Do I need a new windscreen pump?

Question 1
Do I need a new windscreen pump?...  Hi,

I have an old Corsa and the windscreen washers have stopped working. There is water in the tank and it's not frozen or anything. The motor is still working as I can hear it but no water coming through? Do I need a new windscreen pump, how much does this cost to repair. Any help would be much appreciated :-)

Answers
1)   it could be a blockage in the tubing for windscreen washers try cleaning nozzles, blow through tubing - Frank

2)   If the motor is running then the fault is either blocked jets or lines. The jets you can sometimes get a pin into, the lines you can possibly disconnect and blow through them. If you can drain the tank and fill it up with hot water that sometimes helps too. - EvelynThe ModifiedDog.

3)   What can happen is that the washer water freezes, you operate the motor and a pipe blows off.
As you can still hear the motor running and assuming the jets are clear this is most likely. Finding the ends of the pipes can be challenging, but worth the effort. - Bazza

4)   Having just fitted a new pump to a Berlingo I will throw this suggestion at you. The water froze where the pump enters the reservoir tank. The washers were activated and the motor spun into life. On the end of the motor metal drive shaft is a plastic "paddle" which was frozen in the ice, the powerful little motor merely split the tube of the paddle which press fits onto the motor metal shaft. Once this has occurred the paddle cannot spin and force the water through as it no longer sits tight on the motor metal shaft. So ! yes your can hear the motor working but it no longer pumps the water up the tubes and to the screen. The answer is another pump. - L G

5)   pull the pipe off one of the jets under the bonnet flip the bottle cap off and blowdown the pipe to clear the filter in the washer bottle , now operate the washers withe the pipe disconnected, water should gush out , reconnect and it will be ok . some people put washing up liquid in and the frost makes it go lumpy, put a hose in the bottle so that it over flow`s leave it over flowing for a while to get the lumps out - J R

6)   Your pump is working, you can get a new one for about £10/€13 if trying these dont work.
1 pull off the hose from behind the washer. get someone to pull the stalk. if water comes out, the jets are blocked. if not.
2 take off wipers and grille underneath them. this gives you full access to the bottle and pump. carefully take off one of the hoses from the pump. then get someone to work the washer. if water comes out. the hose is blocked. if not.
3 with wipers etc taken off. undo the one bolt on the bottle. pull the electric connection from the pump and take it out of the bottle. take the bottle out and check the filter where the pump sits isnt blocked. if it is, wash it clear in the sink. if not.
4 take the other hose off the pump, get a new or 2nd hand one. put hoses on, fit into bottle, bolt into engine bay, attach electric connector and try again - tike


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Question 2
i have an 07 vw passat 2.0tdi with 58,000 miles on the clock the light for the particulate filter has lit up?...  on the dash it says in the manual to drive the car at 60 kilometres per hour for 15 minutes i drove it for 30 minutes and the light is still on then it says to take it to the dealer well you know how expensive that can be is there a way to clean it myself or do i need to replace it will it cause any harm to drive the car for a while like this my car is due its first mot test in february would this fail the test help would be appreciated as ive spent over 1000 pound on the car in the past month would this be costly to repair

Answers
1)   It is not a repair. It is a regular service item that needs attending to.

"In order to carry out the regeneration
process the DPF needs to reach and
maintain an exhaust temperature higher
than its normal operating temperature.
Under most conditions the vehicle is able
to carry out the regeneration procedure
unaided. However, in some circumstances
where the required temperature cannot be
achieved, i.e. frequent short journeys or
stop/start driving, the vehicle may fail to
regenerate the DPF. If this situation occurs
the DPF warning light will illuminate on
the dash."
"If two or more
lights come on
together, the DPF
regeneration can only be carried out at
a Volkswagen retailer. It is recommended
that the vehicle be driven straight to a
Volkswagen retailer. Failure to adhere
to this recommendation may result in
reduced engine power followed by the
DPF becoming blocked. If the DPF
becomes blocked to the point where it
cannot run through the regeneration
process, the DPF will need to be replaced.

Only a VW dealer can do this for you if the drive method does not work - Timbo is here

2)   You need to drive for at least 25 miles, non stop, around 50-60mph (motorway or dual carriageway) in a gear that keeps the RPM just below the red line. The filter relies on the exhaust reaching a very high temperature to regenerate. - MICHAEL

3)   The DPF issue you have can result in a fire if you dont attend to it . Find an independent which specialises in VW and they will help
The DPF should regenerate itself on long runs on motorways etc If you only do short journeys this could be the problem - Andy Macpherson

4)   Could be a failed pressure sensor but don't risk it.
Take it to the dealer they can force a regeneration and will charge £50 or so. If it turns out to be a failed preesure sensor then they will replace it.

If you leave it and the DPF blocks it will need replacement at around £1000.

The DPF is a filter - a service item and therefore not covered by warranty especially if you ignore the warning lights and fail to follow the instructions in the manual.
DPFs are a pain in the rear and the reason I switched from diesel back to petrol engine. - BriaR

5)   What are you so worried about? Even if you bought the car used the DPF and any other emissions related equipment should be covered under warranty well after the vehicle's general warranty has run out. - Richard R


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Question 3
How can i make a copy of my VW passat Key?...  i lost my original VW key. i have a spare but if i loose it i wont have a key at all. how can i make a copy without having to pay a dealerships ridiculous prices?

Answers
1)   You usually have to go to the dealership if it has a chip in it (immobilizer) - Eduardo S

2)   $200 at the stealers. - doane_nut

3)   Some locksmiths carry the transponder keys in stock, you'll have to call around to see which ones carry the key for you vehicle (I assume from the description it must be a transponder key that we are refering to). A few of the locksmiths also can programme the key to the vehicle; I usually recommend that you have at least three keys to the vehicle; 1) valet key, this will allow the door to open and start the car but won't unlock the glove box or the trunk or access to the gas release door button (Some models).. this is the perfect key to give the parking valet; 2) the normal keyless entry type key; opens the doors, trunk, glove box and can remotely open and close the doors/trunk (boot) by touching a button on the key; 3) the so called "sub master" key, which can open all the doors/trunk, glove box, etc. but does not have the keyless entry remote attached to it. Locksmiths in my area charge about $40 USD for a transponder key + programming charges.

Normally, I advise against purchasing the blank keys on the internet, most locksmiths (at least in my area of California) won't cut a key that they didn't sell you; even if you are able to find a locksmith who will cut your blank, most likely they will not warrant the key and or cut, so if it doesn't fit or cannot programme to the car, you're out of luck and out of money.

Some independent (NON VW dealerships) can programme keys to your vehicle via a VAG Com or similiar type tool. Call around seeing a shop that specializes in VW-Audi or German imports. The cost normally runs about 1.0 hours of labour on average x the posted hourly rate. In my area that runs from 95 USD to 135 USD at independent shops (NON VW dealership) to 115 to 165 USD per hour at a dealership.

Be sure to call around and set an appointment with whatever shop you choose to do the job; you'll save time and money this way. The shop will need to have your working key and whatever other keys you have in order to programme the keys to the vehicle properly. Cut however many keys you need in advance and bring them all to the shop with the car, keeping in mind that whatever keys you don't bring won't be programmed to the vehicle, so they won't be able to start the car (though they can open doors etc.). Every shop that I know charges a fixed rate to programme keys, usual that charge is one hour of labour and most VW's can have up to six keys programmed to start the car.

The dealership maybe more expenisve, but in most cases you'll save time. The keys (valet and sub master) aren't that much more expensive than the locksmiths and you can have the keys cut and programmed in one place, so you'll save a lot of time that would be wasted running around finding a locksmith, then a shop that could programme the keys to the vehicle.

Hope this helps, a car nut. - a car nut

4)   You can buy the key cheap online. But that is where the "cheap' part of this equation stops.

The key is laser cut and cannot be done at just any old locksmith.

In addition, the transponder keys must be programmed to you vehicles anti theft system. Some of those cheap keys do not have the resistor that the ignition ring looks for to allow the car to start. You might have to purchase this as well from the dealer.

Then the key must be programmed to the car using a VW scan tool and software. This must be done at the dealer or specialized indy shop.

You can program the remote by yourself if you have another good working key. - nywholesale

5)   only the dealer can make a copy. - Roman


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Question 4
do you know what the EPC is?...  i have a volkswagen car and i need 2 know what does it means

Answers
1)   'Electronic Power Control' to 'Electric Potentiometer Control' could be throttle problem. Is engine on reduced power?

Remedies from disconnecting battery and reconnecting sometimes clears warning light to engine management fault. If this doesn't work take to dealer! - skyeblue

2)   It's basically a check engine light. The engine computer is seeing something wrong with what could be any number of things. You need to get it scanned to see what's causing it to come on. - VinnyW

3)   The EPC (Electronic Pedal Control) is the drive by wire system (electronic computer signal), that controls the throttle, and it eliminated the throttle cable that from earlier models of VW's. - nywholesale

4)   Its the warning light for an electrical problem. it could be anything from a weak battery to a more serious failure - tike


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Question 5
Volkswagen beetle 1975 question?...  im looking into a 1975 VW bug for 3,500$ its engine is rebuilt and its only driven about once a week, i read that the 1975's are fuel injection instead of a carburetor, all and any information is helpfull.
my question.....: is this a good investment and what problems come with this car

Answers
1)   The only real problem with it is the Bosch fuel injection system, get rid of that and there great little cars. - Buster

2)   The state of the chassis and the body are more important. If you encounter a lot of rust you won't have a lot of fun. Engine overhaul and modifications are much less expensive, parts are no problem. You can always change from ignition to carb if you like. The spare part situation is good.

The Bosch L-Jetronic injection is simple and unproblematic. It can easily be adjusted to work properly. However gas mileage was never a strong point with the bugs - whether injected or naturally aspirated.
Low gas mileage ofter comes from not properly working air flow sensors. - Peter

3)   It would not be a "good investment" if you are buying it for the value, it would just be a purchase. It is a 1975 dime a dozen bug.
If you want a classic beetle for an investment, look for a 1966 or older bug. They are more valuable and harder to find. The 1975 body style was made in Mexico up until a few years ago. I have a friend who drives a 2001 beetle from Mexico with fuel injection. It looks just like a 1969 bug except for the i after the 1600 emblem - Rod Knocker

4)   A 1975 Beetle for $3,500? Are you nuts? The car's worth at most $500 no matter what was done to it. What's worse than a hippie? A dumb hippie who payed too much for a hippie-mobile. - John S


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