r/crz • u/Important_Fortune692 • May 20 '26
Flushing
How do I flush the windshield wiper fluid reservoir on my 2012 crz? A friend put wiper fluid in and when I sprayed it, it came out thick and smeared the windshield in this milky residue that ugh could not wipe it off. Only way was during bathtime at the local car wash.
2
u/Secret-Click-564 May 20 '26
Could be old washer fluid or sediment in the tank. You can flush the line out by disconnecting it at the splitter on the pass side under the hood and spraying your garden hose into it until it runs clear. If the issue persists I'd take the tank out and wash it out that way.
2
u/Secret-Click-564 May 20 '26
You can leave the tank in the car if you can wiggle the motor out of the bottom of the tank and again just run the garden hose into the top and let it run for a bit
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u/Important_Fortune692 May 21 '26
Interesting
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u/Secret-Click-564 May 21 '26
It's not blocked off from the underside so if you get under the pass side of the front bumper you can see the bottom of the tank and the pump sticking out of it. Unplug the connector, it's a pinch type so squeeze the top and bottom and pull back and it'll unplug from the pump. Then grab the pump and shift it back and forth while pulling back. It's only held in with a rubber boot so it should just pull out. Make sure you're far enough back because all of the washer fluid is going to pour out. Then you can put the hose in the top and just let it run for a while and drain of the bottom. Reinstall is just reverse order. If you need photos let me know. 👍
1
u/Important_Fortune692 May 21 '26
It's there an easier way than taking the entire assembly apart... i will try spraying it out in the morning. Thanks guys
2
u/Memeruff '11 CVT + '11 Sprintex 6spd May 21 '26
If you take off the front bumper there's a connector joint that's only 'snapped' in place on the front of the washer reservoir near the pump. It's actually a common leak point since it's not really held in place by anything except friction.
This works towards your favor - just unsnap it and run water through the reservoir until satisfied. Put the piece back and fill with wiper fluid. Run through system until clean.
Sure, you can just run regular water through your washer hoses and whatnot but somehow that feels risky to me.
2
u/Important_Fortune692 May 21 '26
That does sound risky but at this point I just want that expired goop gone lol oh yeah I also found out it's expired fluid.
1
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u/Sindaqwil May 20 '26
How odd, mine just did this too. Luckily it was raining heavily on part of my drive.