Tomorrow's Project: Washer bottle relocation

[mrl390]

Well I finally got my astro van washer bottle so tomorrow will be the install. Hmm If everything goes as planned, I just found the easy solution to 5th gen washer bottle relocation. Here are some pics:
Washer bottle as received

Washer bottle cleaned

The bottle will go here:


The holes in the rad support for the passenger side front engine mount that the DOHC doesnt use are almost the exact same distance apart as the two mounting holes on the bottle. I already have a piece of sheetmetal Im going to bend into a 90 to use as a bracket. I have the spots I need to drill out marked with sharpie ready to go for tomorrow. I will either remove the plastic filler panel or cut a neat hole in it so the bottle will fit. I also will need to extend the wire for the current washer bottle pump and run the plug over to where the washer bottle is going. Im pretty sure the current plug should plug into the new bottle's pump, but if not, I have the astro van plug I will just need to splice it onto the end of the wires. I also need to get some washer fluid hose to run from the new bottle to the firewall. Would advance auto or napa have the hose? Ill check tomorrow, Im sure ill find some somewhere. Ill keep you guys updated with pics of the install. Hmm, one step closer to my FWI.

[GTP091]

Best thing I ever did was relocate the coolant reservoir to the passenger fender.

[mrl390]

My coolant reservoir is already on the pass fender.

[mrl390]

Washer bottle relocation complete

Well Im finally done with the install. Here are some pics of the finished product:



Open space:


I gave myself some extra wire and hose so I can tuck it out of the way when I build the intake. For now they are just run on top of the battery. Oh yeah, I didnt lose any pressure to the wipers like I thought which is good.
Total cost:
Bottle/pump: $20
Hose: ~$5 (I needed 6ft)
Bolts: $0
Bracket: $0
Wires: $0
(I had that stuff already)

BTW the new bottle holds almost double what the stock bottle held.

[gpchris]

My coolant reservoir is already on the pass fender.

Explain! How?? the reservoir shouldnt work if its below the radiator cap... Ive been trying for months.. how do you do it??

[GTP_MuNkY]

Ummm Chris, isn't yours on the passenger side fender from stock?

Jamie

[mrl390]

The bottle I put in was the washer bottle, not the coolant bottle. The car in the photo above has the coolant tank in the same place as my car.

[GTP_MuNkY]

Yeah, somehow they strayed to talking about the coolant bottle being on the passenger side fender...
FWIW my washer fluid bottle isn't there anymore, that's an old pic. I now have the F-body bottle in front of the rad.

Jamie

[GTP091]

I have my coolant reservoir in the passenger fender... and it works excellent in there; no battery and and no coolant res in the engine bay is nice and roomy

[jmgtp]

Explain! How?? the reservoir shouldnt work if its below the radiator cap... Ive been trying for months.. how do you do it??

I have a small coolant reservoir in my drivers side fender - works just fine. I don't think it works based on gravity making the tanks physical location irrelevant. When the cap opens coolant is forced into the reservoir but as things cool off it creates a suction to draw the coolant out of the reservoir and back into the radiator - gravity shouldn't be playing a role here - at least I don't think so since mine seems to be working just fine and it is well below the radiator cap.

Actually, if I recall correctly, I think even the STOCK coolant overflow tank pickup is physically lower in position than the radiator cap.

If you aren't having success with this maybe you have an air leak somewhere in the overflow line or elsewhere that is allowing the radiator to draw air back in at a lower resistance than it would take to draw coolant out of the reservoir.

[pocket-rocket]

Actually, if I recall correctly, I think even the STOCK coolant overflow tank pickup is physically lower in position than the radiator cap.

Yeah, I think the pickup on it is about the same height as the dummy shaft that the timing belt hooks to, or about the same level as the top of the alternator. I know the tube is pretty low. One time mine wasn't snapped to the coolant tank like it was supposed to and the acc. belt rubbed a hole in the line.