2000 OBW.  Neither the front nor rear washer is working.  Wipers work fine at both ends.  It doesn't sound like either pump is engaging/powering on.  I have tried replacing the front pump, and spraying the connectors for both pumps with an electronics cleaner.  Both connectors look gunked up/corroded, which is why I used the cleaner.  On the spades, I also rubbed a q-tip while the cleaner was still wet to try to get some of it off, but to no avail.

 

Ideas at this point?

Ever Victorious,

 

Check for a blown fuse. Then, with the ignition on and or the engine running pull the two wires from one pump and check for continuity with a multi meter while someone inside the car switches the washer on. Do this for both pumps and switches.

 

If you have power at the pump with the switches on, the pumps need to be replaced.

 

If there is no power to the pumps, and the fuse is good (if there is one for the washers), then there is a break in the wiring somewhere or the switches are bad.

It is possible to take the washer motors apart and degunk them and clean their armatures and brushes, but it is tedious and time consuming working with tiny parts, but it may be possible to resurrect them. Been there, done that, but not anxious to do it again. Good Luck!

If I'm not mistaken, don't the wipers and the washers share the same fuse?  Wipers work fine.

 

Thanks on the multimeter.  My "helper" keeps wandering off when I do work on the car (10 YOs don't have good attention spans) so I may have to duct tape him to the wheel to help me.

FWIW, the aftermarket pump I got at the parts store has been working great in our 03 for years.

Not sure if this was missed by you guys, but I already replaced the front pump and it didn't fix anything.  New front pump doesn't get power when I flip the switch either.  I haven't tried applying 12v directly to the pump from the battery yet, will definitely try the multimeter first.

Not sure if this was missed by you guys, but I already replaced the front pump and it didn't fix anything.  New front pump doesn't get power when I flip the switch either.  I haven't tried applying 12v directly to the pump from the battery yet, will definitely try the multimeter first.

 

On the 99 wiring diagram the pump gets its ground through the switch.  Wiper shares same ground point but uses different terminals/wires to the ground point.

 

I'm not certain that this applies to your 2000 or not though

Pages from 1999 Legacy_Outback Service Manual.pdf

Edited October 15, 20178 yr by Mike104

the gunk on those washer connectors is there to protect the contacts from battery acid, given their proximity.  It's a protective lithium based di-electric grease.

 

perhaps they re not making good contact?

Well, crap.

 

Had time to bust out the multimeter tonight.

 

Front washer connector: <1V and infinite resistance when off, 13.5-14V and 20-230 ohms when on.

Rear washer connector: <1V and infinite resistance when off, 13.5-14V and 20-50 ohms when on.

 

Before I replace both pumps, I just gotta know... am I cleaning the connectors wrong?  What is the proper way to clear them and ensure good contact?  

With no load, pump disconnected your meter can lie to you.  Check out Load Pro on you tube.  It allows you to load the circuit ruling out high resistance.  

 

Easy enough to hit the self serve yards and pop out a couple of Subaru pumps.

One would think, but actually not so easy.  The 2 Pick n Pulls near me had 11 Outback/Legacies.  I got the ONLY front pump that was still left when I went a week ago.  And that one's not working either. :/

Put a jumper wire into the connector and hook up the pump.  Put your meter to the jumper wires so you can read the voltage under load.  I bet you have a significant voltage drop.

Finally had the stars align and I had both good weather and time on my hands.  Went to the junkyard again and pulled another set of front and rear washer pumps.  Slapped them in, works great.  So it looks like both were bad when I got the car, as was the first one I got from the junkyard.

     

 

​Glad ya got it fixed!

 

​Thanks for posting what solved it.