Screen wash / anti freeze

[timwilky]

So why am I posting at this unearthly time when I should be 70 miles down the M6?

The answer is simple. The hire car I have been provided with as it is deemed I no longer deserve a company car full time has no anti freeze/screen wash. Would you do a 450 mile round trip on the motorways with no way to wash the salt off the screen? Me neither.

So breakfasted for the first time in ages, my own car and van defrosted both with working screenwash and I am about to give them a shock by appearing in trousers/shirt at the local office instead of my usual jeans/t shirt.

My boss can deal with my no show on the customers premises. He is responsible for health and safety in the business, and I deem an unfit vehicle a H&S issue.

I will leave it to the finance people to refuse to pay as the vehicle was unfit for use.


So people out there. Please make sure you have your screen wash topped up with a suitable anti freeze solution. Not nice not being able to see where you are going. And please make sure you fasten the bonnet down properly. The locks can get a bit icy as well. A bonnet coming up at 80 mph means total blindness as a sheet of steel wraps itself round your windscreen and roof. I have seen the results of this a couple of times.

[maviczap]

Yep not acceptable Tim.

[Fallout]

It's surprising how quickly your visibility can become nil when the road gets slushy. Unacceptable.

[daveyrach]

Also illegal to drive with no screenwash if you get pulled it you that has to take the flak.

[M65]

Isnt no screen wash an MOT failure too??

[Dicky Ticker]

Providing it was supplied in working order is it not possible that it is frozen.On the other hand if it was given to you either empty or defective a maintenance problem for the hire co. staff.
Being transport orientated we have a check list that drivers have to do before taking their vehicle out which takes about 10 mins but better 10 mins in the yard where things are available to rectify silly faults like no screen wash or a defective bulb than ministry or police fining us or putting a vehicle off the road.
I am the same with everything I drive or ride,old habits die hard and I just wish everybody was as diligent

[NTECUK]

Isnt no screen wash an MOT failure too??
????
its a hire car.
Hope its got an MOT.
ps
mot does not mean is legal to drive:spiderman:

[Sir Trev]

Even with screenwash properly mixed to winter levels I sometimes have problems with my cars failing to squirt (oo-er!) even though I check all under-bonnet levels at least weekly your round. Hire cars are often basic spec and may not have heated washer jets making it even worse. Don't blame you for not going out on the motoways without functioning jets Tim - I get through so much washer fluid at this time of year on my M4 commute I'd not want to be without it.

[timwilky]

Boss was in agreement. My meeting with customer canceled.

I doubt a moan when Hertz collect tomorrow will have much effect. But if both the clio and van that don't have heated jets, just an extra dose of screen wash for winter work. I would have thought it should have been on their pre delivery.

But assuming the last hire had used quite a bit and simply added water etc. Then they would have been unable to add more (if any).

[dizzyblonde]

We've provided people with screen wash before now when in motorway services. Usually newly passed lady drivers.
Always carry anti freeze and screen wash with us. One good tip is to have a safety pin in the dash. The jets get clogged with salt from off the roads. Ours don't often as they are obviously on a high bonnet, but folks with little cars get the lot from lorries

[M65]

????
its a hire car.
Hope its got an MOT.
ps
mot does not mean is legal to drive:spiderman:


If there is no screen wash in at MOT time, it will fail. Its the same as having faulty wipers. You must be able to keep a clear windscreen at all times.

Anyway, it could have had in screen wash at MOT time, or it might not have, who knows. I was just saying. It should have an MOT you would hope, but either way, its just a lack of basic maintenance not keeping the washer bottle topped up. Very poor.

[yorkie_chris]

I thought most hire cars were newer than MOT required anyway?

I've been dumping an extra liter of isopropanol into the vans (cavernous) screenwash tank as it still manages to freeze in the jets. I'm tempted to put some proper, heated wash jets on the bonnet instead of the little ones stuck on top of the wipers. Then again at the rate I'll go it will be done by spring.

[timwilky]

MOT is a bit misleading. This is a newish 2012 car with 1600 miles on the clock.

[Dicky Ticker]

And an empty washer bottle:D

[timwilky]

Empty would be ok as I could have put some screen wash in.

This was frozen so the pump was not even spinning.

[NTECUK]

As long as it spurts on the screen when we do the Mot its good enough.
.but MOT is there and then . You could have an egg cup full. Words just at that Moment .
But drive it home go to squirt ... Nuffink :(
Its so bl00dy cold hear even with meths in it freezes.
I'm off to get a long run of screen pipe wrap it round my heater pipe , take the anti siphon valve out and see if I can get heated wash nozzles ...

[NTECUK]

You know Tim when we service fleet cars the tight gits won't pay for one bottle of screen wash .
So they only get tap water.

[yorkie_chris]

Usually it's just the nozzle, put enough meths/iso in the tank and that won't freeze unless you're in siberia. The meths in the nozzle evaporates and then the water freezes. Add a bit of heat at the nozzle and job's a good un.

[NTECUK]

But a major blast of hot water got to help shift the dirt .

[dizzyblonde]

Or use a safety pin and pick the ice and muck out

[Dicky Ticker]

Sounds bizarre but I keep an old hair dryer with an extra long lead for locks and wipers.
Saves the wiper blades when they are frozen to the screen and a quick blast on the jets,job done.

[NTECUK]

Thats kinda tricky when your driving along at 30mph ;)
I can reach round and squirt some more de icer on it . But not on the A12. ...

[Sir Trev]

Or use a safety pin and pick the ice and muck out

Might depend on the jets. The Mundaneo has old style twin squirters on each side but the Focus has fan shaped ones. Would not want to pick away at the latter type as it may damage the spray pattern.

But you're right - the simple way is often the best, where you can use it!

[Dicky Ticker]

I find that once they are operational they stay operational with the heat from under the bonnet.The ones we have most problems with are wiper mounted.Finding the jet holes with a pin at seven in the morning in the dark is difficult hence using the hair dryer while at the house or in the yard-------------Each to their own