My son has a 2003 Accord that he lent me for a week, while he isn't using
it. I noticed (here in winter New England) that the drivers side windshield
washer just dribbles a little bit of fluid, while the passenger side is a
normal full blast squirt.

So I figure it's got to be a serial circuit of some sort from passenger side
to driver side of the fluid hose. I popped the hood and the hoses are not
exposed, they are under this metal cowl that has no apparent method of
lifting off. There are two little metal tabs on the cowl, near the drivers
side nozzle that look like they might be the key to getting access to that
side, but no matter how I push them I don't seem to be able to dislodge that
cowl.

What I do know as that a year ago he had that side windshield wiper
motor/blade mechanism worked on as something sheered when he didn't scrape
the windshield on a iced up windshield morning. So perhaps a mechanic
dislodged something on the washer when working on the wiper. ...maybe.. it's
a theory.

Any help as to how I get in there to look around and figure out what's
wrong? Or is this a dealer only gig?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Steve

Steve L wrote:
> My son has a 2003 Accord that he lent me for a week, while he isn't
> using it. I noticed (here in winter New England) that the drivers side
> windshield washer just dribbles a little bit of fluid, while the
> passenger side is a normal full blast squirt.
>
> So I figure it's got to be a serial circuit of some sort from passenger
> side to driver side of the fluid hose. I popped the hood and the hoses
> are not exposed, they are under this metal cowl that has no apparent
> method of lifting off. There are two little metal tabs on the cowl, near
> the drivers side nozzle that look like they might be the key to getting
> access to that side, but no matter how I push them I don't seem to be
> able to dislodge that cowl.
>
> What I do know as that a year ago he had that side windshield wiper
> motor/blade mechanism worked on as something sheered when he didn't
> scrape the windshield on a iced up windshield morning. So perhaps a
> mechanic dislodged something on the washer when working on the wiper.
> ...maybe.. it's a theory.
>
> Any help as to how I get in there to look around and figure out what's
> wrong? Or is this a dealer only gig?
>
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> Steve

Have you checked to be sure that the spray nozzle is not partially
clogged with something like wax?

"pws" <pwshelton@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:hkss69$14q$1@speranza.aioe.org...
> Steve L wrote:
>> My son has a 2003 Accord that he lent me for a week, while he isn't using
>> it. I noticed (here in winter New England) that the drivers side
>> windshield washer just dribbles a little bit of fluid, while the
>> passenger side is a normal full blast squirt.
>>
>> So I figure it's got to be a serial circuit of some sort from passenger
>> side to driver side of the fluid hose. I popped the hood and the hoses
>> are not exposed, they are under this metal cowl that has no apparent
>> method of lifting off. There are two little metal tabs on the cowl, near
>> the drivers side nozzle that look like they might be the key to getting
>> access to that side, but no matter how I push them I don't seem to be
>> able to dislodge that cowl.
>>
>> What I do know as that a year ago he had that side windshield wiper
>> motor/blade mechanism worked on as something sheered when he didn't
>> scrape the windshield on a iced up windshield morning. So perhaps a
>> mechanic dislodged something on the washer when working on the wiper.
>> ...maybe.. it's a theory.
>>
>> Any help as to how I get in there to look around and figure out what's
>> wrong? Or is this a dealer only gig?
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any help.
>>
>> Steve
>
> Have you checked to be sure that the spray nozzle is not partially clogged
> with something like wax?

Thanks for that good common sense tip. No I haven't. But I suppose it could
be that a small piece of gunk of some sort is blocking the nozzle. Maybe a
small pin to clean the nozzle is in order as a first check.

I'll do that first thing tomorrow AM.

Steve L wrote:

> Thanks for that good common sense tip. No I haven't. But I suppose it
> could be that a small piece of gunk of some sort is blocking the nozzle.
> Maybe a small pin to clean the nozzle is in order as a first check.
>
> I'll do that first thing tomorrow AM.

I could be wrong on it, but checking that is fast, free and easy. I used
a sewing needle last time and completely cleared both nozzles and
adjusted the angle that the fluid sprays while it was in there.

Please let us know if that does it. If not, someone more knowledgeable
than me should have a suggestion.

On Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:16:52 -0600, pws <pwshelton@austin.rr.com>
wrote:

>Steve L wrote:
>
>> Thanks for that good common sense tip. No I haven't. But I suppose it
>> could be that a small piece of gunk of some sort is blocking the nozzle.
>> Maybe a small pin to clean the nozzle is in order as a first check.
>>
>> I'll do that first thing tomorrow AM.
>
>I could be wrong on it, but checking that is fast, free and easy. I used
>a sewing needle last time and completely cleared both nozzles and
>adjusted the angle that the fluid sprays while it was in there.

I am curious how you adjusted the angle of spray.
>
>Please let us know if that does it. If not, someone more knowledgeable
>than me should have a suggestion.

On 2/10/2010 8:39 AM, Clete wrote:
>
> I am curious how you adjusted the angle of spray.

With the needle or pin inserted in the washer jet, just aim the jet in
the direction you wish the spray to hit the windshield.

Brian Smith wrote:

> With the needle or pin inserted in the washer jet, just aim the jet
> in the direction you wish the spray to hit the windshield.

What he said. I have not adjusted them on a Honda, but I am guessing
that the system is pretty universal for modern cars.

"Steve L" wrote

>> Have you checked to be sure that the spray nozzle is not partially
>> clogged with something like wax?

> Thanks for that good common sense tip. No I haven't. But I suppose it
> could be that a small piece of gunk of some sort is blocking the nozzle.
> Maybe a small pin to clean the nozzle is in order as a first check.

A month ago I took my car in for a wash. The outside temperatures were well
below freezing, and guess what happened when I tried using the washers?
Frozen. Jamming a pin down each nozzle helped free up some of the waxy? ice,
but not all. I had to wait for the weather to warm up before I could again
use the washers.

On Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:10:59 -0500, "Howard Lester"
<howardxtlester@verizon.net> wrote:

>"Steve L" wrote
>
>>> Have you checked to be sure that the spray nozzle is not partially
>>> clogged with something like wax?
>
>> Thanks for that good common sense tip. No I haven't. But I suppose it
>> could be that a small piece of gunk of some sort is blocking the nozzle.
>> Maybe a small pin to clean the nozzle is in order as a first check.
>
>A month ago I took my car in for a wash. The outside temperatures were well
>below freezing, and guess what happened when I tried using the washers?
>Frozen. Jamming a pin down each nozzle helped free up some of the waxy? ice,
>but not all. I had to wait for the weather to warm up before I could again
>use the washers.
>
Next time use a hair dryer on it or hot water.

On 2/10/2010 10:10 AM, Howard Lester wrote:
>
> A month ago I took my car in for a wash. The outside temperatures were well
> below freezing, and guess what happened when I tried using the washers?
> Frozen. Jamming a pin down each nozzle helped free up some of the waxy? ice,
> but not all. I had to wait for the weather to warm up before I could again
> use the washers.

You could have poured some windshield washer fluid over the nozzles.
That would have freed them up and the warmth from the engine would have
taken care of the hoses going to them.