How to Adjust Windshield Fluid
Windshield wipers and wiper fluid are an important feature on your car that allow you to drive safely in bad weather conditions. The wiper fluid is sprayed onto your windshield through two small nozzles located on the hood of the car. Over time the nozzles can become clogged with grit and debris which prevents them from spraying the wiper fluid properly. Another problem is that vibrations from the car will cause the nozzles to move. Even a slight movement results in the wiper fluid being misaligned with the windshield. Cleaning and adjusting the nozzles allows them to function properly.
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Things You'll Need
- Needle or pin
- Can of compressed air (optional)
- Masking tape
- Windshield wiper fluid
Instructions
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1
Locate the windshield wiper spray nozzles. Sit in the car and press the windshield wiper fluid button. Pay attention to where the fluid originates from. On many vehicles the nozzles are clipped or screwed on the hood. On other vehicles the nozzles are attached to the windshield wiper arms.
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2
Gently grip, twist and loosen the nozzles until you can lift them away from the hood. The nozzles may be secured and held in place with a retaining clip or retaining screws. Needle nose pliers work well to separate retaining clips that at too difficult to loosen by hand. Use the appropriate size screwdriver to remove retaining screws. Don't pull the nozzles too hard. They will still be attached to the wiper fluid tubing, so be careful not to pull them too hard.
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3
Inspect the nozzles for grime and debris. Insert a pin or needle into the heads of the nozzles and rotate the pin or needle around to clean the entire surface and to remove any debris that may be clogging the nozzle. Alternatively, you can use a can of compressed air by blowing the compressed air into the nozzles.
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4
Place a piece of masking tape on the windshield where the wiper fluid should spray. The wiper spray should be the center of the driver's line of vision. This ensures that the windshield directly in front of the driver is quickly and efficiently cleaned. Ask a friend to sit in the driver's seat and push the wiper fluid button and watch the direction of the spray in relation to the tape.
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Place the needle or pin into the nozzle. Gently turn the nozzle in the right direction to align the spray with the tape on the windshield. Test the spray again. Make additional adjustments until the spray and tape are perfectly aligned.
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