windshield washer pump replacement procedure?

[Henry A Harper III]

This isn't application-specific, and might not be helpful since you don't
know how to get to the pump, but are you *sure* that it's the pump that is
dead and not some failure to deliver power to it? Recently I bought a new
washer pump for my GTI (right behind the battery, behind the headlight,
easy access BTW) because  it wouldn't squirt any more and I had already
played with the switch contacts a bit. New one did the same thing, when
actuated by the switch...jump the connections and both whirred loudly. Urg.
I *really* cleaned up the switch with some dremel accessory parts,
punctuated by a trip to the kitchen table to reassemble the three
spring-loaded contact sliders that like to pop out when the stalk sin't
restrained in the column, and I now have a new dual-outlet washer pump on
the shelf. I wonder if I'll ever need it since the original is still going
strong at 14 years and 225k miles (with very modereate usage the past few
years due to intermittent switch contacts, perhaps)...but it was only $15
or so.

Anyway, HTH
Henry Harper
http://www.henry-harper.com  hah at alumni.rice.edu
1991 200 quattro, 115k
1988 GTI 16v, 225k

On Friday, March 01, 2002 8:25 AM, nde264 at lulu.it.northwestern.edu
[SMTP:nde264 at lulu.it.northwestern.edu] wrote:
> The windshield washer pump on my 89 90q has died.  I have checked the
archives
> regarding replacement, and see that the check valve between the pump and
the
> nozzles clogs sometimes and prevents flow.  However, when I pull the
switch to
> wash the windshield, there is no noise from the pump, and no flow.  If I
turn
> on the lights, though, I can get the headlight washer pump to run and
clean the
> headlights.  I have a new pump, and now I'm trying to determine the
method to
> replace it.
>
> How do I get to the pump to replace it (I'll check/clean/remove the check
valve
> as well)?  The filler cap/hose looks as if it goes into the body away
from the
> engine compartment.  Do I need to remove the hydraulic fluid reservoir to
get
> at the washer fluid reservoir?
>
> Also, is anyone from the Chicago/Milwaukee area going to be racing at the
rally
> listed on www.w-a-g.org this Sunday?  I'd like to go, but can't find any
> friends that want to help me to suck some life out of my car.
>
> TIA,
>
> Nathan Engelbert
>