What's your car's most annoying niggle ?

[minty2]

Originally Posted by stevestrat

Illuminating the steering wheel controls has been done, there's a thread on it but the process is somewhat disjointed, missing photos and not very clear. There was talk of a "how to" but I don't think it ever happened.

That’s a shame; but my point about missing illumination still stands. Even my son’s 14 year old Corsa has illuminated switches on steering wheel. Come to think of it, they’re fixed position switches off the steering column. Now that’s how it should be done. Ever tried turning down the radio while turning the wheel?

[charlie 22]

The windscreen washer jets freezing up.

[squire]

Originally Posted by charlie 22

The windscreen washer jets freezing up.

It's not just the jets, it's also the pipe where it run at the top of the wing by the hinge before going under the sound proofing to the jets.

[hrissim]

Originally Posted by squire

It's not just the jets, it's also the pipe where it run at the top of the wing by the hinge before going under the sound proofing to the jets.

Mainly from the liquid used...
It should be at least to -20°C

[Mike Noc]

When I was in the coach game one of the German coach manufacturer's recommended screen wash contained methylated spirits.

Have always put half a pint in along with the usual screen wash when refilling the washer bottle and that helps prevent them freezing up.

[hrissim]

Originally Posted by Mike Noc

When I was in the coach game one of the German coach manufacturer's recommended screen wash contained methylated spirits.

Have always put half a pint in along with the usual screen wash when refilling the washer bottle and that helps prevent them freezing up.

Exactly!
Over here in the stores we have Winter ready screen wash - concentrate up to -60°C, up to -20°C, etc.

[squire]

Originally Posted by hrissim

Mainly from the liquid used...
It should be at least to -20°C

Had a 50-50% mix in but it didn't cope. Must have been a bad batch, last time I had this problem was about 1985/6 in my Austin Princess. With the wind chill I think that with the small amount of liquid in the pipes even a stronger mix would still freeze.

[Neil1]

Originally Posted by charlie 22

The windscreen washer jets freezing up.

I have heated washer jets which were already fitted.

You can custom fit them, here's a How To?

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=155939

[Sprinter]

Originally Posted by Neil1

I have heated washer jets which were already fitted.

You can custom fit them, here's a How To?

https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=155939

i have heated jets as standard but it still didn't stop the lines freezing up.

[kelvo]

Originally Posted by squire

It's not just the jets, it's also the pipe where it run at the top of the wing by the hinge before going under the sound proofing to the jets.

Problem is the freezing point of screen wash, a lot of the stuff only does down to minus 5 or 10 when used neat - and how many of us up the concentration of screen wash in winter?

It's probably been exceptionally cold as well the last week.

Doesn't help with a lot of modern cars where the washer bottle is behind the front wing so suffers more from wind-chill. I like my classic car where the washer bottle is under the bonnet and so thaws nicely with the engine heat.