"Washer Fluid Low" after new sensor & jumping connector. Need help w/ next steps...

[sac02]

I've been trying to figure out why my car is still showing me the "Washer Fluid Low" warning in the instrument cluster.

Update:
tl;dr - If you have a Touring, don't forget that you have a rear window washer reservoir as well. It will throw the "Washer Fluid Low" warning, no matter how much troubleshooting you do on the front reservoir/sensor.

So far I have:
1) confirmed washer reservoir is full
2) replaced sensor with new
3) jumpered (shorted) the two pins on the sensor connector
4) unwrapped the tape from the wire harness about 6 or 8 inches (to the first branch point on the inner fender) and confirmed no broken wires (at least in that run)

None of these made the warning go away. What next - find a copy of the electrical schematic and start tracing circuits looking for open circuits? grrr...
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After typing out all my troubleshooting procedure above, something just occurred to me:

I have a Touring - it has a rear window washer, which I never use (and is therefore likely empty).

Can anyone with a Touring confirm if the car will flash the warning for REAR window washer reservoir being empty?

I'm at work right now, so unfortunately, can't run to the garage to test this hypothesis...

[ltflint]

Yes, it will show the message if the rear reservoir is low / empty.

[ZenitramNaes]

After typing out all my troubleshooting procedure above, something just occurred to me:

I have a Touring - it has a rear window washer, which I never use (and is therefore likely empty).

This made me lol.

Glad you thought of it now then later. Don't know how much more you could have replaced though, lol. Don't have a touring but that does make sense.

[sac02]

Yes, it will show the message if the rear reservoir is low / empty.

Thanks.

This made me lol.

Glad you thought of it now then later. Don't know how much more you could have replaced though, lol. Don't have a touring but that does make sense.

Yeah, apparently typing all that out got some of the rusty gears in my brain turning.

Heh, I'm going to rush home this afternoon like a kid on Christmas; that message has been a pain in my ass for months now. If filling the rear reservoir works, I'll be simultaneously excited to finally clear the warning, and frustrated with myself for not figuring out the simple solution sooner...

[madhakish]

Thanks.



Yeah, apparently typing all that out got some of the rusty gears in my brain turning.

Heh, I'm going to rush home this afternoon like a kid on Christmas; that message has been a pain in my ass for months now. If filling the rear reservoir works, I'll be simultaneously excited to finally clear the warning, and frustrated with myself for not figuring out the simple solution sooner...

Make sure the sensor is rotated in the correct position, pins pointing down with the fluid reservoir mounted. The float must be oriented correctly for the sensor to work.

[locknload]

Just jumper the pins on the rear reservoir. Problem solved.

[ZenitramNaes]

Bump for an update!

[robbytrent]

But like stated earlier, make sure the sensor is the proper way up. When i first bought my car i had the same "washer fluid low" annoyance, whoever put the tank and sensor together put it in upside down. But seeing as how you disconnected the sensor and tried jumping it and nothing happened I'd say look at the electrical diagram but check the grounds in the circuit.

[paperplane94]

May also be a ccm problem, but that is about as likely as a wiring fault.

[sac02]

Update:

It WAS the rear washer fluid that was low and throwing the warning. (Filling the rear fluid made it go away).

Slightly embarrassed that it took me so long to figure that out, but more relieved to finally be rid of that warning.

Maybe someone, somewhere, will see this thread and avoid making the same stupid mistake, heh.

Make sure the sensor is rotated in the correct position, pins pointing down with the fluid reservoir mounted. The float must be oriented correctly for the sensor to work.

My reservoir has a tab to ensure the sensor is installed correctly. But during my troubleshooting, I tried with the sensor in and out of the tank, right side up, upside down, and sideways.

[ZenitramNaes]

Glad everything worked out and it was something as simple as that!

[Wishno87]

Have to bump this because this literally just happened to me. I was so focused on the front res that I totally forgot about the rear one. Plus I had not used it all summer so it's been a while since I checked it.