Those were probably glass headlights.
Current vehicles have plastic headlights which means a higher chance of scratching the lenses.
Headlight washer nozzles
- Thread starter OVERKILL
- Start date
Current vehicles have plastic headlights which means a higher chance of scratching the lenses.
It sounds like trade-in time...
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Naw, I've got that out of my system, I'm keeping this one.
I've replace them on Porsche Panameras - they do the same thing shoot them in the air. Bumper removal necessary to replace the unit but if you are careful you can fish around and install the jet. My 08 Cadillac CTS has washers but they are fixed in the bumper so nothing to wear out - nice system but it automatically cleans the light at every 3rd windshield wash and I hate not having control because it usually goes off after the car is washed and spray waxed down real good lol. I guess only the SRT GC got the washers? My GC Overland does not have them and of course your bumper is a different design. I want a GC SRT or Trackhawk so bad lol
You can unplug the pump.
Headlight washers are the most useless thing ever made up! They should be on pickup trucks to clean the lights when covered in muck and mud from a trail....instead we get this
After spending a lifetime driving with dim halogens behind a yellow'd housing I can't imagine just what this is needed for... cripes, I don't use high beams on my new car, these LED lights are like laser beams.
But I can get how, once you have them, you'd never go back. I have definitely cleaned off headlights more than a time or two with a windshield squeegee at the gas station (and been yelled at for doing that too). If I did that then I made sure to get the brake lights too, although I guess today I could just leave them dirty and have a natural "smoked" look rather than pay stupid money to defeat what is arguably a good safety feature.
But I can get how, once you have them, you'd never go back. I have definitely cleaned off headlights more than a time or two with a windshield squeegee at the gas station (and been yelled at for doing that too). If I did that then I made sure to get the brake lights too, although I guess today I could just leave them dirty and have a natural "smoked" look rather than pay stupid money to defeat what is arguably a good safety feature.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Yeah, but the pump is part of the unit, so I suspect getting to them might be a bit challenging.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
They are fantastic in the winter for cleaning off the road salt and grime.
I think in many Scandinavian countries the headlight washers were required by law when hids became prevalent. I remember when Volvos had headlight wiper blades.
Check this out:
I don't know if Saab being the first is true (though it wouldn't be surprising), but headlight wipers were a feature during the 80s, predating HIDs.
During the grey market import craze back then, there were easily spotible telltale signs that a car in question wasn't a U.S. model -- slim non-DOT bumpers, E-code headlights possibly with wipers, and sometimes, hubcaps on steel wheels, when the alloys weren't on the original order sheet.
Even Mercedes equipped their mid-80s models, like the E-class, with wiper systems on the DOT headlights.
Europeans have a different philosophy when it comes to lighting and safety, with cleaning systems, and the assumption that bulbs are maintenance items, not expected to last the lifetime of the car.
How it works: Saab 99 Headlamp Wipers
This is another pioneering innovations of Saab in its long history. Yes, It is the SAAB 99 model that saw the introduction of headlight wipers in 1970. These wipers are extremely rare, having only ever been fitted to the SAAB 99 Turbo and no other car, in this (linear) way. They’re using a...
www.saabplanet.com
I don't know if Saab being the first is true (though it wouldn't be surprising), but headlight wipers were a feature during the 80s, predating HIDs.
During the grey market import craze back then, there were easily spotible telltale signs that a car in question wasn't a U.S. model -- slim non-DOT bumpers, E-code headlights possibly with wipers, and sometimes, hubcaps on steel wheels, when the alloys weren't on the original order sheet.
Even Mercedes equipped their mid-80s models, like the E-class, with wiper systems on the DOT headlights.
Europeans have a different philosophy when it comes to lighting and safety, with cleaning systems, and the assumption that bulbs are maintenance items, not expected to last the lifetime of the car.
IIRC, didn't headlight washers start in Europe, being mandatory when HID lights were approved? Concerns about glare from dirty lenses..I could be wrong. I like them, but would prefer them optional.
There's very clear control of when they operate in a Toyota/Lexus. You must have the headlights on and there's a specific button on the dash you press, which activates the headlight washers.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
These only activate if the headlights are in the on or Auto position (thanks to @Nick1994 for suggesting to check that). However, like with my bimmer, they are used based on some pre-determined period of time or number of windshield sprays, there is no separate button.
Vehicle goes in today to replace the broken one.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
So, big fail by the parts department, they ordered the driver's side after the SM told them it was the passenger side
They did remove the screw from my front-right tire though so the service visit wasn't a complete waste. So, now another 2-week wait for the right part to arrive, ugh.
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