# Plugged windshield washer jet **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 11, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugged-windshield-washer-jet/27618 "2009-03-11T18:42:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugged-windshield-washer-jet/27618/1 "2009-03-11T18:42:24Z")
Do you think it would be OK to use a straight pin to try to open a plugged windshield washer jet? (98 Chevy Tahoe) ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugged-windshield-washer-jet/27618/2 "2009-03-11T18:43:26Z")
That’s usually what’s tried first. Tester ---
**Author:** ![jayhawkroy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jayhawkroy/32/33_2.png) [@jayhawkroy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jayhawkroy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugged-windshield-washer-jet/27618/3 "2009-03-11T18:58:05Z")
I like a partially unbent paper clip, so I can have a “handle” and the “tool” is easier to use than a straight pin. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugged-windshield-washer-jet/27618/4 "2009-03-11T19:03:57Z")
Just be careful and don’t mess up the plastic nozzle, or the spray pattern will be off. ---
**Author:** ![redtag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@redtag](https://community.cartalk.com/u/redtag)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugged-windshield-washer-jet/27618/5 "2009-03-11T19:15:45Z")
sure, but make sureyou don’t enlarge the holes or move the nozzles outof position ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugged-windshield-washer-jet/27618/6 "2009-03-11T20:19:53Z")
I use a small needle since they are usually stronger than straight pins. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugged-windshield-washer-jet/27618/7 "2009-03-11T20:57:46Z")
One wire pulled out of a wire brush works good… ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugged-windshield-washer-jet/27618/8 "2009-03-12T01:43:55Z")
Disconnect the washer hose first before attempting that OR remove the nozzle from the system. You don’t want to shove the dirt back into the hose only to have the same thing happen all over again. Are these windshield wiper mounted like the ones on my '02? If the wire trick doesn’t work, there are hundreds of auto recycle yards with those nozzles. ---
**Author:** ![cappy208](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cappy208/32/31_2.png) [@cappy208](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cappy208)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugged-windshield-washer-jet/27618/9 "2009-03-12T02:08:47Z")
just a thought: most cars have a paragraph in the owners manual that tells about re aiming and clearing nozzles. sometimes it is using a hat pin (larger than a regular pin) sometimes it is using a piece of wire. look under the hood. is it possible to unplug the hose to back flush the nozzle to get the crud out of the system? make sure you only put in clean washer fluid. and keep the cap on. ---
**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugged-windshield-washer-jet/27618/10 "2009-03-12T02:09:45Z")
Ouch washer fluid in my eyes, is that bad? YES (reference to previous post by someone about wearing safety glasses) ---
**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugged-windshield-washer-jet/27618/11 "2009-03-12T02:38:00Z")
A funny. I went back and it worked fine. We had a deluge of rain recently, then it turned very cold. I think that a layer of water ice formed on the outside, plugging it, then it melted off today when it went above 32 degrees. ---
**Author:** ![wentwest](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wentwest/32/6073_2.png) [@wentwest](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wentwest)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 4:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/plugged-windshield-washer-jet/27618/12 "2009-03-12T04:11:52Z")
The best thing I’ve discovered to poke out tiny little holes is a very fine guitar string. You can get a scrap at a music shop. They are longer, and flexible so they don’t bend or snap off.