C1 Windshield Washers

[Christopher R.]

I'm going to try to get my windshield washers to work. Winter project. I know I can send the parts off to somebody who'll fix them and send them back all pretty and shiney. Nothing wrong with that. Love to see that UPS truck pull up to the house. But I want to attempt to fix them myself. That's why it's called a hobby, right? Besides, after I screw it up, then I can send the pieces off to somebody, and spend even more money to get them made right.

1. Is there a troubleshooting procedure someplace? ST-12? '61 full size car manual? Where it's a vacuum system, I assume you test to see if the components hold a vacuum. I did that.

2. The vacuum can and its valve hold a vacuum for both nozzles. That's the good news and the bad news. If the vacuum goes in, and stays there, how does it come out to do its work?

3. Is the regulator supposed to hold a vacuum? With vacuum applied, is the rod supposed to move? Can these things be taken apart and fixed? Looks like there's a diaphragm in there.

4. How do you rebuild the washer pump? I see pump rebuild kits advertised. But there's not much in there to rebuild. How does the pump work? Where is vacuum applied? When the vacuum is applied, what's supposed to happen? There's about 5 nozzles on the top of that.

5. On what other cars did this washer system also reside? I'll go see if I can scrounge some parts there.

[Jimmy J.]

Re: C1 Windshield Washers

Chris,
There is a good article on washers at this web site.
Good luck. Jimmy

http://www.chrysler300club.com/tech/w-washer60.html

[Dick W.]

Re: C1 Windshield Washers

They did not work any better on the Chryslers than they did on the Vettes. I had a 300-F and the washer quit working in the first year and was never able to successfully repair them as to where they would work more than a few weeks. Tom and Jay Maxwell are the acknowledged experts on these systems.