Hit the button one day and it decided it wasn't going to work. Didn't pay a large amount of mind to figured I was low or whatever. Added a little, it wasn't really needed, tried it again still no go. Wasn't super important at the time so I didn't check much after that. Little while later I push the button it decides it wants to work again. Okay, sweet now its working. Turns out its just intermittent and it only works when it wants. I figured the pump was going so the other day I replaced the pump, plug everything in check the wires and what not make sure it looks clean. Plugged it in and it didn't work. Okay...so I check the fuses find out there's no direct fuse for the washer pump its just part of the wiper fuses. So I check all the fuses the 1 under the hood, the 25, and changed out the relays to see if that would help. Still not working so I try the 10 fuse(labeled 15) in the passenger compartment and this one also...not bad. So none of the fuses are bad...so I figured maybe its the switch? Bought and installed the new switch today and its still not working. The pump isn't kicking on and no fuses are bad which would lead me to think there's no power going to it. Is there anything I'm missing? The wires look perfectly normal in fact, there isn't even any breaking or cracks in the plastic tubing that they use to protect the wires. I'm kind of stumped, anyone have any ideas? Anything would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

You got a volt meter or test light? Check that you're getting power to the pump/switch.

 

Have you tried turning off the engine and listening really closely for the pump motor??? If you can hear it running, that obviously means it's in working order. You may have a blockage in the line or jets that spray the fluid. I'm afraid I'm not able to explain how to go about fixing that but the first step I would think would be to see if it's the actual pump or blockage. Hope this helps a little.

 

Just an update, I know this is kind of old. I pretty much replaced everything that has to do with the windshield wiper fluid. Switch, pump, relay, fuses ect. Turns out the relay is making a bad connection in the fuse panel underneath the hood. Not sure how to go about cleaning it either. Seemed a little over my head so I haven't tried to get involved with it.

 

How do you know the relay isn't connecting properly?

I would simply give all the pins on the relay a slight twist with some needle nose pliers which will force them to dig into the receptacle a little better.

The washer fluid motor requires such a small amount of current that it really surprises me that yours actually goes through a relay.

I have not studied a diagram of the washer system so I am going off what you say.

Hands down the most common failure of a washer system is the motor itself. Intermittent fail / work is not uncommon.

Try this, next time it's not working smack the motor with a screwdriver handle or something. See if it starts working again. You didn't mention if you ever changed it or not.

You also make no mention of the year / make / model of the car you're working on.