My windscreen washers have not been working since they were frozen, I took my car to the garage I use this morning and was told it was the motor (the mechanic just listened to the sound) and told me to expect to pay anything from £200 for the motor plus vat and labour costs, is that a reasonable rate to pay?

Denise, January 2010

had this problem. open the bonet fully and try the washers , if they work you may have a kink in the pipe coming out of the pump. pump is down the side of the water bottle.if you try the washers and you can not hear the pump hum check the two wires on the top of the pump are securely connected,if there is still no hum the pump may be duff.the pump is very easy to change with just a couple of tools.we just removed the water bottle fixings, pushed the bottle to one side and lifted the pump out, its only small.dont loose the little rubber seal under the pump and make sure it is fitted or you will have a leak . you can get a second hand pump from a scrapyard or new from a decent spares shop.

xs11, January 2010