Headlight washers won't stop washing - even with car off - help!

[repenttokyo]

Like the title says, I come home tonight, turn off the car and when I walk around front I discover that the headlight washers on the passenger side are still pumping away! What do I do? Is this going to run down my battery overnight? Why do they keep running with the car OFF???

[shogun]

Pull the fuse as a first remedy.
Then study the wiring diagrams for your model year.

But it is strange that only one side would be pumping, there is one pump for both sides. Or was it only dripping on that side?
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD63&mospid=47404&btnr=61_0057&hg=61&fg=45

[repenttokyo]

I just replaced the damn pump 2 days ago with a brand new oem unit! It seems that it's not really "spraying", but that the nozzles or passage is "stuck open" and it's just pressure from the tank above it forcing the fluid out. Is that possible? Where is the fuse located for the pump? I have only had the car a week so I am not really up on where things are located....

[repenttokyo]

I assume if it was the pump I replaced on the fritz, then all of the 4 washers would be running?

[repenttokyo]

ok, so upon further reading of my manual, i was pushing the intensive clean button. still doesn't explain why only one nozzle just stayed open indefinitely!

[shogun]

Valve # 9 is probably not closing, check that one.

[repenttokyo]

thanks for the tip. from looking at the diagram you posted, that valve would seem to be just behind the bumper cover, accessible from underneath? or would it be in the engine bay itself? It's the right hand side washer, so it's near the pump.

[shogun]

I am not sure for the E34, but on my E32 I had to remove the bumper. That was easiest.
Maybe you can get access from the engine room.

[repenttokyo]

A quick question: Is it possible to reset the valve by disconnecting the battery?

[shogun]

No, they gust get power or not, but they do not have a "brain with stored program".
The control is done by the GM via the relais modul.
You can try it, have heard of other miracle fixes with resets.

[repenttokyo]

ok, so this morning i filled it with some fluid to see if it was still leaking - it was. I then tried the regular wash instead of the intensive wash and that seemed to shut the valve off. So Relieved!!