Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2003 15:37:08 GMT From: "Fred W." <ngunopsamail.com> wrote in message news:1e3cbb3.0306050022.487df8d0nopsaming.google.com... > Thanks, guys, for your advice. > > The weird thing is that the leak didn't drain the reservoir entirely. > A sufficient amount was always left when the leak stopped, enough to > trigger the "washer fluid low" warning icon on the dashboard upon > accelerating, braking, go uphill or downhill. The manual says the > icon will be triggered when the volume gets to about 0.8 litre. > > I took the car to an indy this morning. He later found the small, one > way valve (T-shaped) was leaking. He replaced it with an ordinary, > non one way valve which he said was good enough. > > He explained the "one way" design is to prevent dust and contaminants > in the hose (running from the tank to the noozle) from getting back to > the tank and the system. But in his experience, even with a "2 way" > valve, contamination is rare. He also said the chemicals in the > washer fluid is corrosive and suggested using nothing but ordinary tap > water. Your indy is a bit off target. The valve is supposed to prevent the fluid from draining back to the tank (lowest point) so that you don't have to run the pump for a long time to get fluid back up to the jets. Also, the "blue stuff" we all put in our washer tanks not only has chemicals to help clean the winshield better but has antifreeze as well. You could use plain water with some additive for cleaning in summer, but you will freeze it up solid in winter and then you *will* have a cracked reservoir.