Tailgate Washer

[twosaabs]

Hi All,

I've just acquired a replacement 9-5 estate with a modest mileage but with a few minor niggles that need sorting. One of which is the tailgate washer. On older 9-5's this was an elegant solution which squirted up from the wiper hub: on this later model it's a single jet mounted up at the top of the tailgate which just squirts straight down missing the window. Not sure how to fix this. Replacement parts are like hen's teeth as suppliers just offer the old system, and not sure how much of the tailgate trim I have to fight to get at it.

I alos need to replace the auto gearshift jalousie and I'm summining up the courage. Last time I did one, I lost the circlip dwon into the bowels ...

Happy days!

[TomPaine]

Yes, seems to be a common issue. Certainly Saabtech seem to need to fix mine every year at service time (though I think by fiddling with it, rather than replacing anything). I don't know how they do it so this isn't a very helpful post, beyond conveying some sympathetic irritation at the design and encouragement that it can be remedied ...

[twosaabs]

Thanks Tom, I suspect the change was save costs. The heavy hands of GM accountants ... but they ended up something worse than the original (rather like Microsoft)

[sgould]

There's a guy who has replaced the jalousie with a "home-made" one.  He made it on a 3D printer and it's in two parts that clip around the stalk.  I think that they are available, but possibly not in the UK.

A link to the part that was made. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J9tc6njtPw

And how it was made   https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3094525

[sgould]

The dealer fixed my tailgate washer without taking anything apart.  It might just need a twist.  Not sure, but it took about 10 mins while I waited, including the time to drive it from reception into the workshop and back out again.

[Audax]

I would think it would need the same treatment as the front washer jets at a guess using a cleaning tool, I never knew the later ones to be a problem as I never have had to clean or adjust one. The rear washer design on the earlier 9-5 was a total pain, it would somehow get gummed up so you would need to remove the cover to clean out the hole in the spindle but it was very common for the plastic cover to break and then the tiny o-ring would drop out or fail to give a good seal meaning a new cover which was quite expensive.

[sgould]

The problem with the later style washer on the 9-5 estate is that there is no adjustment. It’s a solid block of plastic with a hole in it.  All you can do is twist it a bit.

[carrera]

If the DE is anything like the early 9-5 access to the gubbins at the top and the tailgate are not too difficult. Just some bravery required at certain points