Windshield Washer System

The windshield washer system is missing in our car (of course). Whoever decided to "customize" the car by removing all the chrome and painting everything black pulled windshield washer system out, plugged the holes, and painted over them. I’d like to restore the washer system, but there’s not much in the books about it and I really don’t know where to start.

I think yours is supposed to use spare-tyre air isn't it? Mine has a separate pressure bottle -- pumped to 42psi -- no connection to the spare tyre. I think only ‘67s or ‘68s had the 'spare' air here in Australia.

I’m not really sure whether it uses the spare tire or not. On the car I saw that was being restored in Edmonton I noted where the washer fitting itself goes (hole in mine has been puttied and painted over, of course!), but they didn’t have the rest of the system in. There is a hanger over on the right side that I assume is for the washer fluid bottle, and then I guess the pressure comes from the spare tire. That must be the way it works. I wonder where I can get a bottle? I’ve never seen them in the many catalogs that are starting to inundate our place...

Your description is different to the standards. Mine is a cylindrical white plastic tank (1 litre) which sits behind the upright spare. On yours, (if I've got it right) there should be a rubber lead from the spare to the top of the tank, with a one way/pressure limiter valve built in to it (so it will only allow the spare to drop to about 26psi and no further). The spare is always pumped to 30+ to allow for this. Then another rubber lead goes to the wiper switch (might be a lever on the control column since you have rocker switches), which releases the water to the screen through another rubber tube. Another method would be to mount an electric pump (a 'generic' bottle and built-in pump from a FLAPS etc perhaps), and fit a push-switch somewhere convenient.

I know it's a little different on the ‘73s to the earlier cars, but I think it still uses a pressurized bottle and a valve fitting -- I think on the indicator stalk (mine's a button in the middle of the wiper switch). Probably the simplest method for you would be to get any generic electric wiper bottle which you can fit into the front luggage area where you want it to reside, and connect it through a separate push-button or rocker switch. Wouldn't be difficult, apart from cleaning out the hole for the nozzles (only one hole in between the wiper arms I think (unlike mine, which has two nozzles).

I found the components for the windshield washer system in the RMMW catalog - over $100 for the washer fluid container, hose and valve for the container, a valve to go in the switch, and the spray nozzle.

Its not clear to me how the system goes together. I have a vague idea, but I would need some detail. I assume the system is still pressurized from the spare tire.

Most of the replacement kits are electric, but you say this one has a valve to go in the switch? It's possible that this one uses the original system of pressurized bottle (not from the spare tyre, they dropped that by about ‘69), and the water came to the blinker lever I think (mine's on the wiper switch) and from there the water went to the squirter in front of the windscreen.

The electric washer bottles are usually square/rectangular, and the standard bug pressure bottles have the filler in the centre of the bottle since they sit horizontal where the Super Bug one is semi-upright.

The original hose is very flexible thick rubber hose, since it's under pressure (42psi is the recommended pressure for a full bottle -- this much will just about empty the bottle although the last quarter is really a dribble). Plain plastic tubing would probably not cope.

Have a look at your blinker lever on the steering column (you might have to remove the wheel to see it properly.) There should be a couple of spigots which will accept the rubber tubing. You either push or pull the lever to release water to the washers.

So - you have the bottle up front, a rubber (or similar) tube up to the column lever, and from there another tube to the squirter nozzles under the window. You adjust the angle of the nozzles by inserting a straight pin (sewing pin) in the nozzle and moving it around.

Very simple system, though it does require water and electrics in close proximity in the lever area. (My earlier system has a button in the middle of the wiper switch which opens a valve in the rubber line).

My '70 Bug’s pressure bottle will take pressure, but no squirt, so I'm going to have to hunt that one down too (kinked tube somewhere, the "tail" on the squirt button broken, or the holes in the nozzles are blocked). The wiper button squirter has a centre with a long plastic tail on it which goes to the other end of the wiper switch, and releases water when pressed.

Yesterday I put in the windshield washer fluid tank. I wasn't able to find a fitting for the outlet, so I slipped the tube over the outlet nozzle and secured it with a couple of wraps of copper wire, twisted tight. Now I just need to figure out how to get the tubing through the firewall and up to the switch on the steering column -- I haven't found the hole yet. I suspect it's inside the fresh air box, but I haven't yet been able to find a hole into the fresh air box.

Sorry I don't have a Super to look at to help. Both or mine are on the wiper switch, which you can get at from the luggage area, without removing the switch.

There's got to be a hole in the firewall somewhere -- the tubing has to go through the firewall to the switch on the steering column, then back from the switch to the nozzle.