Odd washer fluid leak

[brandon6976]

Hey guys I have at least what I think seems odd. I seem to have a leak coming out of my 86 at the washer nozzle on the passenger headlight. Even when the car is off and sitting there it seems there is a small drizzle of fluid coming out .. VERY slowly but there is fluid coming out leaving a puddle by the front passenger tire. I noticed a couple times that the car was sorta wet on that corner and never could figure it out till I took a good look.

Anyone else had this problem or got any idea's?

[turbogoo1]

Its the line for your headlight washers. If you dont use them...just plug the hose coming off the bottom of the washer reserve.

[85_6mge]

Exactly, there are valves in line that are suppose to hold the fluid back but eventually they fail and will leak all the fluid from your tank. Not sure if you can still get them from Toyota but they will be hella expensive.

[Rich64N]

The most likely cause is the check valve (white thing under the headlight assembly). The only use I've found for the headlight washers is to melt snow when driving in a blizzard. A Vacuum plug will easily retire these in place for about a buck (take a segment of hose to the store to get the correct size plug).

[jefe_not]

And don't foget to park a little up hill so the headlight washers are above the fluid tank... ;) Rich64N - have you ever had your head lights freeze in the up position because the washer fluid froze?

[CJSREDPRA]

See previous postings. L-shaped check valve is leaking.

Easy to replace & a big PITA to replace at the same time. They fairly easy to get at & can be replaced. The PITA part is when you pull the ones off of junkyard parts cars. 75% of THOSE are leaking as well. No known way to test them, that I know of.

New one are $$$$ and are also probably CLASS F.

[Suprabee]

The PITA part is when you pull the ones off of junkyard parts cars. 75% of THOSE are leaking as well. No known way to test them, that I know of.



True, but if you can blow some air in the direction of the little arrow and not in the opposite direction, it is good. A bad one will allow you to blow both ways. That's what I've discovered.

Rick

[brandon6976]

wow thanks guys .. i was sorta puzzled

I'm surprised even if its in an open state that the fluid makes its way through all the tubes without the pressure of the motor goin

[RedP85]

was 38Cdn$ each last time I bought one.....3 years ago

[rocketrider0069]

I Called Toyota They are like $75 each.

[pdupler]

Anyone know of a newer model car with headlight washers that could be scavenged? Chances are they all must have these valves or if you parked facing downhill, all your fluid would run out.

[RedP85]

They are like $75 each.serious rip off ! As Phil says, other newer cars have headlamp washers too. Worth investigating !

[turbogoo1]

Interesting thought Phil. Wonder if audi's would miss those? Unless they are so far advanced that they use something better?

[Greg G]

PLUG EM!!!

Most of the German car nozzles are significantly smaller, and many have 2 nozzles built into one base.

[lechner]

If you really want to keep your headlight washers, another option would be relocation of the reservoir. The problem is right now it is high on the fenderwell, and gravity empties it if you don't have the checkvalve. If it was relocated to lower than the headlight squirters, perhaps below the headlight buckets, then washer fluid would only come out the squirters when the pump was going. This is why most cars don't need a checkvalve.

[RedP85]

Hard braking would also empties them slowly..

[Dave A.]

What about using a suitable replacement check valve that isn't made out of plastic and doesn't cost an arm and a leg? Maybe a power brake booster check valve? All you really need is one check valve spliced into the main feed line to the washers.

[RedP85]

This is not a check valve.
It stop fluid flow all directions, unless there is enough pressure (in one direction) to open it, and then there is flow.

For the other flow direction, since there is nothing to create pressure on that side, it will never happen.

[brandon6976]

I searched the L-shaped check valve is leaking thread but couldn't find it.

I'm thinking about getting another supra however the one I'm looking at has this same problem. Just curious if there is an easy fix rather than plugging it, which is what I did on my original one.

[RedP85]

Not that I recall.
Very expensive at the dealer, for the size of the part, about 40$

[JimC]

If you can blow thru the valve (unless a blood vessel bulges >2 mm out of your forehead), it's probably going to leak. The other thing is both valves have to offer about the same resistance to the flow/pressure - or the stronger one won't flow at all. I guess you could re-route the hoses to eliminate one check valve, and that would reduce the amount of fluid to each headlight.

[Wolfgang]

I just kinked the line on mine.. would like to replace them though. Could we just use some standard check valve though?

[JimC]

I had asked that a while back since I'm not aware of what other cars use - but it seems that so many cars now include headlight sprayers. Some setups (like BMWs) place the fluid reservoir down low to where check valves may not be needed - but some cars must use them - unless they're now just built into the sprayers themselves.

I'm now interested in trying using just one check valve to avoid the matching problem. That might not deliver enough fluid pressure for the two sprayers - so they just drool on your bumper.

[Nate84]

I had the same issue on mine. It would just empty the entire tank within a hour of filling it. Im just now getting around to it today and Im re-doing all the lines and connectors along with the valve's. I just hope I dont have to go back in there to re-do anything.

[brandon6976]

So where exactly are these valves, are they right at the nozzle at the headlight or are they they like under the bottle ?

[RedP85]

6 inches below the nozzle.
They look like a 90deg plastic elbow, with a flat side.

[brandon6976]

sounds like a PITA to even get to. I think I'll just plug it. I take possession of my new 84 monday according to the plan :D