Can't make water like when you were younger? Read on...

Today's second accomplishment on the old 740 was getting the windshield washer pump to work. The wires to the water level indicator were shot, the wires from the indicator were shot, the power supply wires to the washer fluid motor were shot -- the ground wires were even shot!

So, using leftover 12 gauge wire from my head light job, I re-ran a new ground wire to the chassis. Then I cut the wires 1 inch above the water level indicator, cleaned them, installed a butt-connector on each, and then ran 2 new wires. I did the same thing from the snap connector to the washer motor and the washer motor to the ground. The 2-prong plug to the washer motor is nothing more than 2 wires, each with a butt-connector inside of a housing. So, I cut off the housing, installed a butt-connector on the new wires and plugged this into the washer motor. Voila!

Lots of power!

So, next time you see a snap on wire connector, check to make sure that you can't re-build the connector with some fresh wire, some 12-gauge butt-connectors and liquid electrical tape to seal the deal. The biggest trick is to make sure your wires are seated well because the housing mainly just clips the wiring in place so they don't become disconnected. Sometimes you can actually strip out the old wires and connectors and insert new wires and butt-connectors into the old housing. This is preferable.

JB

Reply to
Jamie
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What also amazed me was that when I finally got power to the washer motor, it wouldn't prime. So, I traced the tubing to a t-fitting that apparantly split to the windshield and to the headlight washers (if so equipped - I am not). The valve in the t-fitting must have failed because I could not get pressure to the windshield.

I disconnected the t-fitting and ran one line from the washer motor to the t-fitting at the firewall, where it splits to the left/right squirter. This valve began to spew water, so I used some automotive GOOP adhesive to seal this.

After all of this, both squirters worked fine and all was right in the Volvo world (at least for a day).

Reply to
Jamie

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