The washer system delivers cleaning fluid to the windscreen, clearing road spray, insects, and grime. The system comprises a washer bottle, a pump mechanism (manual or electric), washer jets mounted on the scuttle panel, and tubing connecting the pump to the jets.
Washer Bottle Mounting
The washer bottle mounting position changed with the radiator layout, on vertical-flow radiator cars the bottle was mounted on the inner wing near the radiator, while on crossflow cars the position moved to accommodate the revised radiator cowling. The bottle is a translucent plastic container that allows the fluid level to be visually checked.
Washer Bottle, Brackets & Jets Overview
The original washer pump was a manual type, either a dashboard-mounted plunger or a footwell-mounted valve operated by the driver’s foot. An electric washer pump conversion kit replaces the manual pump with an electrically operated unit that provides more consistent and convenient wash delivery at the press of a switch. The electric pump draws fluid from the original bottle through tubing to the jets. Conversion kits are available for both positive and negative earth systems.
Washer jets should be aimed to deliver fluid to the centre of the windscreen in the wiper sweep area, jets that spray over the roof or onto the bonnet are ineffective and waste fluid.