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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > General E90 Sedan / E91 Wagon / E92 Coupe / E93 Cabrio > 320d Coupe Headlight Washers not Working



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      10-13-2018, 10:40 AM   #1
Tony C
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320d Coupe Headlight Washers not Working

Spent the day trying to fix this after an MOT fail, stripped down the tank and pumps, the headlight washer pump works fine if I apply 12V with it out of the car, but there isn't any power at the plug in the loom that connects to the pump despite pulling the stalk to activate the screen wash numerous times. The card in the fuse box cover says its Fuse 48 (30A), but that's OK as is the small green relay top right. We connected the pump to a temporary 12V supply with the hoses all reconnected and the headlamp washers extend and spray the headlamps fine. The card in the fuse cover shows a second relay position top right, this is empty, but I tried swapping the green relay to this in case, but no joy. Lost for ideas now, could they have been disabled some how?? Any advice gratefully received before I toss a lit match in it
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      10-13-2018, 04:11 PM   #2
nsjames
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they can be disabled with coding.

were the headlights on when they tried to activate them? IIRC they won't spray unless the headlamps are on.
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      10-13-2018, 04:29 PM   #3
Tony C
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nsjames View Post
they can be disabled with coding.

were the headlights on when they tried to activate them? IIRC they won't spray unless the headlamps are on.
Thanks, yes the lights were on, sounds like it may be due to coding
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      10-13-2018, 04:42 PM   #4
nsjames
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it's definitely possible.

Mine have been coded out because all they ever did was spray the front of my clean car with windshield washer fluid and leave water spots everywhere.
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      10-13-2018, 10:07 PM   #5
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They only activate when the headlights are on and you may have to cycle the ignition to fire them again. ie you can't repeatedly activate them.

Is the tank filled and the washer tank level sensor plugged back in?
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      10-14-2018, 01:23 AM   #6
Tony C
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Thanks for the replies.

The tank sensor is in place and working as the low fluid light came on when we drained the tank. We had the ignition on/off several times and tried multiple sprays of the screen washers without the headlamp washers activating. From what I've read online so far the frequency of operation isn't clear. If it is the coding is that a dealer job only?
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      10-14-2018, 05:38 AM   #7
juld0zer
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I've not coded this feature before so someone else will have to explain it.

Have you tried a battery reset? Have you scanned the vehicle for faults?
If it really is a dead relay then you can't change it. On your model the relay is inside the power distributor.
What i would do in your scenario is wire up a separate relay using the windscreen washer power as the trigger and fused lead from the jumpstart terminal connection as +12v source. There is a 10mm nut below it which you can crimp an eyelet terminal and attach.
It's a bit rough but it sounds like they won't pass it otherwise.

How did you check the pump voltage output? Both probes in the connector?
Try use a body ground instead to see if the harness ground is the issue.
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      10-14-2018, 10:39 AM   #8
Tony C
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I've not tried a battery reset, disconnect/reconnect? or checked for fault codes, don't have the kit to do this unfortunately. I didn't test the plug 12V to earth, just the two pins, but I'm guessing the earth is shared with the other pump which works. Tempted by you proposed fix if all else fails. Thanks
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      10-16-2018, 07:51 AM   #9
juld0zer
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Yep, just disconnect the negative for a few minutes and retry.

The ground point is shared but doesn't eliminate the possibility that this particular branch is broken. And then there is the chance the relay is dead, which means $$$
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      10-16-2018, 10:35 AM   #10
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They made an E92 320d? Cool!
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      10-17-2018, 03:49 PM   #11
Tony C
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So, after a fruitless Saturday, seemingly without success I resigned myself to getting an auto electrician out to take a look, until Monday evening when we gave them one last try and the bl##dy things worked fine, retest passed today! Thanks for the replies, will be checking them well before next year's MOT
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