Dear car, I'm confused
Dec. 11th, 2013 08:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lydySo, I have a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe. For the most part, it runs just fine. Yesterday, on the way home, the windshield washer stopped windshield washering. I did the last couple of miles on 35W more by memory than by sight. I got off the freeway, stopped at the SA, and bought some windshield washer fluid stuff. Looked in the manual, figured out where the reservoir was, and put fluid in. It took about a fifth of a gallon. I have literally no idea if this is a typical amount for a reservoir. Ok, then.
On my way to work last night, the windshield washer thingy worked fine. I congratulate myself on actually having done a bit of maintenance. (Cars are a great, huge, scary mystery to me.) So I get in my car this morning, start the car, and try to wash the windshield. No dice. "Sigh," I say, pop the hood, and look at the windshield washer fluid reservoir. It looks empty, so I fill it with about as much fluid as the day before, and figure I just washed the windshield a lot. Ok, then. I get in the car, and try to wash the windshield. Nothing happens. It is fucking cold (technical term), so I wonder if maybe it's just too cold or something.
I drive home. What with traffic, it takes me about 45 minutes. Periodically throughout the drive, I try the windshield washery thing. It doesn't work. I decide that either there's a leak in the line or the pump is dead. I am distresed, as my guess is that this is several hundred dollars to fix. Now, several hundred dollars is never a trivial amount, but right before Christmas and right after I've paid for six months of car insurance is a particularly bad time, you know?
I stop for breakfast, as I do Wednesday mornings. I go back to the car after about a half an hour, and more by habit than anything else, I attempt to wash the windshield while I'm on my way to the gas station. It works. Say, what? I get home after running my errands, pack up for my hot date, and get back in the car. The car has been sitting for about 45 minutes. Windshield washer is still working on my way to my hot date. Ok, then.
So, so confused. Anybody know anything that might help? Is my pump dying? Is my car psychotic? And what about Naomi?
On my way to work last night, the windshield washer thingy worked fine. I congratulate myself on actually having done a bit of maintenance. (Cars are a great, huge, scary mystery to me.) So I get in my car this morning, start the car, and try to wash the windshield. No dice. "Sigh," I say, pop the hood, and look at the windshield washer fluid reservoir. It looks empty, so I fill it with about as much fluid as the day before, and figure I just washed the windshield a lot. Ok, then. I get in the car, and try to wash the windshield. Nothing happens. It is fucking cold (technical term), so I wonder if maybe it's just too cold or something.
I drive home. What with traffic, it takes me about 45 minutes. Periodically throughout the drive, I try the windshield washery thing. It doesn't work. I decide that either there's a leak in the line or the pump is dead. I am distresed, as my guess is that this is several hundred dollars to fix. Now, several hundred dollars is never a trivial amount, but right before Christmas and right after I've paid for six months of car insurance is a particularly bad time, you know?
I stop for breakfast, as I do Wednesday mornings. I go back to the car after about a half an hour, and more by habit than anything else, I attempt to wash the windshield while I'm on my way to the gas station. It works. Say, what? I get home after running my errands, pack up for my hot date, and get back in the car. The car has been sitting for about 45 minutes. Windshield washer is still working on my way to my hot date. Ok, then.
So, so confused. Anybody know anything that might help? Is my pump dying? Is my car psychotic? And what about Naomi?
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Speculating only
Date: 2013-12-12 02:23 am (UTC)My speculation is that there wasn't much in there, and the very small amount froze and then thawed. You may want to buy the purple washer fluid (good for slightly colder conditions) instead of the blue, especially if it's full with so little added.
Re: Speculating only
Date: 2013-12-12 02:41 am (UTC)Run the car for fifteen minutes to let it warm up. Then turn it off and dump the purple washer fluid in it until you see it sitting in the tube. Give it about 30 seconds to go down in case there's a frozen area and then fill it again. Repeat until the fluid doesn't go down after 30 seconds. Then drive to work and check the levels after you get there. If the fluid level has gone down, repeat the process.
It should take *almost* all that's in the washer fluid container. I think they design them so there's an annoying remainder left over.