Spent ages today trying to work out why my washer jets were not working, started by filling the engine bay reservoir, still nothing just the motor buzzing.....

Stripped out the N/S/F wheel arch liner, water bottle seemed ok, pipe at bottom nice and tight....

Then found another reservoir in the boot area... filled it up... still nothing but motor buzzing sound....

Then put air line on front washers, air pressure forced out apparent blockages.... front washer jets now working

Also can someone confirm is the front reservoir for the rear wiper, and the rear reservoir is for the front wipers??

Edited April 27, 20205 yr by E8VEN

Washer reservoir in N/S/F is radiator expansion/overflow tank.

10 minutes ago, AndrewG said:

Washer reservoir in N/S/F is radiator expansion/overflow tank.

Thanks for clearing that up, so I was completely wrong!! So the washer reservoir is just the one in the boot area:)

3 hours ago, E8VEN said:

Thanks for clearing that up, so I was completely wrong!! So the washer reservoir is just the one in the boot area:)

No the front O\S is washer bottle. The N\S is radiator overflow bottle.

19 minutes ago, Bones28 said:

No the front O\S is washer bottle. The N\S is radiator overflow bottle.

Sorry forgot to mention my ZX is SWB so only has the one reservoir up front, which I now realise is the radiator overflow bottle...

If the bottle is empty this should be indicated by an amber dash light, picture of a windscreen with jets of water. 
 

The washer bottle configuration changes with model specification, so the swb and lwb are different and the U.K/Euro version are different again. 
My 2+2 jdm car the bottle is located behind the drivers side intercooler and has two pumps and a level switch. 
Uk cars the location is the same but there are 3 pumps and a level switch, the bottle is also a slightly different size. 
2+0 cars have a rear a rear mounted washer bottle. I don’t believe there is one located in the front. 
 

If you have a front bottle it will be in the drivers side, if you lift the bonnet there will be a fill cap in the corner below the power steering pot. This will be a clear colour with the standard washer symbol on it. 

Diagram is washer configuration for an earlier JDM SWB (with tank in boot). Note that there is an extra front pump (but no tank) for the front washers.

Edited April 28, 20205 yr by AndrewG
Diagram for early model type

In my late 94, series 4 slicktop, I do not have the reservoir in the l/h rear, just the one r/h front with sure it's two pumps, wonder if my 95 is the same, I expect so.

I remember seeing earlier SWB's and spotting the rear filler cap and pointed out that I don't have on mine to the unaware owners.

Your '95 (with the VIN you sent me). I've updated my earlier post to correct it with your info Andy.

Edited April 28, 20205 yr by AndrewG

Yes much better on the 95, simpler than the earlier.

Well I never would have guessed they changed the location of the washer bottle. Totally unnecessary.

52 minutes ago, Bones28 said:

Well I never would have guessed they changed the location of the washer bottle. Totally unnecessary.

Maybe, or was it part of a number of small changes to keep the weight distribution sensible. 

The last place I thought the reservoir would be is in the boot area, obvious area to look was the engine bay, anyway really appreciate the input from all members??