Rear Window Washer Squirting Your Interior?

[TheJackal]

I was on my way to pay my tuition for school, when I noticed that the rear window was a bit dusty. No problem, I'll just use the window washer, right? I pressed the knob, but nothing happened. I kept pressing, hoping that somehow it would just miraculously start working again, but then, spurrt! Washer fluid squirted out inside the Explorer from above the passenger side cargo window.

I then realized the rear wiper wasn't working at all, and that what probably happened was, when the rear wiper is in that park position, the washer fluid hose is kinked. So, when the washer came on but the wiper didn't, the fluid couldn't continue to the jet and built up pressure in the hose. I wasn't sure if the hose had split somewhere because of the pressure, or if I'd triggered some kind of emergency release valve in the line.

What my rear washer tube looks like when the wiper is parked.

At first I thought maybe it's just a stuck relay, but after listening to them I could hear them both click on and off. After reading here, I've found out that the rear wiper motors can stick, and since mine has been sitting for a little over 2 months its not unheard of. I don't like being too rough with it because I had a problem a while back with it missing most of the window, and it'd since been fixed. But northing's worse than nothing at all, so I turn it up to "High" and give it a good pull. Awesome, that's working!

I didn't need any tools for this, although it might be helpful to have something to get the first clip started on the panel that goes around the passenger side cargo window. (Yes, we will need to get that panel off, so if you're too squeamish to remove it, looks like it's the dealer for you.)
Normally I don't like taking those clips out, because they never seem to fit back as well as before, but that wasn't a problem.

Once you get the first clip off, the rest are pretty easy. I just slid my hands behind the panel near each one and pulled firmly. They came out well and should be able to be reused (though I can't be responsible if you break something.) Now, I didn't remove the whole panel, as I didn't know what was holding it down at the bottom.

Once you've got enough of the panel off, you should see this:

(Sorry the picture's blurry, it was hard to hold the camera and the panel back at the same time.) There is a black hose that leads into the roof of the vehicle, which is how it gets to the liftgate and to the wiper. There is also another hose that comes out alongside it and just ends, with a black nozzle on the end. At first glance, it appears that there's nothing to stop the washer fluid from just squirting out this nozzle behind the trim panel.

After searching around here, I did find a post that clued me in to a red cap that goes on the end of this tube. After about 15 minutes of looking around behind the panel, I actually was able to find the cap. Fitted it back to the end of the nozzle and tested it. With the wiper working, no trouble at all.
You should now have this:

Gave it a few good runs before returning the panel and putting the clips back into place.

I know this might seem simple and not really need explanation, BUT I didn't find anything on this site earlier about it and so I think it might be a good addition. There may be some people out there that want to fix it but don't know and don't want to fiddle with it if they don't know what to do. I'm sure the dealer would want a premium for this job, despite the fact that it doesn't even require any special tools or, well, anything at all really.

I do wonder, though, why they'd put this in such a hell of a spot. Couldn't they have routed the tube downward, maybe through a hole, so the washer fluid would just run outside instead of shooting out into the cargo area?
Then again, this way you know where the problem is. I guess they figured the rear washer isn't working, but hey, that's a cool fountain.

 

[Rottie]

Thanks for the info. Mine has a little different problem. The rear wiper works fine, but all I can get is an occasional drop or two to come out of the rear washer. I don't know if the line is plugged or what. Does that rubber tube run all the way up to the front washer pump, or is there a junction near the rear that might be a service point? I've already checked the exterior hose from the outside of the tailgate to the end of the wiper arm and it's open. I'd sure hate to have to tear apart the whole interior to replace a 10 foot rubber hose buried beneath all the trim... Any ideas?

 

[TheJackal]

The washer line does go all the way up to the front, but I didn't follow it that far since my leak was behind the trim. (It has to because there's only one fluid bottle.) The line runs down the back and along the passenger side floor, where it eventually meets up in the engine.
You may want to check and see if you have a leak somewhere. With this problem, I would get a couple of drops out of the back despite the fact that the majority was just spurting all over everywhere.
Either that, or whatever directs the fluid to the back isn't working properly.

 

[vonzipper77]

thanks! your photos helped a ton. dug around behind the panel and found the red cap. I went one step further and added a zip tie to hold it on.

 

[Adams_got_a_96]

My rear window wiper isn't properly in place, fella at the auto store says I gotta get in behind the panel and tighten the bolts or see if its another issue why my wiper isnt properly in place or wiping correctly. I got a 96 but I'm not too sure exactly how I'm supposed to get the panel off. Could you help explain how the panel is supposed to come off?

 

[Mr.Fork]

Maybe mine is different because it's a 96 but I have a seperate rear wiper fluid reservoir. If you open the panel in the left hand corner of the trunk it is right there. Just wanted to chime in.