Windscreen Washer Help!
 

For some reason my windscreen washers aren't working an theres 13v going through both wires so no negative! can anybody help as to why this might be?

Motor gone? THe 13a will go straight through the motor and go down the - wire if nothing is using the power!

The washer works by having 12V from an ignition switched fuse (and thats volts not amps) and the switch in the column grounding (earthing) the other side when you push it. When it's all working perfectly 12V will "come from" the fuse, thro the motor and down the other wire to the switch (I know just trying to explain it simply). Only when you operate the switch will the circuit be complete and current flow (there's your amps). So what you are seeing is normal.

Unplug the wires from the motor, put the ignition on. There should be nominal 12V (volts not amps) on one side and nothing on the other. The 12V is on the fuse side, the other side is connected to the switch. If it doesn't work then it could be the motor, could be the switch.

To test the motor - do you have a rear wash wipe? If so swop the wires over to the other pump and see if the problem moves. Or put 12V on the motor direct from the battery +ve and earth the other side. If it doesn't run the pumps poorly.

To test the switch you need to put a temporary extra switch in parallel, aka a frig. Plug the motor back in and apply the frig. Try to poke another wire down the connector of the switch wire and touch the other end on something bare metal in the engine bay. If that doesn't work then take the plug off wrap a bit of wire round the switch side and force the plug back over it. If that still doesn't work push a pin thro the insulation of the wire to the switch and earth that against something metal. If the pump works with the frig then the switch in the column or the wiring is goosed.

Put some insulation tape over the hole if you used the pin method.