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Windshield Washer Fluid Sensor

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's extremely popular car line -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

osmium
Posts: 208
Joined: 02 Jul 2009, 17:29
Year and Model: 96 850 GLT
Location: Nashua, NH

Windshield Washer Fluid Sensor

The light for the washer fluid stays on even though the reservoir is full.

I've inspected the sensor but don't see anything obviously wrong with it (no cracked wires).

Before fore I order a new one, is there anything I can check to make sure it is the sensor and not something else?

-os

1996 850 GLT 262k miles (gone :( )

Image

1999 Honda Civic (gone)
1996 850 GLT (gone, no more Volvos :( )
2000 Buick Park Avenue (gone)
2005 Honda Odyssey
2013 Lexus ES350 (replaced Volvo 850)

JDS60R
MVS Moderator
Posts: 3531
Joined: 21 Feb 2009, 19:52
Year and Model: 2007 S60R 2007 S60
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
Been thanked: 1 time

Post by JDS60R »

Look inside the bottle above the sensor and see if your float is sunk or lifted by the fluid. Ocassionaly they can sink. Once we had one that was stuck as the car was driven without fluid for a long time and the float was just stuck.

If the float sinks while surrounded by the fluid then replace the bottle and float.

If the float is good (good=not sunk) unplug the sensor and check to see if light goes out. If not short the two wires on the plug and see if light goes out. If it does the sensor is bad (given float is still floating).
Do not leave the shorting wire in for a long period of time. It will be energized B+ so do not touch it to a ground either.

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osmium
Posts: 208
Joined: 02 Jul 2009, 17:29
Year and Model: 96 850 GLT
Location: Nashua, NH

Post by osmium »

JDS60R wrote:Look inside the bottle above the sensor and see if your float is sunk or lifted by the fluid. Ocassionaly they can sink. Once we had one that was stuck as the car was driven without fluid for a long time and the float was just stuck.

If the float sinks while surrounded by the fluid then replace the bottle and float.

If the float is good (good=not sunk) unplug the sensor and check to see if light goes out. If not short the two wires on the plug and see if light goes out. If it does the sensor is bad (given float is still floating).
Do not leave the shorting wire in for a long period of time. It will be energized B+ so do not touch it to a ground either.

If I disconnect the sensor, light goes off. If I jumper the harness connector, the light comes back on. So I guess the sensor itself has failed.

I can't find a float in the tank. It's not easy to see anything in the tank. I illuminated it from the bottom and fished around in it with a wire but couldn't see or feel anything.

Could it be that there's no float?

1996 850 GLT 262k miles (gone :( )

Image

1999 Honda Civic (gone)
1996 850 GLT (gone, no more Volvos :( )
2000 Buick Park Avenue (gone)
2005 Honda Odyssey
2013 Lexus ES350 (replaced Volvo 850)

rcundall
Posts: 1
Joined: 06 Oct 2009, 08:31
Year and Model: 2005 v70
Location: Canada

Post by rcundall »

I have the exact same problem, that just occured last weekend, on my v70.
I was wondering if the computer cuts off the pump if the level is too low? (to save it from burning out) as none of my washers are working and the resevoir is full.
I can't hear the pump and am wondering if the pump needs to be replaced. Are there seperate pumps for the windscreen, headlights and back? I tried checking the fuse (number 13 under the hood i think), but it looked ok.
Finally - where is the washer fluid sensor wiring on a v70? I can't see it.
Many thanks

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