Can't make water like when you were younger? Read on...

Today's second accomplishment on the old 740 was getting the windshield
washer pump to work. The wires to the water level indicator were shot,
the wires from the indicator were shot, the power supply wires to the
washer fluid motor were shot -- the ground wires were even shot!

So, using leftover 12 gauge wire from my head light job, I re-ran a new
ground wire to the chassis. Then I cut the wires 1 inch above the water
level indicator, cleaned them, installed a butt-connector on each, and
then ran 2 new wires. I did the same thing from the snap connector to
the washer motor and the washer motor to the ground. The 2-prong plug
to the washer motor is nothing more than 2 wires, each with a
butt-connector inside of a housing. So, I cut off the housing,
installed a butt-connector on the new wires and plugged this into the
washer motor. Voila!

Lots of power!

So, next time you see a snap on wire connector, check to make sure that
you can't re-build the connector with some fresh wire, some 12-gauge
butt-connectors and liquid electrical tape to seal the deal. The
biggest trick is to make sure your wires are seated well because the
housing mainly just clips the wiring in place so they don't become
disconnected. Sometimes you can actually strip out the old wires and
connectors and insert new wires and butt-connectors into the old
housing. This is preferable.

JB

 

What also amazed me was that when I finally got power to the washer
motor, it wouldn't prime. So, I traced the tubing to a t-fitting that
apparantly split to the windshield and to the headlight washers (if so
equipped - I am not). The valve in the t-fitting must have failed
because I could not get pressure to the windshield.

I disconnected the t-fitting and ran one line from the washer motor to
the t-fitting at the firewall, where it splits to the left/right
squirter. This valve began to spew water, so I used some automotive
GOOP adhesive to seal this.

After all of this, both squirters worked fine and all was right in the
Volvo world (at least for a day).