70 WS and HL Washers

[Bill C.]

This just purchased car has arrived and the bugs are slowly disappearing with a "alot of help from my friends", NCRS friends that is! The last (I hope) item to fix is the washer system which has been DRY on this car that has'nt been driven for some 6 years, started and run but not driven. The wipers and all overrides function as they are suppose to but after filling the bag (A/C car) the washers are still not working. Is there a test that someone can suggest to isolate the problem or find the problem? This pump is the 5 port version and guite expensive to replace if available at all. It may use up less space to e-mail me off board, either way, all help is appreciated as always, Thanks, Bill

[Tony H.]

Re: 70 WS and HL Washers

There are many steps to troubleshooting this pump. You can start with the operation of the washers. To activate the washer pump, you need to push the wiper switch forward and hold for 2 seconds. You should then hear a clunking sound which is the pumping of the piston in the cylinder. This clunking will automatically stop after one complete revolution of the cam which pumps the washer pump.

If you do not hear this clunking, the the problem is likely electrical in the switch or the solenoid which is behind the black plastic cover at the washer pump at the firewall of the engine compartment. You can inspect the solenoid by removing this plastic cover.

Next, check to see if the parts that make this pump unique (the 5-port cylinder) are intact by removing the black plastic cover. Next, remove the ignition shielding. Then remove the three or four bolts that hold the plate that hold the 5-port nozzle and pump assembly. Confirm that there are no broken pieces or missing springs.

Other parts you may wish to check if these check out are the middle hose of the 5-nozzle pump at the pump. Confirm that this line leads to the bag and that there is water/fluid in the bag. You can do this by blowing into the line and look or hear for bubble.

Next, blow into each of the other lines (by first disconnecting the hoses at the other 4 nozzles at the pump. The lines should blow freely.

Post again on your findings and we should be able to help out further.

[Robert C.]

Re: 70 WS and HL Washers

Bill, If the switch works (you hear the piston pumping) try priming the pump. You grab the end of the hose thats in the water bag, take a mouth full of water. Lightly blow the water into the pump as some one else hits the switch. Blow more water through the other hoses to there ends, and check to make sure the little nozzels are not clogged. This proceedure usually clears the passages and gets the pump working. May take a few trys before it all works. Good luck, Bob


NCRS-Texas Chapter

[Dave S.]

Re: 70 WS and HL Washers

Bill, I share your frustration as I have been there before, but be patient and follow the advice of the previous posts. I have found that the function of the electro magnet(the copper wound contact under the removeable black cover) and priming of the system and the most likely culprits. Also someone used stiff grease on the mechanism of my 71 and that wouldn't allow the cam to operate freely. Once cleaned it worked perfectly. Make sure the mechanism is clean and lightly lubricated with a white grease. Good Luck. Feel free to email me off line if you need some moral support.

[Bill C.]

Re: 70 WS and HL Washers

Thanks fellas, I'll try to remember all that information. Previous owner assured me that they worked the last time the car went through OPS at the Nationals in 94.........GREAT!!!!!!I tried to print these responses but got the whole board, 56 pages and only of POSTS and no RESPONSES, aren't these computers great?

[Bill C.]

Re: 70 WS and HL Washers

That's why I suggested in my original POST to respond OFF BOARD, at least I know how to print my e-mails. Maybe I'll figure out this computer when Im too old to do anything else. Owning a Mac is like owning a YUGO, there is'nt anyone to help you with "how to's" Use to be able to click on the link to respond but the new page does not allow me to do that either, I get the e-mail address and alot more and when I send it, it comes back as "undeliverable".

[Robert C.]

Re: Bill ;time to trade

Bill, It's time to trade in that old oil burner, Mac! I've got a new matching #s Compact machine. Its real easy on the gas to! Bob


NCRS-Texas Chapter

[Juliet P.]

Re: 70 WS and HL Washers

Bill, I'm just about to re-tackle this exact problem on my '70. I started a few months ago with the priming procedures recommended above but it still didn't work. It worked when I squirted, but it didn't have enough oomph on it's own. BTW I used an old mustard squeeze bottle to prime. I"m not into kissing corvette parts. Unfortunately I had to put the corvette work on hold for finals, end of semester stuff & work duties. Anyways, next week I'm gonna hit the Garage again! I can't wait!

To bring you up to date on my findings with my "it worked before" but it sat idle for several years situation: The cog wheel inside the washer pump was chipped. The 5-port system needed a rebuild with new gaskets. There was a restorer a while back about how to do this using two 3-port rebuild kits (available at NAPA, TRAK etc). I think that would have solved my problem (if I hadn't got it misaligned putting it back into the car and bound up the system) But the pain of learning this stuff the hard way....

While I had it off, playing with it on the work bench, the back of the piston itself on my '70 shattered sending the entire innards flying across the garage. I was totally bummed when this happened. John sent me 2 blocks (round stock) of Delrin and Torlon to use to machine new pistons from. OK, I can handle that. As you know the dia of the 5-port is smaller than the 3-port system. I have a friend who is a professional machinist working on making a new piston from Delrin or Torlon. He said he got it started but hasn't figured out the back end where the metal piston rod goes yet. I sent it to him as a low priority thing to squeeze in when he has some spare time.

OK, then I was able to buy a new part for the chipped cog wheel thing from a donor system from Dave Strickland. OK, got that part solved, only problem was now the main housing was somehow warped. I tried realigning the central pivot but I'm afraid that I can't get it precise enough. So the junk yard hunt was about to begin for another donor system for more parts.... I called about 50 junkyards in an hour of here and NOT ONE has cars more than 10 years old! (But that's another thread entirely...)

But then after a particularly rough day at work I get the snail mail and I was totally and absolutely rendered speechless! (You know that doesn't happen often for me! ) when a GREAT FRIEND on this board (who I'm not going to reveal!) sent me an entire 5-port washer system! Clear out of the blue! Golly gee, talk about Christmas! You know who you are... THANK YOU! I've cleaned it up and need to swap out the solenoid on mine onto the one from him and then put it on the car and cross my fingers that it'll work. It's been sitting carefully placed on a padded tray on the back of the shelf (so it doesn't get knocked) just WAITING for me to get some play time!

Here are some pictures of the insides BTW: (Hope this works on the new board)

























OK, so next week we can commiserate on this washer thing together. ~Juliet


Juliet's 1970 Corvette