Washer Fluid Light

fightman80

New member
I've been have some trouble getting rid of a Washer Fluid Light that won't go off in my dash. I've tried the obvious, and filled the tank, and also tried taping up some of the fluid lines at the joints, in case air was getting in. I also disconnected the Negative Cable from my battery in order to reset the computer, but the light keeps coming on. As a side note, it seems to go on when I hit a good bump, or the truck rocks from side to side. It used to go on, and then go off within a few weeks, but now it's been on for several months! I've thought about pulling the bulb from the gauge cluster, but don't really want to do that.

Any help you guys can give, would be helpfull! Thanks!
 
Register to hide this ad
Usually the circuit isn't complex enough to use the ECU, or anything other than the sensor and the light. Sensor goes in the bottom of the tank, try unplugging it and see what the light does. I'm not sure if the circuit is a normally open or closed, so if you unplug it and the light is always on, jumper the two wires on the plug and it should go out. If it stays off jumpered or just unplugged then the problem is most likely just in the sensor itself. If you need to replace the sensor, it looks like about $40 from the cheaper dealerships.
 
Thanks for the info! I tried unplugging the connector from the washer fluid reservoir, but it cut all power to the fluid pump. I then located the 2 blue wires which came from the plug, and led to the sensor, and cut them. I taped them up, in case they short out. Now the light is extinguished, and everything else is working.
 
Bump

Just did this myself. Easy fix to an annoying dash light that refused to go away. I'd post a picture but it's pretty self explanatory.

Still not sure why Toyota bothered putting it on for CDN models if they left it off american models. It's handy when it works if you don't fill the fluid often I guess........
 
good troubleshootin Fightman..i've also emptied my reservoir but no light ever came on the dash. knock on wood.
 
I believe the lights were only installed on Canadian Models only....so if you have an American model.....the light would never come on......BTW, Thread Revival! This was originally posted over 2 years ago! lol!
 
Oh jeez! and I thought you only started this thread yesterday. Lol!

I just realized I didn't have my 4runner till a month after you made your washer fluid inquiry.
 
I've been have some trouble getting rid of a Washer Fluid Light that won't go off in my dash. I've tried the obvious, and filled the tank, and also tried taping up some of the fluid lines at the joints, in case air was getting in. I also disconnected the Negative Cable from my battery in order to reset the computer, but the light keeps coming on. As a side note, it seems to go on when I hit a good bump, or the truck rocks from side to side. It used to go on, and then go off within a few weeks, but now it's been on for several months! I've thought about pulling the bulb from the gauge cluster, but don't really want to do that.

Any help you guys can give, would be helpfull! Thanks!

Have 1999 4Runner (Canada) so have the washer fluid low indicator light.
Came on, stayed on, washer fluid is fine.

Under right front of truck, take off cover (guard) to washer fluid container.
BE CAREFUL MIGHT WANT TO USE SOME PENETRATING OIL You'll probably still break a bold. I just removed the whole thing, cover & resevoir, but you don't have too. Might have trouble with hoses to pump motors.

ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO TAP BROKEN BOLTS OUT?

ALWAYS PUT VASOLINE INSIDE ANY RUBBER HOSE LINES MAKES IT REALLY EASY TO REMOVE IN FUTURE.

The stem neck, top of truck under hood, to the washer fluid container just pulls out; 2 separate pieces.
Pink sponge floating full indicator inside the neck has nothing to do with the light or sensor.

From under the right front you'll see a harness plug has 6 wires coming from it.
2 go to rear pump motor, 2 go to front pump motor, 2 go to washer fluid sensor. It's the one farther back more to middle of reservoir. You can disconnect the clips from the main plug & 2 motors.
MAKE SURE CONTACTS ARE CLEAN & NO CORROSION. SPRAY WITH WD-40, let dry, & PUT SOME ELECTRICAL GREASE BEFORE RECONNECTING.

Rubber seal around the sensor, it does not screw in its like the stem neck, lift the rubber seal around it and pull the sensor out, try not to pull the rubber seal out with its a pain to put back in.

The sensor has the male flat copper connector, very fine, wires have the female, BE CAREFUL ITS DELICATE. Dumb asses at Toyota designed & put that thing in and left the wires & contacts exposed whole thing could be avoided if it were just coated with silicone after install.
Anyways I just pulled mine put some penetrating & anti-rust on it wiggled it around a little and IT WORKS.

I think TOYOTA knows it, so they replace the sensor & 6 way wire harness all at once, that would be the easiest if sensor not working, Hard to see that thing going defective. Odds are it's the very bad set up where the wire plugs in at the bottom, it gets really badly corroded.

If the sensor is defective (?) you'll probably break the plug pulling the sensor off so its a fairly simple replacement with a new female, just get a new sensor.

I left mine exposed and just covered it with grease, but if you need a new sensor & replace the female plug coming from the 6 way wire harness, I'D RECOMMEND COVERING THE WHOLE PLUG SECTION WITH SILICONE.


Hope that helps.:wave:
 
One of those things I'm going to look into.

Mine stays on almost all the time, but for some reason offroading it shuts off...

Maybe it's trying to tell me something?
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
278,307
Messages
3,554,054
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Trending content

Back
Top