Front windshield washer: do they fail?

Have you looked at the troubleshooting procedure in the factory service manual? I might expect it to be something along the lines of "test for power and ground at the washer pump connector while activating the switch. If both are good then replace the pump. If not good, test the wiring and switch."

FYI the wiring diagram shows the front and rear washers using the same fuse.


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for such a simple thing, it is a fairly complicated system. you have the two switches on the stalk, the clock spring, relays, fuse wiring, pump, tubing and nozzles.
potential for troubles all over the place

 

Once you're certain it's not clogged, you can replace the pump... This happened to my Prius and I replaced it, but the replacement died on me and plan to buy this one and try again eventually: Windshield Washer Pump For Toyota Camry Corolla Yaris Lexus ES350 IS250 RX400h | eBay

As for diagnosis, I think I swapped the front pump with the rear pump to confirm it was the pump and not the wiring...

 

Mines doing the same thing. Sometimes both work sometimes both do not
Like it’s a B+ or grounding issue. I checked the fuse and it’s ok.

I have already replaced both pump motors years ago. The little pump motors are plugged into the bottom of the bottle. When I replaced them both last time I got the front and rear reversed but too lazy to go back in and swap them.
Next time I will test the configuration before buttoning it back up.

looks like I’m going back in soon. Hoping it’s not a clock spring issue.

It’s always something with a 14 year old car but I bought it new.

 

I have an OEM used windshield wiper motor. If you want to try it, I'll sell it for $25

 

I live in SoCal, near Pasadena

 

Before you buy a new part - park somewhere dry and try it. Then check and see if the water is coming out and going on the ground. Possibly the tubing disconnected? Maybe not if you don't hear the motor trying... but I'd check anyway.

 

Ummm, what does the clockspring have to do with the windshield washers? Don't think that there are any wiper controls on the steering wheel.

The wiring diagram shows a common 20A fuse for both washers, and each is separately grounded by the combination (wiper) switch. If the wiper switch ground was bad I might expect it to affect rear wiper and front (intermittent) wiper operation as well.

 

Yeah I meant the stalk not the clock spring.

thinking it’s in the steering wheel it’s the clock spring nope…