Damn screen wash

[jherman]

2017 XC60 (new model)
Rear wash hasn't worked for months and months, and despite temporally recovering from a blip on the front screen wash, the front washers don't work either. In fact, now I cannot even hear the pump working.
Read on here about blocked non-return valve at the back and so I accessed the pipes and indeed the NRV was choked with white matter. Cleaned it, when to try it out.....blade swishes but no obvious sound from the pump (it used to audible in the early days). Checked the fuses and nothing blown. I wondered if the ?blocked from wipers were the cause of the pump failure, so tried to tackle the front wipers (aqua blades).
Foolishly I took the blades off, in service position and thought I'd see if some water come out the arms. Went to activate the wipers....as they went to move (in service position) they fouled on the bonnet and smacked straight down onto the windscreen (without any blades) and CRACK goes the windscreen!
So now I have no working wipers, no obvious noise from the pump and a cracked windscreen!

[nu11eaf]

Not a good day at the office, the white residue blocking the washers is a common problem with aqua-blades. Owners have been reporting this problem since they first came out and dealers have been cleaning the gunge out. Sorry to hear about your windscreen, its a timely reminder to all not to try that.

[Wizzpop]

I nearly did that when I had the wipers in service position. Have to say though that I have NEVER had any problems with a white residue. Both front and rear wipers have worked perfectly. Is the white deposit something left over from the manufacturing process? Perhaps my dealer cleaned the system out as part of the pre-delivery service.

[pilkers]

Would the dodgy motor and blocked pipes not be covered by the Volvo warranty as you say that it is a 2017 vehicle?

[ian77]

I don’t trust the wiper service position - set mine to wash the car once, then whilst I was washing the screen they parked themselves, slapping back onto the screen when they hit the bonnet edge (almost taking my arm off). Frustratingly all I got from the dealer was “we couldn’t get them to fault sir”... I feel lucky now though. Otherwise ive never had any problems with the aqua blades.

[Haldex]

Same here- zero issues with the aquablades. Mine are heated though- not sure if there's any design difference(s) between the heated and the regular ones..

[Peter Lee]

Originally Posted by nu11eaf

Not a good day at the office, the white residue blocking the washers is a common problem with aqua-blades. Owners have been reporting this problem since they first came out and dealers have been cleaning the gunge out. Sorry to hear about your windscreen, its a timely reminder to all not to try that.

I got charged by my dealer who said it was congealed washer fluid. Are other people being charged for rectification of this fault?

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Peter Lee

I got charged by my dealer who said it was congealed washer fluid. Are other people being charged for rectification of this fault?

That's a right mess caused by poor quality screen wash and bacteria . Volvo screen wash will not do that .

[Peter Lee]

Originally Posted by Clan

That's a right mess caused by poor quality screen wash and bacteria . Volvo screen wash will not do that .

The rear washer on this new XC60 packed up shortly after I had the car (less than 3 months) - I'd barely put any through it. I also had white powder on the screen that other people had reported. I'm not convinced that it's a cheap screen wash issue.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Peter Lee

The rear washer on this new XC60 packed up shortly after I had the car (less than 3 months) - I'd barely put any through it. I also had white powder on the screen that other people had reported. I'm not convinced that it's a cheap screen wash issue.

Well that was the cause on the filthy smelly wash bottles i've had to clean out , The answer is to clean them out thoroughly, but do not empty them with the pumps or you will burn the pump out . when nice and clean add two one litre bottles of volvo wash fluid , from there on , when ever you need to top up add another litre of volvo spirit based wash fluid which also has anti bacteria additive . End of problem simple 👍