I hope this doesn't sound like a dumb question, but I have a windshield washer "gallon thing" in the engine compartment, but I don't know how to make it work. It there a button/switch somewhere to make these work?

 

There should be small diameter rubber hosing going from the tank to a small electric motor (probably mounted on the inner fender) to the washer nozzles. The motor should go on when you pull the windshield wiper ****.
jor

 

Mine is the same way...it has no nozzles or anything, just the tank for the washer fluid....looks like it was never intended to be functional.

 

So you have to "PULL" the wiper ****? I have to try that.....

 

On my 1972 F-100 4x4, the windshield wiper switch has 3 settings: off, slow, & fast. When the wiper motor is running either slow or fast, if you push in on the switch, the washer activates. That's pushing in, not pulling out, the switch's ****. It won't go very far in (toward the dash panel), but it should go in. As far as the 'gallon jug' is concerned, mine has the washer pump motor mounted on the bottom of the plastic jug itself. It's sort of enclosed as a one piece unit. It takes a weird, almost triangle-shaped 2 prong electrical harness, which plugs into the washer motor itself. This harness powers and activates the motor - the harness goes to the washer/wiper switch. The fluid exits from the container via a small-diameter rubber hose. This hose is split into 2 via a 'T' connector, and leads to seperate driver's & passenger's side dispensers (small, curved metal tubes which act like a nozzle). The system works well, however, it was never intended to 'mist' the windshield (like newer designs), just simply dump a bunch of washer fluid onto a small portion of the glass. Perhaps, if you changed out the cowl-mounted washer fluid dispensers with different ones, you might achieve a wider fluid dispersment on the glass. Just a thought.

 

Very nice explanation, thank you.

I tried pushing & pulling on mine, but I think the previous owner changed the switch or something because it's loose. When I turn the ****, the whole mechanism behind the **** turns also. I tried tightening it, but was unsucessful. Oh well.

 

The switch should look just like the hazard and the headlight switches. There should be a small hex nut holding the black plastic switch **** onto the switch's 'stem'. Loosen this hex screw and remove the ****. The switch should have a plastic round ring which screws onto the switch's threaded shaft. This is what keeps the entire switch assembly tight against the dash panel. I use a small punch and hammer and GENTLY tap the plastic ring to either tighten or loosen the switch. The switch should have a harness that plugs into its back. It should even have a trim ring that says 'Wiper Washer'.

 

When you get that **** situated, have someone push in on it while you use 12v test lite, on end of harness that plugs into washer tank pump. If you have juice, you will need to replace that pump. All of the aftermarket catalogs have them, and also the auto parts stores. About $15. If your test lite looks dead, you have other probs. Check fuse, connections, and maybe you have a bad switch. At least its an easy system to troubleshoot. Those washer pumps have a tendency to rust out and die.