[jp]

The washer pump on my 2009 2L Diesel stopped pumping but continued to whirr away with no water reaching the front or back. I detached the feed pipe from jets at the corner of the bonnet, but still no water.
On reading posts on this forum deduced it was probably a blockage, probably of the intake filter on the pump. Tried v hot water in the wash bottle with no change.
 I noticed that when rested for a while  upon activation the pump  would give a brief desultory squirt through the jets, then no more, suggesting slow leakage past the blockage.
I was resigned to at least taking the pump off next morning, but first  I gave a  try with the garden hose, just popped it in and moved it around at full blast. As the water gushed over the top I noticed something grey and blob-like fall onto the drive. See photo. 
Tried the washers and they now work fine.
The creature responsible can clearly be seen to have the guilty impression of the filter mesh on it's body, and was probably killed/loosened by the v hot water.
I'd suggest that it's not enough to loosen its grip on the pump, it has to be flushed out, otherwise it will swim back and reattach itself like some automotive remora.
My apologies to the local garage for not spending £100 on getting the pump replaced.

[AlanHo]

Excellent post and a good piece of information

I like your sense of humour - you will do well if you post here regularly.

[The Gonz]

Really? I thought his post was rather sluggish.

[cruiserfied]

Yep that'll do it.

[eye30]

so you newted it I see.....






Now I reported a similar issue a month or so ago and the garage said there was a blockage in the tubes which they cleared. 

However, just recently the jets appears to be less forceful so think I will give your hose pipe method ago.

cheers   

[ibrokeit]

It came from the deep<sup>1


1</sup> Depending on the scale and unit of measurement you wish to use 

[AlanHo]

Jp

Do you use tap water with an additive - if so which one?

[Phil №❶]

That looks like a rotted detergent pill. But surely not. 

[Doggie 1]

Could it be...............................
ET?   

[jp]

no, no detergent pills. tap water or rainwater used, the water is soft down here in the SW. I've had the car since  december 2009, can't say what was put into it in the preceding year as a demonstrator. It's possible that at some time I've put a few drops of washing up liquid in there, but not on a regular basis. My opinion guess is that it is inorganic impurities from the water bound with organic mucus from the organisms grazing thereon. There is usually enough stuff in the cleanest tap water for something to grow. Perhaps a couple of water snails in there would keep it clear. It does of course get a good stiff drink around xmas time when we travel up country to less favoured, colder lands, that's to say it's  filled with neat winter screen wash, diluted stuff has frozen up on me more than once.
As a preventative it would seem an occasional brisk hose out  is indicated.
It does seem to work better now than it's ever done, though I probably haven't noticed the previous slow performance deterioration.

[Phil №❶]

Er, do NOT use washing up detergent. It contains substances that make the screen surface waxy and this causes wipers to judder across the screen. Suggest you use a reputable brand windscreen cleaner.

[jp]

...and the salt. I Don't use it except in the past in desperation, usually just water and/or washer fluid.

and yet the wipers still judder   

[Dazzler]

Er, do NOT use washing up detergent. It contains substances that make the screen surface waxy and this causes wipers to judder across the screen. Suggest you use a reputable brand windscreen cleaner.

And it may cause the pump to rust...