Hello,

You may remember I asked about smelly screen wash in Astras a couple
of months ago. Since then I have spoken to half a dozen other Astra
owners who say they experience the same problem. I wonder why Astras
are more prone to this than other cars? I did flush the reservoir out
and that fixed the problem for a couple of months but the smell has
come back again. Last time I crawled underneath to remove the hoses as
per the Haynes book.

Another Astra owner has said I was making work for myself and that I
should press and hold the wash button on the stalk until the reservoir
runs dry. Is it safe to do this or is the pump only designed for
momentary use? Could it be damaged (overheat?) if used continuously to
drain the reservoir? I'm sure I had a battery water pistol when I was
young and I was told not to press and hold the trigger for this
reason, but may be my parents said this because they didn't want to
get too wet ;)

TIA

On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:29:22 +0000, Stephen wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> You may remember I asked about smelly screen wash in Astras a couple of
> months ago. Since then I have spoken to half a dozen other Astra owners
> who say they experience the same problem. I wonder why Astras are more
> prone to this than other cars? I did flush the reservoir out and that
> fixed the problem for a couple of months but the smell has come back
> again. Last time I crawled underneath to remove the hoses as per the
> Haynes book.

What did you refill it with? A good quality additive used at the highest 
concentration might help avoid the problem.

> Another Astra owner has said I was making work for myself and that I
> should press and hold the wash button on the stalk until the reservoir
> runs dry. Is it safe to do this or is the pump only designed for
> momentary use? Could it be damaged (overheat?) if used continuously to
> drain the reservoir? I'm sure I had a battery water pistol when I was
> young and I was told not to press and hold the trigger for this reason,
> but may be my parents said this because they didn't want to get too wet
> ;)
> 
> TIA

Every car handbook I've read says to avoid running the pump for long 
periods. Rallycross cars need the screenwash to run pretty much 
constantly; they use things like boat bilge pumps to cope with continuous 
operation.

I personally wouldn't risk what has been suggested to you...

Chris

-- 
Remove prejudice to reply.

On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:29:22 +0000, Stephen wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> You may remember I asked about smelly screen wash in Astras a couple of
> months ago. Since then I have spoken to half a dozen other Astra owners
> who say they experience the same problem. I wonder why Astras are more
> prone to this than other cars? I did flush the reservoir out and that
> fixed the problem for a couple of months but the smell has come back
> again. Last time I crawled underneath to remove the hoses as per the
> Haynes book.

What did you refill it with? A good quality additive used at the highest 
concentration might help avoid the problem.

> Another Astra owner has said I was making work for myself and that I
> should press and hold the wash button on the stalk until the reservoir
> runs dry. Is it safe to do this or is the pump only designed for
> momentary use? Could it be damaged (overheat?) if used continuously to
> drain the reservoir? I'm sure I had a battery water pistol when I was
> young and I was told not to press and hold the trigger for this reason,
> but may be my parents said this because they didn't want to get too wet
> ;)
> 
> TIA

Every car handbook I've read says to avoid running the pump for long 
periods. Rallycross cars need the screenwash to run pretty much 
constantly; they use things like boat bilge pumps to cope with continuous 
operation.

I personally wouldn't risk what has been suggested to you...

Chris

-- 
Remove prejudice to reply.

On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:29:22 +0000, Stephen wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> You may remember I asked about smelly screen wash in Astras a couple of
> months ago. Since then I have spoken to half a dozen other Astra owners
> who say they experience the same problem. I wonder why Astras are more
> prone to this than other cars? I did flush the reservoir out and that
> fixed the problem for a couple of months but the smell has come back
> again. Last time I crawled underneath to remove the hoses as per the
> Haynes book.

What did you refill it with? A good quality additive used at the highest 
concentration might help avoid the problem.

> Another Astra owner has said I was making work for myself and that I
> should press and hold the wash button on the stalk until the reservoir
> runs dry. Is it safe to do this or is the pump only designed for
> momentary use? Could it be damaged (overheat?) if used continuously to
> drain the reservoir? I'm sure I had a battery water pistol when I was
> young and I was told not to press and hold the trigger for this reason,
> but may be my parents said this because they didn't want to get too wet
> ;)
> 
> TIA

Every car handbook I've read says to avoid running the pump for long 
periods. Rallycross cars need the screenwash to run pretty much 
constantly; they use things like boat bilge pumps to cope with continuous 
operation.

I personally wouldn't risk what has been suggested to you...

Chris

-- 
Remove prejudice to reply.

Chris Whelan wrote:

> On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:29:22 +0000, Stephen wrote:
> 
> > Hello,
> > 
> > You may remember I asked about smelly screen wash in Astras a
> > couple of months ago. Since then I have spoken to half a dozen
> > other Astra owners who say they experience the same problem. I
> > wonder why Astras are more prone to this than other cars? I did
> > flush the reservoir out and that fixed the problem for a couple
> > of months but the smell has come back again. Last time I crawled
> > underneath to remove the hoses as per the Haynes book.
> 
> What did you refill it with? A good quality additive used at the
> highest concentration might help avoid the problem.
> 
> > Another Astra owner has said I was making work for myself and
> > that I should press and hold the wash button on the stalk until
> > the reservoir runs dry. Is it safe to do this or is the pump only
> > designed for momentary use? Could it be damaged (overheat?) if
> > used continuously to drain the reservoir? I'm sure I had a
> > battery water pistol when I was young and I was told not to press
> > and hold the trigger for this reason, but may be my parents said
> > this because they didn't want to get too wet ;)
> > 
> > TIA
> 
> Every car handbook I've read says to avoid running the pump for
> long periods. Rallycross cars need the screenwash to run pretty
> much constantly; they use things like boat bilge pumps to cope with
> continuous operation.
> 
> I personally wouldn't risk what has been suggested to you...
> 
> Chris

try dropping some steriliser fluid such as milton into it for a few
days

"Stephen"  wrote in message 
news:45poe5diqqv403v1pudd1qc5gmkgsjjchl@4ax.com...
> Hello,
>
> You may remember I asked about smelly screen wash in Astras a couple
> of months ago. Since then I have spoken to half a dozen other Astra
> owners who say they experience the same problem. I wonder why Astras
> are more prone to this than other cars? I did flush the reservoir out
> and that fixed the problem for a couple of months but the smell has
> come back again. Last time I crawled underneath to remove the hoses as
> per the Haynes book.
>

You are better off using the screenwash sold by Vauxhall dealers.
The cheap stuff from supermarkets is just that - cheap and without
the required additives to prevent bacterial growth.
You were told last time to flush the resevoir and put in fresh water
with a squirt of bleach and leave it for a day.  Rinse again and then
use vauxhall approved screenwash.  The problem will be solved.

> Another Astra owner has said I was making work for myself and that I
> should press and hold the wash button on the stalk until the reservoir
> runs dry. Is it safe to do this or is the pump only designed for
> momentary use?

You seem genuinely thick and unable to listen to advice.

> Could it be damaged (overheat?) if used continuously to
> drain the reservoir?

Yes, it will set fire to your car after 1min 38sec.
be sure to do it by a Fire Station.

>I'm sure I had a battery water pistol when I was
> young and I was told not to press and hold the trigger for this
> reason, but may be my parents said this because they didn't want to
> get too wet ;)

You really are thick!  What a complete idiot, I doubt you can drive
or even have a car.  A certain amount of intelligence is required.

>
> TIA

On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:17:51 +0000, Roger proclaimed:

> "Stephen"  wrote in message
> news:45poe5diqqv403v1pudd1qc5gmkgsjjchl@4ax.com...
>> Hello,
>>
>> You may remember I asked about smelly screen wash in Astras a couple of
>> months ago. Since then I have spoken to half a dozen other Astra owners
>> who say they experience the same problem. I wonder why Astras are more
>> prone to this than other cars? I did flush the reservoir out and that
>> fixed the problem for a couple of months but the smell has come back
>> again. Last time I crawled underneath to remove the hoses as per the
>> Haynes book.
>>
>>
> You are better off using the screenwash sold by Vauxhall dealers. The
> cheap stuff from supermarkets is just that - cheap and without the
> required additives to prevent bacterial growth. You were told last time
> to flush the resevoir and put in fresh water with a squirt of bleach and
> leave it for a day.  Rinse again and then use vauxhall approved
> screenwash.  The problem will be solved.
> 
>> Another Astra owner has said I was making work for myself and that I
>> should press and hold the wash button on the stalk until the reservoir
>> runs dry. Is it safe to do this or is the pump only designed for
>> momentary use?
> 
> You seem genuinely thick and unable to listen to advice.
> 
>> Could it be damaged (overheat?) if used continuously to drain the
>> reservoir?
> 
> Yes, it will set fire to your car after 1min 38sec. be sure to do it by
> a Fire Station.
> 
>>I'm sure I had a battery water pistol when I was
>> young and I was told not to press and hold the trigger for this reason,
>> but may be my parents said this because they didn't want to get too wet
>> ;)
> 
> You really are thick!  What a complete idiot, I doubt you can drive or
> even have a car.  A certain amount of intelligence is required.

Ignore Roger, he's a trolling, unintelligent, moron.

Mike P

On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:07:07 -0000, Mike P  wrote:

> On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:17:51 +0000, Roger proclaimed:
>
>> "Stephen"  wrote in message
>> news:45poe5diqqv403v1pudd1qc5gmkgsjjchl@4ax.com...
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> You may remember I asked about smelly screen wash in Astras a couple of
>>> months ago. Since then I have spoken to half a dozen other Astra owners
>>> who say they experience the same problem. I wonder why Astras are more
>>> prone to this than other cars? I did flush the reservoir out and that
>>> fixed the problem for a couple of months but the smell has come back
>>> again. Last time I crawled underneath to remove the hoses as per the
>>> Haynes book.
>>>
>>>
>> You are better off using the screenwash sold by Vauxhall dealers. The
>> cheap stuff from supermarkets is just that - cheap and without the
>> required additives to prevent bacterial growth. You were told last time
>> to flush the resevoir and put in fresh water with a squirt of bleach and
>> leave it for a day.  Rinse again and then use vauxhall approved
>> screenwash.  The problem will be solved.
>>
>>> Another Astra owner has said I was making work for myself and that I
>>> should press and hold the wash button on the stalk until the reservoir
>>> runs dry. Is it safe to do this or is the pump only designed for
>>> momentary use?
>>
>> You seem genuinely thick and unable to listen to advice.
>>
>>> Could it be damaged (overheat?) if used continuously to drain the
>>> reservoir?
>>
>> Yes, it will set fire to your car after 1min 38sec. be sure to do it by
>> a Fire Station.
>>
>>> I'm sure I had a battery water pistol when I was
>>> young and I was told not to press and hold the trigger for this reason,
>>> but may be my parents said this because they didn't want to get too wet
>>> ;)
>>
>> You really are thick!  What a complete idiot, I doubt you can drive or
>> even have a car.  A certain amount of intelligence is required.
>
> Ignore Roger, he's a trolling, unintelligent, moron.
>
> Mike P

That's a bit unfair on unintelligent trolls.

Duncan Wood  wrote
>On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:07:07 -0000, Mike P  wrote:
>>
>> Ignore Roger, he's a trolling, unintelligent, moron.
>
>That's a bit unfair on unintelligent trolls.

Yea - even I could do better than that. Huh.
-- 
Roger Hunt
Volvo. Hat. Pipe. 35 is quite fast enough.

In message , Stephen 
 writes
>Hello,
>
>You may remember I asked about smelly screen wash in Astras a couple
>of months ago. Since then I have spoken to half a dozen other Astra
>owners who say they experience the same problem. I wonder why Astras
>are more prone to this than other cars?
I very much doubt they are, it'll be cheap screenwash. Buy some decent 
stuff with a good alcohol content.
> I did flush the reservoir out
>and that fixed the problem for a couple of months but the smell has
>come back again. Last time I crawled underneath to remove the hoses as
>per the Haynes book.
Best way, then flush it through with a hosepipe to clean the sludge out, 
refit the pipe, refill, drop a couple of sterilising tablets in, flush 
through the pipes after they've dissolved, drain again and rinse out..
>
>Another Astra owner has said I was making work for myself and that I
>should press and hold the wash button on the stalk until the reservoir
>runs dry. Is it safe to do this or is the pump only designed for
>momentary use? Could it be damaged (overheat?) if used continuously to
>drain the reservoir?
On the last few cars I've had, the washer pump turns off after a short 
while to prevent damage including the current heap o shite Astra, make 
of that what you will.
>TIA

-- 
Clint Sharp

Thus spake Stephen (invalid@invalid.org) unto the assembled multitudes:

> You may remember I asked about smelly screen wash in Astras a couple
> of months ago. Since then I have spoken to half a dozen other Astra
> owners who say they experience the same problem. I wonder why Astras
> are more prone to this than other cars?

It's never happened to me and I've had a Mk4 Astra since April 2002, and had
a Mk2 Astra for the 10 years before that.

> Another Astra owner has said I was making work for myself and that I
> should press and hold the wash button on the stalk until the reservoir
> runs dry. Is it safe to do this or is the pump only designed for
> momentary use?

I would not risk running the pump continuously.   Surely best to syphon or
pump out the tank contents by other means, and sterilise as advised elsewhere
in this thread.


-- 
                                 Andy Clews
                            University of Sussex
                 *** Remove DENTURES if replying by email ***