Replace Windshield Washer Pump Yourself With This Guide

Save Money and Replace a Windshield Washer Pump Yourself

This image shows the windshield washer reservoir inside the passenger side fender with the wheel off and the wheel well liner removed

If you’ve done some diagnostic work and narrowed the problem down to the windshield washer pump, the replacement is easy. Here’s a step-by-step guide showing how to replace a windshield washer pump yourself.

Locate the pump

Most windshield washer pumps are mounted in the bottom of the washer fluid reservoir. In late-model vehicles, carmakers locate the reservoir inside a front fender. To access the reservoir, you’ll have to remove the wheel well liner.

Remove the wheel and wheel well liner to access the windshield washer pump

The vehicle in these photos is a Dodge Caravan. The windshield washer reservoir is located inside the passenger side fender. To get to the reservoir, follow these steps:

• Remove the wheel
• Remove the screws and plastic rivets holding the plastic wheel well liner in place.
• Remove any other protective covers so you can access the reservoir

Drain the reservoir and remove the bad pump

You can do this the easy way and get splattered with washer fluid or do it the slow way. Either is fine with me.

Disconnect the electrical connector from the pump. Grab the pump with a pliers and wiggle it as you pull straight out. You will get splashed. In most cases, the pump is just sitting in a rubber grommet. If it doesn’t come out, there may be a retainer to remove. Check for it.

Or, remove the rubber hose from the pump and let the reservoir drain into a container. Then remove the pump.

Replace the windshield washer pump

The hardest part is getting the new pump to slide into the old hardened rubber grommet. So lubricate the rubber grommet with just a dab of dishwashing detergent. Then insert the pump and push straight in. Connect the washer hose and electrical connector.

Fill the reservoir with a small amount of fluid and test the new pump. If it works, reinstall the wheel well liner and covers.

What makes a pump go bad

Running your washers without any fluid in the reservoir

Using too weak a solution in winter, allowing the fluid to freeze in the pump.

© 2012 Rick Muscoplat