Rattling Washer Jet Nozzles

Technical Area Body, Interior & Styling
2

So I have been lurking for a while and find the advice on here has been priceless fixing some niggles on my mk3 MX5.

One problem I have not solved is the washer jets, I know the pump is good and the hoses are clear as without the nozzles attached it sprays well at any point of the hose from washer bottle to end that attaches to nozzle.


So I removed the nozzles and tried clearing with thin wire which made no difference, have tried soaking them indoors to clear it but no different.

Both nozzles have a slight rattle inside them is this normal and any other advice on clearing a blockage in them?

Many Thanks! Simon

3

I had a jet failure on an NC, replace them:

https://www.mx5parts.co.uk/windscreen-washer-nozzle-mk3-35-p-2352.html

4

Hmm.  Some thoughts, I may be way off, but your rattle suggests this as a possibility.

The rattle could be a ball that works as a non-return valve.  Useful for instant squirt rather than having to wait for the hose to fill up.

A good long soak (overnight?) in warm water with a bit of detergent should clear any build-up on the outlet side where the ball should locate against some ridges that let the wash past.

Failing that some methylated spirits can also work to dissolve the waxy residue.

I had this thirty-odd years ago on my old Cavalier.  Changing the brand of screen wash (ie anything but Holts - at the time) solved the recurring problem.

5

Thanks both - the nozzles are soaking overnight now and will try in morning and if not will see if local dealer can get the nozzles as MX5parts is out of stock for 4 weeks.

6

The soaking overnight did not work it only made them very slightly better… 

 

ordered new nozzles from local dealer and will report  back.

7

My Passenger side one was always lazy.

In the end I replaced both of them for the fan spray pattern ones.

 

Only issue was, the fan pattern spray jets are for a MK2, and slightly smaller than the MK3.

Although you wouldn’t know unless you knew what you were looking for.

8

So I picked up new nozzles from the local Mazda dealer and they worked straight away.

 

Only difference is that the old ones rattled and you could see ball bearing from the bottom.

 

thanks for the advice.

9 
  Hi Simon , I have a mk3 with similar problems but I can't see how to get at the nozzles to take out and clean can you tell me please how to do this or some one else maybe . Regards
10

When I picked up my 2010 Sport Tech last year, one nozzle weeped when the car got up to 30-40 mph. Dealer tried reducing the washer fluid but eventually agreed to replace the nozzles and it’s been good since last July. Must be a weakness in the initial design as the new nozzles look a bit chunkier. Luckily, a relatively cheap fix.

11

clocky - you need to follow the how to’s on how to fix the leak caused by grommets just below the windscreen cowling, basically you have to remove wiper arms and then the cowling and weather shield.

From my experience you need the new washer nozzles as the old one’s cannot be fixed but you can test them by plugging them into pipe coming straight from washer bottle pump under bonnet.

12

While I was contemplating buying my NC, I ran online MoT History checks on around 55 cars that were for sale at the time, to get a realistic view of what they were commonly failing MoTs on. 

Top of the list was ARB links/bushes.  Second on the list? - inefficient/insufficient windscreen washing.