How do you tighten washer jets?

Zei220 · Post by **Zei220** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 1:16 pm

Hello
I'm working my way through a few jobs and have come to a stop trying the tighten one of the washer jets. It would appear to be in a closed box section, I don't see any removable access panels, anyone know the process needed to do this?

Thanks in advanced,
Dave

Gfhug · Post by **Gfhug** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 2:14 pm

Dave, I ended up putting a small rubber washer/grommet under the washer jet. Not a permanent fix, but it has kept it steady whilst driving. Not pretty or ideal, by any means.
It'd be nice to find the correct way, without dismantling the car!

Geoff

David Oslo · Post by **David Oslo** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 5:28 pm

Remove front screen (unless an assistant is present to hold the washer jet whilst tightening)
Remove dashboard to allow access to underside of washer jet
Put on a pair of thin hands and thin fingers (or borrow a helpful child)
Prepare to skin knuckles
Feel your way in past the wiper mechanism, to locate the underside of the washer jets
Don't knock of the washer fluid hose.....

Basically it's one of the first things done on the bodyshell, hence it becomes the hardest thing to do on a completed car.

Zei220 · Post by **Zei220** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 6:24 pm

Oh dear, it sounds like it's going to be a PITA....

PeterCrespin · Post by **PeterCrespin** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 6:34 pm

Zei220 wrote:Oh dear, it sounds like it's going to be a PITA....

That's actually a good idea - practice on your arse first. Perhaps you know a senior customs searcher, or a proctologist?

I think 'character-forming' is the phrase you were looking for :-) Do take note of the advice about being careful not to knock the hose off. Although they appear to be metal, some of the jets have nylon bodies and are fragile by now. Don't strip the thread either.

JagWaugh · Post by **JagWaugh** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 7:04 pm

Unless you have an exceedingly high tolerance level for annoying and difficult jobs, just remove the cigar lighter and inject a can or two of expanding foam.

On an SI FHC I don't think you can do this without removing the wiper mechanism (and all the bits to be able to remove that).

Andrew

abowie · Post by **abowie** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 8:31 pm

Gfhug wrote:Dave, I ended up putting a small rubber washer/grommet under the washer jet. Not a permanent fix, but it has kept it steady whilst driving. Not pretty or ideal, by any means.
It'd be nice to find the correct way, without dismantling the car!

Geoff

Geoff that's brilliant.

Get an appropriately sized O ring and STRETCH it over the washer and roll it down so that it can locate between the washer and the body panel.

PeterCrespin · Post by **PeterCrespin** » Fri Jul 31, 2015 9:18 pm

JagWaugh wrote:Unless you have an exceedingly high tolerance level for annoying and difficult jobs, just remove the cigar lighter and inject a can or two of expanding foam.

Andrew

I would be careful removing the lighter and check with your doctor about the foam :-)

abowie · Post by **abowie** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 7:28 am

Foam? Just don't breathe the fumes. Unless you want to of course..

ralphr1780 · Post by **ralphr1780** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 8:59 am

I have used Teflon tape which is common for sanitary work. Just wrap it nicely at the base of the jet then stretch it and cut. Invisible and tight. Lifetime guaranteed!

David Oslo · Post by **David Oslo** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 1:18 pm

Zei220 wrote:How do you tighten washer jets
Dave

Carefully :D :D

(couldn't resist that one)

Zei220 · Post by **Zei220** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 6:44 pm

Thank you all for the advice, I think I'll waiting for the winter and when I have plenty of time for it.

Gfhug · Post by **Gfhug** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 7:53 am

abowie wrote: Geoff that's brilliant.

Andrew, that's the nicest thing anyone's said to me for a while. You definitely go to the top of my Christmas card list

Geoff

andrewh · Post by **andrewh** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 12:17 pm

just discovered one of the pipes on my washer jet has fallen off the jet. What a nightmare! I have removed the rev counter, its a LHD car, and can see the bottom of the washer jet , just. I may be able to push it back on the jet with some very long nose pliers, but I think its going to be tough. Question is , if I remove the wiper spindle for that side, the one thats in the way, will the linkage drop down enough to allow me better access, and if it does will I ever fish it out to reconnect it all? I recall this job for my full nut and bolt restoration and it was a devils own job then. I was fortunate I had a chap doing some work for me on a building who had uncommonly small hands and he was able to fit my new pipes and jets, but then the car was stripped right down. I have read all the intel on this, but surely it must be possible, why did Jaguar make this so inaccessible I wonder?

Alty Ian · Post by **Alty Ian** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 1:11 pm

Andrew

Yes the arm will drop quite a bit,... Just fix a piece of wire to the wiper arm before disconnecting it so that you can lift it back up after and re-clip it.

Find someone with small wrists too

Ian

andrewh · Post by **andrewh** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 1:23 pm

i just arranged to borrow the young enthusiast from my neighbour. He will never stop talking about it if he achieves the impossible He loves E Types, and I imagine it will make him a future owner. Will report back. My worst concern is that the pipe is hard and brittle and will not push or stay back on, but if he can achieve this he should be able to fix a new pipe onto the T piece in the middle. I am going to go for the access though the centre hole to start with and see whether that works, only as even if I remove the LH spindle the rack is still in position and will restrict access. Fingers crossed

Simon P · Post by **Simon P** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 1:38 pm

The easier solution is never to take it out in the rain: that way you don't need the washer jets.

Simples.

:D

andrewh · Post by **andrewh** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 1:41 pm

yes but I fear they are an MOT issue!

Simon P · Post by **Simon P** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 1:47 pm

True. They exist on my Lancia for the sole purpose of passing the MOT!

andrewh · Post by **andrewh** » Tue Jan 05, 2016 5:43 pm

well for the benefit of others , it is possible just. So bear in mind I had to tighten the wing nut under the washer jet and then put the pipe back on the jet. The pipe was pretty hard and unpliable and I reckon blew off because the jet was blocked. Note to self, clean the jets before trying the washers on laid up or older restoration cars, would have saved a lot of trouble.
I was able to hook out the the washer pipe into the centre of the dash area. Here I joined with a straight barbed joiner a piece of new flexible washer pipe. Then i taped some wire to the pipe and fed the wire through the centre section behind the wiper rack and back through the aperture behind the rev counter ( which I had removed). Once the pipe was excited through this aperture, and here comes the clever bit, I got some long nosed pliers set them firmly on the plastic pipe about 15 mm below the end and taped them under pressure, closed with duck tape. this enabled me to feed the pipe onto the washer jet by holding the pliers by one handle and in the tip of my fingers. I had the advantage of having an old washer jet to hand so fed the new plastic pipe into the old jet to open the pipe up to the required sizing. Having congratulated myself on a job well done, I then tried the pump and promptly blew off the pipe again as the jet was blocked. The only good news is that it was easier second time around. Whilst I would have preferred to fit the new pipe directly from the jet to the T piece in the centre of the dash, that would have been an unnecessary fiddle. I would agree with previous comments that this is one of the worst, and most difficult jobs to do on a series one, and would not have been possible without the small hands of my mates son to tighten up the wing nut under the washer. I sent him back with a rather red pressure dent/scratch across his wrist so best stay out of sight of his mother for a few days!

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