The windshield washer pump is the part in your car that sprays the windshield washer fluid from the reservoir through the hoses and onto your windshield. The windshield fluid helps you clear off any dirt and debris on your windshield so that you can see the cars on the road. The fluid that sprays out through the washer pump should continue to work for a long period of time, but eventually, the pump works less effectively.
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The pump that pressurizes the fluid has to continue doing so that it can spray out at the right speed and amount, but it will wear down over time. If there isn’t any fluid or enough fluid coming out of the windshield washer pump, there could be various causes to the pump’s issues. You will need to inspect the pump’s system to find the source of the issues, or you can take your vehicle to the mechanic so they can check the pump’s system.
The tank could be empty, there might be a damaged component in the tubes or the windshield washer system, and if the pump does not work correctly or does not work at all, then there might be electrical issues that are more serious than mechanical problems.
To fix the windshield washer pump and keep it working at the correct level, you need to determine the windshield washer pump replacement cost – this averages between $75-$115 to replace the windshield washer pump.
How to fix the Windshield Washer Pump System
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Diagnosing the Windshield Washer Pump
When you need to look up the windshield washer pump replacement cost for your car, you need to troubleshoot the windshield washer system. The first step in doing this is diagnosing the windshield washer pump system.
Listen for the Windshield Washer Pump
The first step in diagnosing the pump system is to listen to the pump while turning it on to rule out any electrical issues. All you have to do is turn on your vehicle’s battery and turn on the button to activate the pump, which is usually located near the steering column. If you press the button and don’t hear a humming sound from underneath the hood, there is an issue with the fuse or the vehicle’s internal wiring.
If you do not hear a sound, then pop your vehicle’s hood to check out the pump, make sure the fluid tank isn’t empty or doesn’t have a clog, and analyze the pump’s electrical system to see if the pump is faulty. Diagnosing the windshield washer pump system can help you determine how much you will have to pay for a windshield washer pump replacement cost.
Inspect the Washer Tank
The next step in diagnosing the pump system is to inspect the washer tank to see if it is empty. You can do this by opening the hood to your car and looking for the tank cap with the windshield washer pump fluid. Unscrew the cap and look to see the fluid levels, checking if there is a blue or purple fluid close to the top.
Look for Damage or Cracks in the Hoses
The third step in diagnosing the pump system to determine the overall windshield washer pump replacement cost is to look for cracks, damage, or leaks in the hoses or tank in the windshield washer pump system.
Open the hood of your car and keep it propped up so that you can work on your car and see under the hood without it falling. Determine where the hoses connect to the plastic nozzles and inspect the hose for any damage or cracks, tracing the hoses back to the other nozzles a well.
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Refill the Tank
The second way you can troubleshoot the windshield wiper system and determine the windshield washer pump replacement cost is refilling the tank.
Unscrew the Tank Cap
The first step in filling the tank is to unscrew the tank’s cap, pop the hood to access the tank and locate the tank’s spout to lose and remove it.
Fill the Fluid Tank
The next step is to pour windshield washer fluid up to the tank’s fill line, which is usually a mixture of water and alcohol that cleans off the dirt and unclogs the washer pump. Open the bottle and pour it into the spout, ensuring you pour the fluid into the tank until it reaches the fill line.
Test the Windshield Washer
The third step of refilling the tank to determine the windshield washer pump replacement cost is to seal the tank, close the hood, put the cap back on the spout, and turn it clockwise until the connection is secure. After this, test the washer to see if any fluid comes out.
Turn on the vehicle’s battery without starting the engine, pressing the button to activate the windshield washer fluid, and holding it down to see a steady stream or fan pointed toward the center.
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Flush out the Clogs
The last method that you can use to troubleshoot the windshield washer replacement and determine the overall windshield washer pump replacement cost can flush out the clogs.
Clean the Nozzles
The first step is tape dirt out from the nozzles, sticking a sharp object, like a safety pin, around the nozzle to break apart any debris.
Raise Your Vehicle
The second step is to raise your vehicle on the jack stands, pulling the handle down on the lift to bring your car off the ground to get room underneath it. After this, disconnect the hose on the pump and drain the tank, looking for the washer pump to pull the hose to drain the tank.
Rinse the Windshield Washer Pump
Once you disconnect the hose on the pump, pour clean water through the tank to rinse our dirt and debris. Open the hood of your car and unscrew the cap to the tank, pouring water through the tank until it comes out clean and free of debris.
Unplug the Hoses
Then, unplug the hoses from the nozzles. You can locate the L-shaped ends for the nozzles to the underside of your vehicle’s hood and then disconnect the hoses on the rest of the nozzles. After this, blow compressed air through the hoses and nozzles to push out any dirt or debris buildup inside.
Reconnect the Hoses
Lastly, reconnect the hoses to the pump and nozzles, refilling the tank to rest your wipers. Open the washer tank, fill it up with wiper fluid to determine if the wipers are working, and figure out the windshield washer pump replacement cost.
Sample Windshield Washer Pump Replacement Costs
In order to give you an idea of how much you are going to spend on your windshield washer pump replacement cost, we have pulled together some of the more popular cars on the market today so that you can see some sample prices and get an idea of how much you might spend on this fix at your local mechanic or auto body shop.
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Inexpensive Windshield Washer Pump Replacement cost
On the lower end of the price spectrum, the Nissan Altima total windshield washer pump replacement cost ranges from $75-$115, with the labor being $44-$56, and the cost of the parts is between $31-$59. The next cheapest price for the windshield washer pump replacement cost is the Toyota Camry, costing a total of $93-$142, with the labor being $52 to $67, and the parts cost being around $41-$75.
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Expensive Windshield Washer Pump Replacement Costs
The next lowest price in terms of the sample windshield washer pump replacement cost is the Ford Focus, with the labor being between $70-$89, and $28-$46 for the parts, with the total being between $99-$135.
The more expensive costs of the sample windshield washer pump replacement cost are the Honda Accord, ranging between $108-$135, with the most expensive option being the Chevrolet Silverado, costing between $165-$229.
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Windshield Washer Pump Replacement Cost Comparison
If you want to do the process on your own, some companies and places sell parts for a relatively low price. In other cases, some shops offer both parts and labor costs and 12-month warranties that can let you compare prices between auto body shops.
Regarding Midas, the overall price of a windshield washer pump replacement cost is between $78 and $204, while the Mr. Tire cost is a little bit more expensive, coming in between $81 and $245.
NAPA price of windshield washer pump replacement cost is $75-$208, and the Walmart price is much lower (but does not include the price of labor) and ranges between $28 to $72. The last option for windshield washer pump replacement is Amazon, which only sells parts between $31 to $99.
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Windshield Wiper Motor Repair Cost Comparison
Along with the windshield washer pump replacement cost, sometimes this part can negatively affect the windshield washer motor. Because of the connection between these two mechanisms, it is important that you look at the function of this part and the price of a windshield motor repair.
The windshield wiper motor is in charge of pushing the wipers across the windshield when you turn on the wipers from inside the vehicle, usually during inclement weather, or when you have to clear something off the window. Once the motor has become damaged or wears down over time, the wipers and the wiper motor will not work as they should, leading to a higher windshield wiper motor repair cost.
At your local mechanic, you can expect the total windshield wiper motor repair cost to run between $139 and $446 on average. If you decide to go to a chain store that you will find around the country, you can expect to pay between $145 and $430 at your local shop. If you can do the labor yourself, the total cost of the parts averages between $52 and $210 for the windshield wiper motor repair cost.
You will usually pay an average of between $230 and $310 for the windshield wiper motor replacement and the total windshield wiper motor repair cost. This fix and service’s total labor cost will usually run you between $50 and $70, while the parts and the total cost come out to between $180 and $250 for the repair cost.
Save Money on Windshield Washer Pump Replacement
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Do the work on your own
In order to save some money and not spend as much on the windshield washer pump replacement that you would at a shop or the local mechanic, you can try to cut costs by doing some of the work yourself and replacing the windshield washer pump on your own. You can do this if you have the proper tools and the right research and knowledge done of the process.
This is generally a straightforward and pretty easy job that you can do on your own and isn’t as complicated as other repairs or replacements, like repairing or replacing the engine, fixing the transmission, or other more complex parts that definitely require more intense equipment or a mechanic.
Since this job doesn’t require expensive tools or a lot of experience, you can probably try to do this replacement independently. However, there are some cases where overall windshield washer pump replacement cost might be higher if there are other issues attributed to the windshield washer pump replacement.
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Source the Parts Yourself
You can save money also by sourcing the parts for yourself instead of having ghee mechanics get the parts for you. This means you can get parts within your price range, and the mechanic will just do the labor, reducing the cost of the parts. You might save money by shopping for the cheapest arrangement of parts.
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Compare Local Prices
In addition, compare the prices of mechanics to compare the overall windshield washer pump replacement costs of local shops so that you can choose the mechanic with the best reputation and the best price. Windshield washer pump replacement isn’t such a tough job that you need the very best mechanic, but you just need a reputable and honest mechanic in your area to determine the overall windshield washer pump replacement cost.