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MG MGF Technical - Heated Washers

Hi,

Does anyone know where I can get a set of heated washer jets for my MGF? This grim weather is really causing me problems!

Ta,

Nick
Nick Atkins

http://www.ukmgparts.com/index3.html?http://www.brownandgammons.co.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=bg&cat=MGF&cov=Y&mode=detail&o=113285151621820&code=BGF1014&filen=mgf5&head2=MGF

Would be interested in how well they work, considering them myself.
Tim Jenner

They cost £72! Seems a bit expensive to me... :(

You can get heated washers for a Beemer for only £30 which still aint cheap considering all they are is a bit of wire. How come they cost so much for MG's?

Nick
Nick Atkins

BECAUSE it's an MG! :)
Kris

Tim, try Moss Europe

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/MossUK/ProductList.aspx?Webspecial=true&SubSubCategoryID=WebSpecial_Webspecials_MGFExterior

Heated Screen Washer Jets Kit
MGF VUB100220 £55.95

I need a new set of washers for my TF, so I'll probably fit heated ones (along with the bonnet light and second horn that's been sitting in the garage for about two years now!!). I used to have them on my old F and had no jet freezing problemns.

They're a good idea as the problem is that the localised high pressure at the jet nozzle tends to push the cleaning/antifreeze additives out of solution at the jet. This leaves the fluid at the jet with a lower concentration of additive and hence the freezing temperature of the fluid at the jet is raised, making the jets more prone to freezing. Or so I've been told.
David Dewick

>localised high pressure yarda yarda yarda

It's much simplier than that, the antifreeze is alcaole, and it evaporates, but to evaporate it has to have some air to go into - the only place this happens is in the jets.

You can avoid some of this by removing the drainback valve, which alows the fluid to drain away from the jet before it has chance to evaporate.


The holes in the bonnet are a particular shape, if the BMW ones fit then use them and save 50%
Will Munns

I've tried the MG heated washer jets and wasn't that impress TBO. Problem with them is they only heat the nozzels (and not by much) which still menas the pipes can freeze and the washer fluid is still cold.
I'm currently considering the 'Hotshot' system which actauly heats the washer fliud.
You can currently pick up the kit of E-bay for less than the cost of the MGR heated nozzels. Chris T fitted the hotsot not so long ago so hopefully he will see this thread and comment.
Steve White

Used the heated jets and a decent concentration of washer gunk for years. Works perfectly in very cold temps.

Don't bother with heating the bottle. Pull your wallet out and always buy decent skoosh for the washer bottle and read the instructions on dilution. That'll never freeze in the UK.

As others have noted, because of evaporation you still need to either heat the jets or remove the one way valve to complete your winter prep. If you can cope with the delay in getting water out (with the associated possibility of scratching the screen if you wipe too fast) then go with that - it's free. :-)

P.
Paul Nothard

Will,

The problem is I don't know if any other manufacturers would fit or not. If they do you can buy Mondeo ones or Golf ones on eBay for about a fiver!

Anyone know if either of these fit?

Nick
Nick Atkins

I second Steve, I've got the hotshot fitted to my F and it is tops. I had a frozen screen a few days ago and defrosted it within about 2 minutes of starting the car. Best of all you don't need to spray de-icer all over the screen.
James King

James,

Is the Hotshot easy to install? Where did you mount the unit? Are the ones on eBay at £69.95 at a fair price in your opinion??

Sorry to ask so many questions, but guess who was scraping the screen this morning and evening!

Graham
G Martin

The HotShot kit should cost around £120 or £200 fitted, so I felt that the £70 was a good price and having fitted it I would consider that at £120 it is still good value.

The only thing with it, it does seem to put quite a bit of strain on the alternator when switched on but that could be a result of a battery that is at the end of its life I will find out next week when the car is serviced.

If you’re used to messing around with cars the kit was easy to fit but did take longer then the hour suggested in the manual, but if I were to fit another it would be quicker. But they haven’t skimped on any of the bitts you need to fit the main unit (apart from some lock-nuts)
Photos of the install can be found here: http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?s=2d6cbd9d2e91a2703891ce8b204985a2&t=95355

In operation the HotShot is a fantastic bit of kit and does much more then de-ice, all in all I am very happy with it and unlike last winter I don’t have to put silly amount of washer fluid in the bottle in order to stop it freezing.
C Tideswell

Does anyone have any pics of where the non-return valve is for the washers? I think I'll remove that first and see how I get on.

Thanks,

Nick
Nick Atkins

Not sure, i think its visable with the bonnet open, should be a 'thing' in the washer pipe.

If you don't find it then it will be under the plastic cowing, it's held on with plastic nuts, so be careful when doing them back up.

You can get a 'joiner' to replace the NRV from halfords
Will Munns

The seller that has it on eBay at £69 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8017561852) is the one that I bought mine from, he has a best offer option which I took and offered £50 and much to my surprise he accepted!
My install is exactly the same as in the photo's above (although I hadn't seen them before I did mine!). I think that that location is ideal for it.
It does seem to draw a lot of power when you first switch it on and you can actually hear the engine rev's drop momentarily when you first switch it on.
As for the non return valve, its located under the bonnet on the pipe between the 90 degree junction and the connector that splits to feed both jets. Its a small round piece of plastic with connectors on either side for the pipes. If in doubt then get a clean piece of pipe and connect it. You should only be able to blow one way through the valve and not the other, if you can blow through both ways then you've got the wrong bit!
Hope this makes some sense, its far too late to be up and posting here really!
James King

Thanks chaps, I've removed the NRV but unfortunately I could only find a 90 degree joiner after trying 2 places so it is a little tight. Anyway we'll see how that goes when it gets a bit cold again.

Ta,

Nick
Nick Atkins

I ordered some heated jets from Moss, but I was told by Moss that they were not supplying them anymore.

My local MGR dealer had them for £60.73 (part no VUB 100220) - and of course there is no p&p needed.

BTW the Rover part costs the same as the MG.
GrahamH

The price I quoted above does not include VAT, so the full price is £69.84 (if my calculator is working correctly!)

Delivery normally in 1-2 days.
GrahamH

This thread was discussed between 24/11/2005 and 29/11/2005

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