Hi all, my 2005 Gen 2 Prius is leaking windshield wiper fluid from the front passenger wheelwell when I pull the wiper spray lever. The fluid reservoir will hold fluid until this point, and then it empties itself entirely onto the ground once the lever is pulled. What would the problem be? The hoses themselves gone bad? Or something wrong with the reservoir? I have seen a YouTube video showing the reservoir and how the two fluid hoses connect to it, so I have some sense of how it works. Thanks in advance.
Well if the reservoir holds fluid but dumps it all on the ground, when you activate the sprayer - I would guess that your lines are rotted out. I wouldn't discount a bad reservoir either, since both plastics are of the same age. Bottom line is that you'll have to dig into it to see what's busted. If it's a lot of work to get down there; I'd replace the reservoir, motor, and tubing - so I wouldn't have to dig into it again. The question is what's your time vs money worth to you? YMMV
Shake the bolt off the top and the other one and lift the reservoir up twist the hoses and pull them away from the reservoir now with the reservoir loose with some fluid in it and the plug still connected but the hose is undone squirt the front windshield Just reach in and watch reaching your hand and twist the squirting thing or pull the squirting lever Do you see the fluid squared up towards the hood under the hood squirting up towards the hood that's raised now go walk around and look at what's happened either your pump is frozen and it's bad or it sticks or lines are bad plug the lines back up squirted again The pump should turn off when you let go of the stalk. So it just emptying out doesn't really make good sense like the pump would have to stay on and run until the jug is empty and then it should be squirting on the windshield or trying to if it's connected even with the split a little bit so then you can have your friend hold the stock back while you listen and watch You should see the leak pretty clearly but you may have to undo the jug so you can twist it a little bit.
Thanks to both of you. If the hoses are bad, which is my current theory (before having looked under the hood), are they going to be difficult to fix/replace myself? Note that fluid will remain without leaking in the reservoir UNTIL I pull the spray lever. At which point the fluid completely drains from the reservoir onto the ground. Which means the integrity of the reservoir is apparently good... until I pull the spray lever.
Rubber hoses run from the motor in the tank to the spray points of the windshield and rear window. Leaky connections and hoses do not leak until the motor creates pressure, driving the windshield washer fluid from the tank to the spray points. It is necessary to find the leak point and solve the problem.
Sure. But the original description is that the entire tank emptied after running the washer once. That is really peculiar. Mostly because the normal exit points are higher than the tank and the motor, and fluids do not run uphill. Now if there is a hole in let's say the motor casing or a hose, and something or other which plugs it unless disturbed, and running the washers disturbs that plug, well, maybe. I suggest removing the fender liner on the passenger side, put some fluid in the washer tank, get in a position to observe the motor and tank and some of the hose, and have another person run the washer. See where it is coming out. The usual reason the passenger foot area gets wet is that the hose from the evaporator has detached or clogged. The washer fluid shouldn't be anywhere near that. It might be though if it is somehow discharging or leaking into the cabin air intake (grate area right in front of passenger side windshield). Pull back the carpet and see what's up with that drain hose. This may be two problems, not one.
I just had a bizarre thought. The evaporator drain comes out not too far from the bottom of the washer reservoir. If somebody had hooked one branch of the washer hose into it it could act just like the OP describes. Does the washer squirt out of both nozzles or just one?
Wiper fluid used to come out of both nozzles. And nobody but me has even been under the hood in quite some time. (With the exception of oil changes.)
I haven't had time to poke around to remove the reservoir. If it's a hose that has gone bad, is that difficult to replace? Also - now my right front passenger door speaker has started to go bad. Is there any possible scenario where wiper fluid could have gotten into the door and damaged the speaker?
In terms of the plumbing no, in general (have not done this on a Prius specifically) it is easy. In terms of running that hose, do not know, that would depend on how Toyota choose to route it. Searching, OK, here is a diagram: https://www.amayama.com/en/catalogs/toyota/prius/2-hatchback-left-xw20-2005-r-2819/electrics-4/windshield-washer-371 Caution - some of the barbed connectors that hook up the tubing will have one way valves in them. At least 85348G and 85348M. We had a good head scratch after putting in a T the wrong way on a Corolla. Doesn't look like it from the the diagram. You could always open the door and run the washer and see if any fluid squirts towards where the door was. Definitely possible that it could have mucked up the wires going to the speaker since the floor on the passenger side is wet. If the speaker wires are packed 2 or 3 into a single continuous outer insulation sheath it is possible that water could be transported through that. Never seen it in a car but in our house when the network provider had a bad splice up on the pole it filled the coax with water all the way to the house. When the service guy cut it, thankfully on the outside of the wall, it all gushed out. Apparently the crimp at our end was water tight.
Thanks for all yoru replies. However I didn't mean to say the interior of the passenger floor was wet. The fluid leak is happening OUTSIDE onto the ground from the area above the front passenger side wheel.
In that case pull the fender liner and it should be pretty obvious what the problem is. However, before doing so, pick up some fasteners so you can put it back on, because at least half of them will break.
