How to Troubleshoot the Windshield Washer on a 1995 Honda Civic DX Hatchback
The windshield washer on your 1995 Honda Civic helps keep the windshield clean, which is essential to driving safely. Without the washer to wipe away dust, road salt or other debris, you might have to pull over, get out and wipe the windshield with a paper towel or rag to improve your visibility. Don't let something as trivial as a windshield washer cause headaches. Troubleshoot the windshield washer, the washer pump and the washer fluid lines in your 1995 Honda Civic Hatchback.
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Instructions
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Locate the windshield washer fuse. The fuse rail is in the interior of your 1995 Civic DX Hatchback, underneath the steering column. The lowest plastic panel pulls away to reveal the fuse rail. Use the illustration on the removed plastic panel to locate the windshield washer fuse. Use your fingers to remove the fuse and inspect the transparent plastic head. The 'U' shaped filament inside should be intact. If it is broken, replace the fuse.
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2
Open the hood of the vehicle. Locate the washer-fluid filler tube near the front of the vehicle on the driver's side. The tube will feed into the reservoir tank near the front bumper underneath the engine.
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Remove the front bumper cap. Use a socket wrench to remove the retaining bolts on the underside of the spoiler. Remove the plastic spoiler. Farther underneath the vehicle are two lower bumper-mounting bolts -- one on the driver side and one on the passenger side. Use a socket wrench to remove these bolts. Locate two bumper bracket posts installed horizontally in between the bumper cap and the vehicle. Use an open-faced wrench to remove the two bolts from each bumper bracket post. Pull the bumper cap off of the vehicle.
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Locate the windshield washer pump and reservoir. Inspect the reservoir for sediment. If you notice a significant amount of sediment in the washer fluid, then the lines will be full of the sediment as well and all must be replaced.
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Locate the washer-pump relay wires and harness. Inspect the integrity of the wires for breaks or tears. If a wire is loose or broken, it must be replaced.
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Inspect the washer fluid lines. Three rubber lines feed from the washer pump and travel up the engine compartment toward the bottom corner of the windshield on the driver's side. Two lines then take a 90-degree turn, and they're attached to the underside of the hood by a series of clips. The third line enters the front wheel well on the driver's side and routes to the underside of the vehicle along the driver's side. The line leads up and over the rear wheel well on the driver's side and connects to the rear window wiper assembly. Check the rubber lines for cracks, tears and leaks.
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Inspect the washer fluid sprayers. Two sprayers are located on the top of the hood near the windshield. A third sprayer is located on the hatchback's wiper assembly hatchback. Insert a needle into the sprayer to clear any debris that might be blocking the opening.
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Replace the washer pump if the above troubleshooting steps do not resolve the problem. Remove the wire harness and rubber lines, then use a socket wrench to remove the three retaining bolts. Pull the washer pump down and out of the vehicle from underneath with the bumper cap removed. Install a new pump in place of the old one. Use a socket wrench to refasten the three mounting bolts. Reconnect the wire harness and rubber washer lines.
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References
- Photo Credit sur la route image by valérie Beunardeau from Fotolia.com
