Washer Reservoir And Pumps: Notes
| ITEM | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| 1 | Reservoir |
| 2 | Filler neck and cap |
| 3 | Windshield washer pump |
| 4 | Fluid level sensor |
| 5 | Headlamp washer pump |
The plastic, molded reservoir is located in the RH wheel arch, behind the liner and has a capacity of 6.1 ± 0.1 liters (12.9 ± 0.2 US pints). It is secured to the body and front panel with bolts. A boss on the reservoir locates into a bracket mounted off the A-pillar casting and provides additional support.
The reservoir has 2 recessed holes on its front face, which provide location for the windshield and headlamp washer pumps. The pumps are push fitted into grommets, which seal the pumps in their locations. A hole in the top of the reservoir allows for the fitment of the filler neck. The windshield washer fluid hose is integrated into the harness and so follow it's routing. The headlamp washer hose, from the reservoir, is routed over the wheel and across the body between the headlamps.
A hole with a grommet in the side of the reservoir provides the location for the fluid level sensor.
The low level sensor has a float, with integral magnet. The sensor has a contact, which is normally open when the reservoir is full. When the fluid level reduces to approximately 1 liter, the magnetic float pivots down, which causes the switch contact to close. This closed circuit is sensed by the instrument cluster, which displays the low fluid level message and transmits the switch status on the medium speed CAN bus.
The instrument cluster monitors the fluid level sensor continuously. The instrument cluster checks the fluid level sensor when the ignition is switched on to give the driver an early warning of the low fluid level. The instrument cluster then monitors the sensor value over a 25 second period when the ignition is on to prevent invalid messages due to fluid 'sloshing' in the reservoir.
When a low fluid level signal is transmitted to the instrument cluster, a 'WASHER FLUID LOW' message is displayed in the instrument cluster's message center. The first display of this message, or illumination of the indicator, is accompanied by a 'chime' sound to alert the driver to the low fluid level.