Washer fluid light never comes on

My dash has the warning light for low wiper fluid because I pulled the speedo and shined a flashlight where it was supposed to be and sure enough its there. It never comes on though. I swapped the bulb with one that I know works and started the truck for a few minutes and it didnt come on even though my washer tank was completely empty. I pulled the tank and cleaned it out alond with all the connectors to the pump that pushes the fluid up to my windsheild and still no light after reinstalling. I cleaned a lot of gunk out of the connectors and that didnt help. I begining to wonder if my 1998 prerunner was actually WIRED for the light. I have read other threads about people not being able to get theirs to turn off but I cant get mine to come on when its designed to

 

I can't believe there's even a light for that...

 

Haha, I know. It just irritates me that it doesn't work and I know should be. I guess I'm just OCD about those kinds of things

 

The one on my 02 works just fine, is there a float of some sort in the tank, not just the pump? Idk how Toyota does it, but there has to be a sensor in the tank to determine when the fluid is low

 

Most likely a magnetic switch in a plastic tube, foam ring around the tube with a magnet on it.
That's how the "water-in-fuel" sensor works on the bottom of a Diesel spin-on fuel filter.
The foam is more dense than the fuel, but less dense than water, so it won't float unless there's water in the bottom of the filter. Washer reservoir would be simple by comparison.

We have a level sensor on the brake fluid as well... even my '94 had that.

 

Fuck, I've got one that never goes out, even when the tank was full, wanna trade ??

 

I washed out my reservoir and tried to look inside but I didn't notice anything. I did have a large hole on the neck of it though when I first got the truck that I fixed with some silicone adhesive. That may have messed up my sensor because I have never seem the light come on since I have owned the truck

 

Haha, that's what I have mostly read when I searched the topic on this fourm. I was like "we'll shit! Mine won't even do that, it's just completely broke!"

 

for some toyota models, only those sold in Canada or with
a cold-weather package got the sensor.

all have the light, but the sensor was not installed on all of them

that may be the case. My 99 4runner has the light, but no sensor

 

That what it seems to be for my case. When I had the reservoir taken out, I couldnt see anything throught the plastic and I figured I would if it had some sort of float sensor

 

No wire, no sensor

 

There is several wires coming from the lite pump area of the reservoir, but I do think there may be an open space where a third wire should be for a sensor... And it's not there

 

Bumping this old thread to see if I can get a lil help figuring some things out..

So I've been having an issue with getting my washer fluid to spray. At first, the reservoir was empty (Fwiw, I've determined that I do have the washer fluid level sensor, but as I recall it has never lit up on the dash, maybe to bulb is dead in the cluster) so obviously I filled it, but no spray when I pulled on the lever on the steering column. The wipers still work just fine on their own, and 'wipe' 3 times like they should when I pull for the washer fluid. Then I checked all the fluid lines and there are no blockages. I even removed the spray nozzles and blew them out with compressed air. Next I checked the voltage in the plugs in the wiring harness and it all seems like it's getting the power that it should. So then I figured the pump was fried (couldn't get it to operate when I 'jumped' it) I bought a new pump and installed it... Still nothing.

I'm totally at a loss now as to why the fluid won't spray

Has anyone else had this type of issue? Is there another wiper/pump fuse that I'm missing? I just can't figure it out, it's getting cold, and I know I'm gonna need the fluid on a daily basis soon..

 

Bumping this old thread to see if I can get a lil help figuring some things out..

So I've been having an issue with getting my washer fluid to spray. At first, the reservoir was empty (Fwiw, I've determined that I do have the washer fluid level sensor, but as I recall it has never lit up on the dash, maybe to bulb is dead in the cluster) so obviously I filled it, but no spray when I pulled on the lever on the steering column. The wipers still work just fine on their own, and 'wipe' 3 times like they should when I pull for the washer fluid. Then I checked all the fluid lines and there are no blockages. I even removed the spray nozzles and blew them out with compressed air. Next I checked the voltage in the plugs in the wiring harness and it all seems like it's getting the power that it should. So then I figured the pump was fried (couldn't get it to operate when I 'jumped' it) I bought a new pump and installed it... Still nothing.

I'm totally at a loss now as to why the fluid won't spray

Has anyone else had this type of issue? Is there another wiper/pump fuse that I'm missing? I just can't figure it out, it's getting cold, and I know I'm gonna need the fluid on a daily basis soon..

 

they also have one to let you know the gas door is open

 

Did you ever try to put 12v straight to either pumps, old or new to see if the problem was "before" the pump?

 

Yea I jumped the old pump and nothing.. The new pump works just fine. It must be a wiring/fuse issue.. I'm gonna try to tackle it today.