Washer Motor Dead? Check These Common Causes First

Had a similar issue with my 2013 Chevy Cruze diesel. The windshield washer system completely stopped working, with the same warning light you're describing. I have some basic experience with car maintenance, but needed help with this one. Turned out the washer fluid level sensor was faulty, even though the reservoir was full. The workshop replaced the sensor and reset the error code. Total cost was around 25 for the fix. Before you head to a shop, could you: Check if you hear the pump motor when pressing the washer switch, Verify if both front and rear washers (if equipped) aren't working, Note if the problem started suddenly or gradually Also, what's your approximate mileage? The washer system components tend to wear out around certain intervals. Quick tip: While checking the fluid level is good, make sure you're using proper windshield washer fluid, not just water, as this can affect sensor readings. Let me know these details and I can share more specific advice based on my experience with the Chevy system.

Thanks for the tips! Yeah, I can confirm both front and rear washers aren't working at all. No sound from the washer motor when I press the switch, totally dead. Problem came out of nowhere last week. Currently at 143803 KM and had my last service about 2 months back. When you mention the sensor, that makes sense since nothing's happening at all. Strange thing is the wiper fluid level is definitely full, just topped it off with proper washer fluid last month. Think I'll get it checked at the shop since the warning light is still on and it's getting annoying having to manually clean the windshield.

Thanks for those extra details. After fixing my sensor issue, I actually ran into the exact same symptoms a few months later, no motor sound and warning light with full fluid level. Turned out the washer motor itself had failed, not just the sensor. At that mileage (mine was around 140k when it happened), these motors can definitely wear out. The lack of any pump sound is a classic sign of motor failure rather than just a sensor problem. The warning light can trigger either way though, which makes diagnosis tricky. For my Chevy, the motor replacement was a straightforward fix, about an hour of labor and a new pump assembly. Much more reliable than just swapping the sensor ended up being. Since you're getting zero response from the windshield washer system, I'd lean toward the motor being the culprit. Quick tip before heading to the shop, check the fuse for the washer motor. It's worth ruling out before paying for diagnostics, even though a blown fuse wasn't the issue in my case.

Thanks for the detailed response. I just checked the fuse and it looks good, so that rules out the simple fix. The symptoms you described with your car match mine exactly, especially the complete silence when pressing the spray jets. Getting really tired of keeping a bottle of washer fluid in the car for manual cleaning, and that dashboard light is driving me crazy. Going to book it in next week and have them check both the washer motor and the sensor since either could trigger that warning light. Better to get it sorted properly than keep dealing with a dead windshield cleaning system. Good to know the repair should be straightforward if it is the motor. At least it's not going to be some major complicated job. I'll update once I find out what the actual problem was.