Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Having just installed a new windscreen washer bottle and Trico pump, the pump works fine but fails to pump any water. Is there a secret in self-priming them to get them started?

You could try holding the bottle above the pump level until it is primed.

But I think it more likely that you have an air leak on the suction side.

Not to be patronizing do you have the In-Out on the correct way round (or the + - wires are the correct way round) and the pipe inside the bottle is submerged / air tight? (also check the one way valve on the end of the pick up pipe is not stuck shut)

Some thing else to try is to take off the outlet pipe and try the pump, if the Washer jets are blocked or there is a blockage/kink in the pipe it won't pick up any water.

Washer pumps don't usually need to be primed, i do know that some other makes do tend to stick but if you can hear it spinning it can't be that.

I had the same problem.
You need a non return valve in the pipe. Anywhere will do but I put mine in the suction pipe in the bottle.
Then suck some fluid into the pipe to prime.
Dougal.

The instructions with the pump that I purchased from Sue Miller a couple of years ago clearly stated that it should be mounted below the washer reservoir. So that it self primes, I guess. This worked fine for me.

Nick