Frozen Washer Jets & Failed Heater on Chrysler 300

Had the exact same issue with my 2019 Chrysler 200 diesel last winter. Have some experience with general car maintenance and basic repairs. The symptoms match perfectly, frozen washer nozzles and heater malfunction during cold weather. After checking fuses like you did, I discovered it was actually a faulty cable connection to the windshield heater heating element. The workshop found the plug connection was corroded, causing intermittent failures. Total repair cost was 95€, which included testing the system and replacing the damaged connector. Since the fix, the windshield wipers and washer nozzles work perfectly, even in freezing conditions. Before suggesting more specific solutions, could you share: Does the error code appear immediately when starting the car? Have you noticed any other electrical issues? What temperature range typically triggers the freezing? Are the washer fluid lines properly insulated? These details would help determine if your issue is identical to what I experienced or if theres something else going on with your system.

Thanks for the reply. My Chrysler has 194093 KM on the clock. The error appears after about 10 minutes of driving when temperatures drop below -5C. Checked the washer fluid and its the winter-grade type rated for extreme cold. No other electrical problems noticed, but the washer motor makes an unusual sound when activated. The windshield wipers work fine, just the nozzle heating seems affected. The washer fluid lines look properly insulated, at least the visible parts near the hood. Will get the connector checked based on your experience. The heater malfunction is definitely causing issues with frozen washer nozzles, making winter driving quite challenging. Did your workshop test the washer motor as part of their diagnosis?

Yes, my workshop did test the washer motor during diagnosis. The sound you describe matches exactly what I experienced, it was a side effect of the frozen fluid backing up in the system due to clogged nozzles. The mileage and temperature trigger point (-5C) are very similar to when my issues started. While the washer motor sound concerned me initially, it turned out to be unrelated to the core problem. After fixing the corroded connector to the windshield washer heater, the unusual motor noise disappeared completely. Important note about the repair: make sure they test the entire heating circuit, not just the connector. In my case, they also found minor insulation damage on one of the heater element wires, which they included in the 95€ repair cost. The winter-grade washer fluid is correct, but with faulty heating elements, even the best fluid will freeze in the nozzles. Since fixing the connection, I haven't had any issues with frozen washer nozzles, even in much colder temperatures. Based on these matching symptoms, I strongly suspect you have the same connector corrosion issue. The fuse box check was a good first step, but the problem typically lies in the connection points rather than the fuses themselves.

Good to know about your workshop experience. The error does appear around 10 minutes into driving, and always below -5C, which seems to confirm the connector issue you mentioned. My winter driving has definitely been impacted by these frozen washer nozzles. I will schedule a repair next week and have them check both the windshield heater connector and the wiring insulation. The washer motor noise is reassuring to know was also part of your experience and resolved after the fix. Hopefully my repair costs will be similar to your 95€ quote. Really appreciate the detailed explanation about the heating circuit testing. Makes sense that even winter-grade washer fluid cant prevent freezing when the heater elements arent working properly. Once the windshield wipers and heating system are functioning correctly, I should be good for the rest of the cold season. Will update the forum once I get it checked out. Thanks for helping pinpoint the likely cause, this definitely saved me some diagnostic time at the workshop.