Washer fluid Indicator light and reservoir nonsense

[not on the rug]

Driving the other day and went to clean my windshield and nothing came out. Do we not have a low fluid indicator light?

Stopped at the auto parts store and picked up a gallon of fluid to fill it up and was shocked that it only takes 1/2 gallon to fill it to the top.

Gotta love FORD engineering...1/2 gallon reservoir AND no indicator light. I guess I'll keep a gallon in the back at all times now.

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[Herbie]

Driving the other day and went to clean my windshield and nothing came out. Do we not have a low fluid indicator light?

Stopped at the auto parts store and picked up a gallon of fluid to fill it up and was shocked that it only takes 1/2 gallon to fill it to the top.

Gotta love FORD engineering...1/2 gallon reservoir AND no indicator light. I guess I'll keep a gallon in the back at all times now.

Yes there is a low windshield fluid light and unless they have changed the vehicles (I have a 2022), by the time that light goes on, the fluid reservoir will take a whole gallon of fluid to fill.

How many times did you push the button for your fluid to come out. Sometimes I find if it hasn't been used in a long time, it takes a couple pushes before it finally comes out. Sounds like you were definitely not out the other day.

 

[HeliPilot]

Yeah, hold the button longer. It will eventually pressurize.

 

[not on the rug]

Interesting. So...As the level gets lower it would require more pushes/longer pushes to build pressure? I've owned a lot of cars and never come across anything like that. I guess I'll mess with it some more and see what I find.

Thanks for the info

 

[Mossback]

Sounds like it needs a check valve to keep it from draining back.

 

[AK SNO RIDER]

The Bronco has an issue with the wiper fluid system losing prime. Sometimes you just have to give it a couple bursts of a few seconds. It's not "normal" but it is normal for the Bronco.

One of it's many...."quirks"

 

[Moto26]

Yep, common issue.

I found what could possibly be a fix. On the hunch that somehow a vacuum was developing in the reservoir tank, I drilled a small (3/32”) hole in the filler cap, and literally have not had that issue again. It’s been well over a year. Before that, we had experienced the problem at least 4 or 5 times.

Can’t hurt to try it…

 

[not on the rug]

The Bronco has an issue with the wiper fluid system losing prime. Sometimes you just have to give it a couple bursts of a few seconds. It's not "normal" but it is normal for the Bronco.

One of it's many...."quirks"

Yep, common issue.

I found what could possibly be a fix. On the hunch that somehow a vacuum was developing in the reservoir tank, I drilled a small (3/32”) hole in the filler cap, and literally have not had that issue again. It’s been well over a year. Before that, we had experienced the problem at least 4 or 5 times.

Can’t hurt to try it…

Sounds like your hunch was probably right.

 

[Roger123]

It's a "feature", happens every now and then to us as well.

 

[PrepVet]

Yeah, hold the button longer. It will eventually pressurize.

This happens fairly often with mine as well.

 

[CarlSpackler]

And it always happens at the worst fucking times. Press the button 15 times and nothing then all of a sudden there it is! But you;re going over 60 so its almost useless anyways. And of course it wont do it at the dealership.

 

[Moto26]

It always seemed to happen to us when the windshield was covered in dust and sand, and you could just hear the wipers and glass getting ground away while you waited for the fluid to come out…

 

[Richtor]

I have a leak or hole in the reservoir. Anybody have any idea how to fix it?

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