Genesis dealer tried to charge me almost $500 to diagnose clogged windshield washer line

[ft55555]

I brought my G70 to a Genesis dealer in Northern California for 24K mile service. I received a call saying that it was ready, but during final inspection they noticed that the windshield washer wasn't working. They quoted me $460 (for 2 hours) just the diagnose the issue. The service rep mentioned some shit about going into the wheel well, which seemed kind of ridiculous. I declined and brought my car home.

On the drive home, I tried the washer, and I noticed that the pump was making a sound, but no fluid was coming out. I went to checked for some YouTube videos on fixing a clogged washer line, and I couldn't find anything except replacing a pump on a Sonata. I watched the video, and I found out that did require opening up the passenger side wheel well to get to the pump. This looked like too much work, so I was resigned to taking my vehicle back for repair. However, before making an appointment to bring my car back, I decided to see if there was any part of the washer line that I could check for clogs.

The nozzles themselves are completely encased inside a plastic panel, so there wasn't much I could check. However, I did notice this one hose going into the panel:



This hose appeared to come from the washer fluid reservoir. I unhooked to see if the washer fluid would at least squirt out from this tube.



I started my engine and tried the washer, and I noticed that some of the washer tried to squirt out and then stopped. I figured this is where the clog was. Unsure how I was going to unclog this, I decided to just blow into the hose with my mouth. I could hear the air coming back up through the reservoir.

I hooked the hose back up, and tried the washer, and now it works. Obviously, this clog could have been anywhere, but I got lucky. Still, it's bullshit that the dealer couldn't have at least checked this without spending 2 hours pulling the pump out of the wheel well, when the pump was obviously still working.

 

[Tau]

At Genesis, we take a distinctly Korean approach to customer service, where we embrace the concept of “Son-nim,” which translates to “honored guest.”

 

[joegr]

...I hooked the hose back up, and tried the washer, and now it works. Obviously, this clog could have been anywhere, but I got lucky. Still, it's bullshit that the dealer couldn't have at least checked this without spending 2 hours pulling the pump out of the wheel well, when the pump was obviously still working.

Unfortunately, it will clog again pretty soon. The clog was at the pickup screen on the washer pump. The bottom of the reservoir is probably full of black gunk. It's some kind of microbe that grows in the washer fluid. Still, there is no need to go to the dealer for this. The wheel liner is pretty easy to remove, and then not much trouble to remove the reservoir and wash it out.

 

[EdP]

Unfortunately, it will clog again pretty soon. The clog was at the pickup screen on the washer pump. The bottom of the reservoir is probably full of black gunk. It's some kind of microbe that grows in the washer fluid. Still, there is no need to go to the dealer for this. The wheel liner is pretty easy to remove, and then not much trouble to remove the reservoir and wash it out.

Is it possible to go in there with a turkey baster and suck out the gunk?

 

[joegr]

Is it possible to go in there with a turkey baster and suck out the gunk?

I think that the filler neck is too long and narrow. You could possibly use a small hose on the end of one, or on the end of a shop vac. That might be worth a try first.

 

[Hueydriver]

Harbor Freight sell a small pump that I have used to get some oil out through the dipstick when the dealer overfilled the engine. It brings a long thin hose that should reach the bottom.

 

[joegr]

Harbor Freight sell a small pump that I have used to get some oil out through the dipstick when the dealer overfilled the engine. It brings a long thin hose that should reach the bottom.

That sludge like stuff is like rubber. It won't go through a small hose like that.