Nix the Wind Screen Washer

I am thinking of pulling the washer equipment out of my car. I have seen others that don't have it and I really don't think I am going to need it. Only question I have is what to do with the wires, just leave them? Tie them up out of the way, out of site?

It's true that you'll rarely if ever need the washer equipment. I think the washers have not worked on many LBCs I've owned and I never bothered to fix them. But why bother taking the stuff out? I would just leave it there. If you do take them out, you would definitely want to terminate the wires so you don't get a short. At the least, cut off the ends and wrap them in electrical tape (ugly, but should prevent shorts!).

Why create extra work for yourself? As Desmond says, just leave things in place. Unless you're going to remove the nozzles, bag/bottle and hoses, might as well just not use it.

Should you ever decide to restore or repaint the car, them maybe do it. Keep in mind though that the next owner may wonder why you removed the system.

Agree, Mine have not worked for 7 yrs.. I did clean them up including hoses, canister etc for appearance sake and just left everything..

I agree with others, just leave the system.

Ironically, I haven't driven my '63 in the rain in decades, but the old mechanical pump washer works great. However I've burned up two motors in the GT, which I do occasionally drive in the rain, and so it has no washer.

I'll come in on the other side of the coin. Where ever possible I have removed "things" that either don't work or I don't like. The seat belt warning buzzers and their harnesses, smog stuff that has long since stopped doing anything. I've taken the side marker lights off, front and rear and their related wiring. Rusted door light switches and their wiring.

The windscreen washers, their brittle, yellowed hoses, it's pump and related wiring were the first to go.

IMHO it makes for a much cleaner engine bay. For fun sometime, download and compare the colored wiring harness diagrams for early cars with a latter car. The complexity is mindboggling.

I know some "modern" improvements have been made. And this is my first rubber bumper car...But there is so much stuff...

But, as has been said. Be careful not to leave loose wires dangling about. In most cases I have opened up the harness and taken the offending wires right out.

I like getting back to the basics of the engine bay.

I just got my washers to work the other day on my 1975 MGB, bought a new universal electric pump. I probably will never use them but I just feel better knowing that now there is one more thing on the car that works properly.

Mine have not worked in years, but I have left them. however, I agree with Albert. If you are not going to use them, take them out. This winter I am doing some electrical work, and anything not required is out, and new required stuff like relays, and larger fuse box is in.

As for a thinking of a future owner.... I have had my 75 since 1980, and I cant ever see selling it. it owes me nothing, like an good friend we will just grow old together.

Why not just get them working? It will take as long to fix as remove and if you ever sell the car on, it will be potentially annoying to a future owner. The accumulation of these decisions over the past 30-40 years of a car's life is what creates some of the odd vehicle conditions we see.

tc

They are so simple and easily fixed...why remove them?

[quote=OldBloke]

They are so simple and easily fixed...why remove them?[/quote] X 10

[quote=golf]

[quote=OldBloke]

They are so simple and easily fixed...why remove them?[/quote] X 10[/quote]

I'm in this camp. I've taken stuff off of other cars before and later wished I hadn't. The washer doesn't draw any current or rob any horsepower - so why worry about it. It's not really in the way of working on anything much either. I'd leave it.

Another argument for leaving / fixing the washers would be that they are required to pass a safety check, to transfer the title.

I wish mine hadn't been removed before I bought mine. The mechanic had to "jerry-rig" a "temporary" washer system to safety the car.

Not a compelling reason but none of us live forever.

Marsh

Some states also require an annual "safety" inspection - and althought they may not actually check the washers, they may notice if they are not there! They are a required item!

They are simple to fix - so why not fix them. The biggest problem I have with them is the very small container for fluid!

Here in sunny Seattle I decided to keep my washers working. You never know when it may rain and it is nice to see where your going.

Why leave dead weight on a sports car? Since I was doing other bodywork anyhow, I even filled the hole on the cowl. One less bit of pitted chrome to polish...

We don't have the option in the UK.

They have to be fitted and working for the annual test.

I've got a couple of months to get mine sorted.

Admittedly, I'm not sure if this is true for the RB pumps, but the replacements for the earlier pumps are NA (or replacements don't look exactly like the originals.) A future owner may want to do what others have done and leave the original pump in place and pump through it with an aftermarket pump hidden away somewhere.

20 buck for a pump at Vicky-Brit.

I put an aftermarket pump on ours from the local parts store. $10-15 if I remember right. We actually used it several times on our way to MG 2009 as it would rain off and on and there tended to be a lot of bugs and or dirt on the windscreen at any time so it would often make a mess but a few squirts of plain water and a couple of swipes with the wipers would help a lot.

Joe

I'm not sure now but the law in PA was that if fitted they had to work for inspection. So you had the choice to either fix or remove. Nither of mine have em since I don't normally operate in conditions where they are needed. I did refit the bottle on the Wedge and use it for a coolant catch tank. They get pissy if you spit coolant on the track.:(

Oh and back in the 70s there was a guy at the local drive in that had the hose routed into the car. He had the jug filled with wiskey. He'd order a Coke then hit the washer button to spruce it up.

I had to buy the parts and make the bracket for my car so I could pass the biennial safety inspection here in NS.

The DPO had removed and discarded the original system.

Bob

Thanks for all the comments. Think I will leave it and fix the pump. Had not thought about the safety inspection part either.

[quote=grn78rd]

Thanks for all the comments. Think I will leave it and fix the pump. Had not thought about the safety inspection part either.[/quote]

I think my opinion changed. These I will fix, because you have all made good points. This is whats nice about this forum.

I haven't had one in my car since 2001. I use the coolant bottle as a radiator overflow tank. The nozzles are still in place, just in case I change my mind some day.