... so you had ice built up over the washer nozzles.... how is that the
dealers fault? It certainly wasn't the dealer that was too lazy to clean off
your hood. You have just found out that the washer pump just isn't very
powerful (nor does it need to be) and it doesn't take much to plug off the
jets.

Of course it always looks better if we can blame someone else.....

Jim Warman
mechanic@telusplanet.net

<<OK.... so you had ice built up over the washer nozzles.... how is that the
dealers fault? >>

The dealer put in sub-grade washer fluid (probably water) that did not have
an adequate freeze point.

<< It certainly wasn't the dealer that was too lazy to clean off your

The hood was clean, and I had actually washed my windshield (and headlights)
by hand before getting on the road.  But the crap on the road (salty slushy
mess) eventually spattered up onto the windshield... passing a few salt
trucks didn't help, and a lot of slush puddles on the road, but I could not
avoid that.

<< it doesn't take much to plug off the jets. >>

Yes, those jet nozzles are super tiny... looks like they can easily be
plugged.  I don't think I ever drove a car that had a "flawless" windshield
washer set up.  But I think the Stang washers would be ok as long as you
have good anti-freeze washer fluid in the system.

Been more than once I've had washers freeze off.... no big thing, it's all
part of winter driving where I live. The washer pump is a very low pressure
pump....

You have absolutely no proof of any wrongdoing by any parties, so what
gives? Seems modern society is hell bent on finding scapegoats for all their
ills.....

Jim Warman
mechanic@telusplanet.net

Jim Warman wrote:


Heh. I took a set of tires, V-rated Yokohama sport tires, to Costco
to mount on my Mazda Miata.  They wouldn't do it.  They wouldn't mount
them because the V-rated tires are downgrade from the OEM W-rated
tires that came on that particular model (Special Edition - though the
exact same engine and drivetrain is in every Miata, including base models).

The reason they wouldn't do it?  Someone once had tires mounted on their
SUV at Costco, then crashed later on due to tire failure.  They named
Costco as a defendant because Costco had mounted 118MPH tires on an SUV
when the stock tires were 130MPH tires.  Costco had downgraded the tires.

I know speed-rating isn't about speed, it's about tread stability and
heat dissipation.  But, someone help me understand why a 150MPH
tire isn't way more than adequate on a Mazda Miata?  OK OK My Miata
is probably into mid-high 14-second quarter miles, but that didn't
matter...

Dana

<< You have absolutely no proof of any wrongdoing by any parties, so what
gives? Seems modern society is hell bent on finding scapegoats for all their
-------------------

You're correct about modern society looking for skapegoats, but in my case,
I am just commenting about a new car with a flaw.  The flaw is that the
windshield washers did not work in the cold weather, a time when they are
most needed.  I have no proof of exactly WHO put in the bad washer fluid
that allowed the system to freeze up, but it was someone at Ford or the Ford
dealer... unless of course some hooligans broke into the dealer's lot one
night and added some straight water to the washer jug as a prank.  I just
siphoned out the washer fluid that came with the car from Ford... it was of
blue-ish color... I put it in a coffee can and left it outside... after an
hour it was frozen nearly solid, a hint of slushiness, but solid enough that
I could turn the open coffee can upside down and nothing came out... was
pretty much solid through and through.  I refilled the jug in the car with
that Prestone yellow de-icer washer fluid which is supposedly good to -34
degrees F.  I do feel that a wrongdoing was ultimately done here, if you
wanna get technical... someone put fluid into the washer jug that had too
high a freezing point.  Or would one say it is MY fault for not checking the
freeze point of the fluid in my brand new car before going out on a cold
night???  This is not the type of thing one thinks about after buying a
brand spankin' new car.  With all the modern technology these new cars have,
full computer control, variable valve timing, "smart" transmissions, etc,
the LEAST they can do is get the windshield washers to WORK... all it takes
is some fluid with a low freezing point, simple enough.  Ford should specify
a washer fluid that is essentially the same as that mega-duty Prestone
stuff... and maybe they do... but if so, it wasn't in my car when I got it.
What if someone had put antifreeze coolant into the radiator of too high a
freeze point and THAT froze?  Would this not be the fault of someone?
Finally, this windshield washer business is a MINOR issue and I have already
typed way too much about it here (sorry!).  However, I feel it IS an issue
that people should be aware of, and be prepared to deal with.  From now on,
any car I ever get my hands on, new or used, one thing I will do is flush
and refill the washer system with good low-freeze-point washer fluid.  In
this way I will avoid having to pull over to the side of the highway at
3:00am in 15 degrees F to wash my windshield by hand with snow... probably
not the most pleasant and/or safe thing to need to do.

GT-Vert-03 wrote:
   I do feel that a wrongdoing was ultimately done here, if you

I think you should be barred from owning a car period....


--
Check out the gaming & computer forums at the [SS] clan site.
http://www.shamikaserver.com

I was just going to say that you had better check the coolant. Maybe
drain it and put it in coffee cans to check ? Don't want that engine
to crack.
Seriously, They probably should have filled it with more
anti-freeze-washer fluid than water. I've had the same thing happen to
me. I pulled over, waited a few mins and the heat form the engine
thawed it out. Next stop I added more anti-freeze windshield washer
fluid. no big deal.

wrote:


Remove NO-SPAM from email address when replying

Jim Warman wrote:

   Personally, I think someone should be smacked upside the head for
making a complaint that thw washer fluid froze in 15 degree weather.
Snag a clue already...


--
Check out the gaming & computer forums at the [SS] clan site.
http://www.shamikaserver.com

So this is where ford guy's like you hang out when your not in Dodge land?
Dodgem!

How come you not in CJ's group or are you above being one of his so
called servants and having a number attached to you. Not to mention all
those rules!!!!!!

Jim Warman wrote:

Yo.... is that Barry I see lurking in there????

I stumbled across this group back when I was thinking of my third
Mustang...... Since the new scooter, I may have to put a lid on the idea but
momma's tossing around the desire for a ragtop. mechanic Jr. is likely going
to get the Exploder when he gets his steering papers.

As for JetBoy....... I can't say that I'd belong to any club that would have
someone like me for a member. You should know me and rules by now....

Jim

A convertible top up there? when would you use it! You and momma must be
plenty hardy!
Barry A. Lee

Me I'm a windows up kinda guy, air on or heat on. Like I say about the
new truck "If it wasn't for Tim's drive through I wouldn't know if the
windows went up and down!"

Jim Warman wrote:

Point of view, Barry..... if water stays being water, it's warm....... when
the water hardens up and gets slick, it's chilly....... when your hand
freezes to any handy metal, it's time to zip up the jacket.

The fun part is bringing a job into the shop.... can I do the underneath
stuff quick enough to keep from getting drooled on? Or is the up top stuff
going to last long enough to let it dry off?

If you want to see nuckin' futs.... them skidoo boys goin' 60 mph when it's
time to zip up the jacket....

Jim Warman

LMAO!
Good One

Kate
98 Cobra Drop Top
With a personal touch, or two.



land?