NO indicator for winshield wiper fluid

[Timthom62]

Originally Posted by BetaDnB

That doesn't make any sense since there are people claiming that theirs work and/or had it fixed.

I know. I'd been assuming all along that it was there based on what other folks had said. It wasn't until it came up again today that it occurred to me to check the manual. I even went into the removal/installation of the washer fluid reservoir thinking that maybe it would make a reference to a connector for the sensor that had to be removed. Nada.

That said, I have found some discrepancies between the Motorcraft manuals and the actual car. Most are minor and seem to be because of changes in design that might not have been caught up in the manuals yet, but if the manuals are wrong in this case it's a biggie.

[Timthom62]

To confuse things further, section 413-01 on the Instrument Panel Cluster contains the following entry:

Low Washer Fluid Level Sensor

"The low washer fluid level sensor is hardwired to the BCM through a single signal circuit and hardwired to ground through a separate ground circuit. The BCM provides a reference voltage to the low washer fluid level sensor. When the washer fluid level is low, the low washer fluid level sensor closes to ground, pulling the reference voltage low. When the washer fluid level is high, the low washer fluid level sensor opens to ground, sending the reference voltage high. "

It just doesn't say where it is or what the BCM does with the information. It doesn't appear to have an indicator on the panel, but I guess it could keep the washer motor from running with the tank empty and possibly burning up.

[suss6052]

There is a windshield washer fluid indicator/ sensor alert or at least there was on my brother's SEL hatch built on 3/19/12. I haven't run mine that low yet, but his was lighting up a warning notice on the 4.2" instrument cluster screen and bonging at him upon starting the car, the lower the level got past the initial warning it started to get more insistent on the road trip we were on that eventually he had to stop and top it off just to turn the warning off.

[BetaDnB]

There's no indicator on the panel. It's (supposed to be) a message on the info screen. And it definitely still tries to pump when it's empty. I like how you're researching though.

[Hypnotoad]

Originally Posted by Timthom62

I'm not sure if this helps, but I just went through the Service Manual section on Wipers and Washers (section 501-16) and the Wiring Diagrams for same (cell 81-1) and found no evidence of a washer fluid level system. No sensor, no wiring, or anything.

Although I did find out that someone, somewhere, gets the 'headlight washer' option.

The washer fluid sensor is in the service manual, but not in the washer/wiper section. I don't have it handy right now but I believe it is in a section on gauges and sensors, or something along those lines.

The wiring is all there, but Ford forgot to enable it in the 'as installed' configuration table in the early production models. This can be fixed with a dealer's scan tool. This is covered in the following TSB:

TSB 12-04-13 - LOW WASHER SOLVENT WARNING MESSAGE MAY NOT DISPLAY ON VEHICLES BUILT ON OR BEFORE 1/14/2012

I had them apply that TSB a few months ago but haven't used enough washer fluid since then to determine if it works now.

[dyn085]

When mine runs low it displays a message. I have a picture somewhere, I'll see if I can get it on here...

Edit: Found it.


My car is built after 1/14/12.

[Sonic_HedgeHog]

My car was built after the TSB... Will just have to await it like the original clunk TSB :(

[FordCustomerService]

Originally Posted by BetaDnB

I just called the dealership to set up an appointment, and again they're telling me my car doesn't have this feature. Where's the customer service guy around here? I haven't seen him in a hot minute and I can't find him while searching.

Originally Posted by PratoN

^So annoying. I'm at 31.5k miles and I still haven't had my car fixed for the IA unlocking issue, my transmission grinding noises, and this (which is really the least of my worries). Does anyone know if this fix is just a reprogramming of the BCM or not? If no, I might be able to kill 2 birds with one stone.

I just want to get everything done before my 36k miles are up.

Originally Posted by Sonic_HedgeHog

I ran out of fluid about a month ago without an idiot light to tell me so... Maybe the SE Sports don't have it...?

Originally Posted by Timthom62

I'm not sure if this helps, but I just went through the Service Manual section on Wipers and Washers (section 501-16) and the Wiring Diagrams for same (cell 81-1) and found no evidence of a washer fluid level system. No sensor, no wiring, or anything...

Originally Posted by suss6052

There is a windshield washer fluid indicator/ sensor alert or at least there was on my brother's SEL hatch built on 3/19/12. I haven't run mine that low yet, but his was lighting up a warning notice on the 4.2" instrument cluster screen and bonging at him upon starting the car...

Originally Posted by Hypnotoad

The washer fluid sensor is in the service manual, but not in the washer/wiper section...

The wiring is all there, but Ford forgot to enable it in the 'as installed' configuration table in the early production models. This can be fixed with a dealer's scan tool. This is covered in the following TSB:

TSB 12-04-13 - LOW WASHER SOLVENT WARNING MESSAGE MAY NOT DISPLAY ON VEHICLES BUILT ON OR BEFORE 1/14/2012

I had them apply that TSB a few months ago but haven't used enough washer fluid since then to determine if it works now.

Originally Posted by dyn085

When mine runs low it displays a message. I have a picture somewhere, I'll see if I can get it on here...

Edit: Found it.


My car is built after 1/14/12.

Hey everyone -

Here's Thomas! I see the due diligence has been done. It's only on trims with the high level message center. Your dealers are best to tell you if it's equipped or not. Please take a look at the Owner Guide, 5th Printing for more info: https://owner.ford.com/servlet/Conte...OwnerGuidePage.

Hope this helps,

Thomas

[BetaDnB]

Sorry I haven't replied. I was waiting until after my service appointment today. I just got home with her. With all due respect, Thomas, the manual still doesn't specify any trim levels that I could find. I've also been told by somebody here with access to a service manual that the service manual doesn't even list specific trims. This leads us all to believe it should be on all trim levels.

Anywho, I had a very pleasant experience with the dealership I went to today. West Herr Ford in Amherst. I let them know I was requesting this TSB along with TSB 12-5-5 for the manual transmission. They gave me no hassle and simply asked me my symptoms. My paperwork states that both TSBs were verified and performed, along with the wiper motor seal recall. I can't comment as to the effectiveness of either of these TSBs yet because A) I'm not wasting a full tank of fluid to see if the indicator appears (although I should so we can have a final answer on the SE Sport) and B) because I've been driving around in an 04 Neon 5 speed all day and let me tell you, they are two completely different machines, especially when it comes to the clutch engagement point.

Steve Baldo Ford in Niagara Falls will no longer be used by me. I've had nothing but problems with them since the first time I went there including a nice dollop of grease on a door (that didn't come from them (according to the service advisor (even though there was nowhere else I could've possibly picked it up and it was noticed as soon as I left))), to an improperly installed fog bulb (which I can easily handle on my own now that I know the easy way to get to it), to giving me a complete hassle of having these TSBs done without having to go in during the week. They told me it's a transmission issue without even looking up the TSB.

The only downside of having these TSBs done today was both of my trip computers were reset. I had been using Trip B to determine my overall MPG. I was sitting at 33.1 over just about 15,000 miles.

[brent375hh]

Can anybody attest that an SE will give a warning after an update?