Algae in the washer fluid?

[mixdup]

I’ve got a 22 4xe that is still barely under factory 3/36000 warranty and I have the molar maximum care that is supposed to cover everything. The front windshield washer stopped working and I took it to the dealer who is claiming algae is clogging it and they want me to pay $400 to flush it

does this sound right? I didn’t put the algae in there or design a system to grow it. Has anyone else dealt with this?

if this is legit, anyone know how hard it is to take off the reservoir and flush the lines?

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[DUCK01]

Are you refilling with washer fluid or just straight water?

 

[mixdup]

I’ve only put washer fluid in, but I’ve since found a video showing how to disassemble and it doesn’t seem too bad. Also the maximum care contract does seem to say it only covers defects in manufacturing or workmanship so this isn’t a part failure

 

[Terrymo]

People have complained about rain-x bug remover causing clogs. I use the cheapest blue stuff from Walmart and Home Depot and have never had an issue. Krystal Kleer

 

[MayThe4x4BWU]

People have complained about rain-x bug remover causing clogs. I use the cheapest blue stuff from Walmart and Home Depot and have never had an issue. Krystal Kleer

Same. Funny how sometimes the cheapest, simple stuff, is the best stuff for vehicles

I always use a simple textured sponge, bucket of hot water and some Bugs N' All to get rid of the bugs on the windshield and front grille every few days. Otherwise, I just wait til heavy storms and use mother nature to wash the windshield off along with a free car wash

 

[DaltonGang]

I’ve got a 22 4xe that is still barely under factory 3/36000 warranty and I have the molar maximum care that is supposed to cover everything. The front windshield washer stopped working and I took it to the dealer who is claiming algae is clogging it and they want me to pay $400 to flush it

does this sound right? I didn’t put the algae in there or design a system to grow it. Has anyone else dealt with this?

if this is legit, anyone know how hard it is to take off the reservoir and flush the lines?

Do it yourself. Hook a low pressure air hose from a small compressor, to your washer lines from your hood. The blow air through it, a little at a time. Then, shove your garden hose in the reservoir, with a spray attachment, and spray the crap out of the inside. Let it overflow for a minute or two, to get the crud out. I would add some bleach inside, a teaspoon or two, and let it sit overnight, then flush the fluid out. Oh, don't use well water, unless you add some stuff to prevent algae.

 

[X35]

How the hell does algae grow in washer fluid that has methanol in it I’ve never had a problem with anything growing in the cheap blue washer fluid

 

[Ratbert]

How the hell does algae grow in washer fluid that has methanol in it I’ve never had a problem with anything growing in the cheap blue washer fluid

Excellent question. I'm pretty sure it needs quite a bit of light too.

 

[Go4Low]

I ended up removing the tank, changed the pump, and cleaned the lines with water and vinegar.

Changing the pump probably wasn't necessary, but I only wanted to address this issue once:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/intermittent-windshield-washer-trouble.155047/

 

[Flip]

Put some bleach in there, pay your kid a few bucks to sit there and squirt all of the washer fluid out until the reservoir is empty. Fill it up with some cheap washer fluid. Good as new.

 

[dragoneggs]

Put some bleach in there, pay your kid a few bucks to sit there and squirt all of the washer fluid out until the reservoir is empty. Fill it up with some cheap washer fluid. Good as new.

RNAR... Red Neck Auto Repair at its finest. Sound it out... it gets better.

 

[AFD]

People have complained about rain-x bug remover causing clogs. I use the cheapest blue stuff from Walmart and Home Depot and have never had an issue. Krystal Kleer

Yes, whatever's in the orange Rain-X bug remover solution definitely likes to separate into a bit of sediment over time and unless you're using it every single day, it'll eventually start to give you a few seconds of dry/nothing spray until it gets going.

Hasn't really been much of a problem for me, since I use it at the end of every day with my fancy Scrubblade dual-vane textured wipers.. and then still have to grab a paper towel and scrub away the damn bugs by hand. Kinda wishing I hadn't bought a few more jugs, since that shit really isn't any better at removing bugs or repelling rain compared to the cheaper -20°F blue stuff.

 

[Wbino]

Have a pool? Put some chlorine tablets in it.

 

[au176]

RNAR... Red Neck Auto Repair at its finest. Sound it out... it gets better.

Especially when you sit and watch your kid do the work!

 

[mixdup]

How the hell does algae grow in washer fluid that has methanol in it I’ve never had a problem with anything growing in the cheap blue washer fluid

I just got the Jeep back today, it was also there for the 95B 4xe recall so they had it for an extra day until they confirmed the battery checked out

I've got plans the rest of the weekend, but I will dig into it Monday since it's a day off work. It may not actually be algae, it may be something else. I doubt the tech at my rural Georgia Jeep dealer is a biologist on the side.

I actually do think I put in the RainX stuff someone mentioned above, I honestly don't remember though because it's been clogged so long and I've just been putting off doing anything about it

The tips everyone provided were great, I am pretty handy, dad was a mechanic so I'm not inept here, but since it was under warranty I was going to have Jeep do it.

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