Dribbling Windshield Squirters
 

When I get to very high speeds, my windshield squirters start dribbling. This doesn't really cause a serious issue, but it rattles my nerves because the first though is that my engine is puking something it shouldn't.

I've altered a lot of stuff on the car, and it's been so long since I changed it, I can't remember how it was originally. The squirter hoses and the "T" that splits fluid between both nozzles are aftermarket. But the reservoir, pump, and nozzles are all OEM.

I'm guessing that a vacuum is induced on the backside of the nozzles at high speed, and it's sucking the fluid out of the reservoir.

Has anybody else experienced this?

Was there any sort of restrictor or check valve in the OEM system that I need to re-install?

No restrictor or check valve in the stock system that I have ever seen, Elwood. Just hose and a T fitting.

Maybe your hose routing is too high at some point, making it easier for vacuum to pull the water up and out?

Mine does this on high speed turns. Thought about maybe trying to lower the reservoir to reduce it, but it's really not that big of a nuisance.

On a side note, I believe there is supposed to be a restrictor between the T fitting and the passenger's nozzle. I didn't know what it was for when I replaced the lines, and threw it away. Now my pass nozzle shoots right over the roof of the car, while the driver's side just sort of dribbles. One of these days I'll find a replacement...



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there is a restrictor on 84-85 cars with two squirters. It is there to balance the squirters so they both work the same. It won't help your problem though. About all you could do is what kentetsu said and lowwer the reservior. I've had this happen as well.

There's a wide variety of check valves on eBay. It seems most German cars have one between the pump and nozzles. The purpose is to keep all the fluid from draining back into the reservoir so the system will begin squirting quicker.

Most check valves have some sort of cracking pressure, which I hope will be enough to fix the problem. Odd thing is that none of the auto parts stores near me seem to know anything about them!?

The parts number for the valve is FA54-67-508. Onlinemazdaparts.com sells it for $4.50.

It goes in between the plasic joint and the left nozzle. It's shown on page 2-J10 of the parts manual.

Rather than lowering the reservior, you might get the same effect just be putting a good loop in the line...

That's a good idea.

I googled the PN, and it seems some Miata guys have had the same problem I'm having. They installed two of those check valves, and it fixed the problem. I thought it would, since most check valves are spring loaded. It requires a "cracking pressure" to open them, and that's enough to stop the dribbling.

I just ordered 2 of them, and I'm betting it will fix the problem.

Thanx for the PN!

Where did you order them from Elwood?

The Mazda dealer in Farmington Hills. He told me $5.75 ea, which works out to be a little better total price than anything I found online (tax at the dealer vs. lower price + shipping online).

Check Valves Installed
 

I installed the check valves, and the dribbling stopped. The lag between command and squirt is now greatly reduced, too. I think there's a little less pressure now at the squirters, so the system puts less fluid on the windshield, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing, since it used to really squirt a lot of juice. Here are a couple of pics.