How to Check Your Windshield Wiper Fluid Level
Windshield wiper fluid is stored under the hood and the windshield wiper fluid light will illuminate when the reservoir is low or empty.
Written by Logan Utsman
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
Table of Contents
You should check your windshield wiper fluid level when a light on your dashboard illuminates. It's an often overlooked, but crucial part of car maintenance, especially if you live in a rainy area.
If you’ve ever had a dirty windshield and tried to spray wiper fluid to clean it, only to find there is no wiper fluid available, you know the frustration that comes with an empty reservoir. A dirty or streaked windshield is also a driving hazard as visibility can be reduced and the your focus can be distracted.
Read on, car insurance comparison and broker app
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has you covered on how to refill your fluid and stay safe on the road.Why you should check your windshield wiper fluid level
You should always be on top of your windshield wiper fluid level. Even if you don't live in a rainy area, it's important to check your washer fluid every so often. The process to check and refill isn't complicated, as you'll often get a low wiper fluid symbol. Then it's down to you to judge how much windshield wiper fluid to add—and then simply refill.
Materials Needed
- Funnel
- Gallon jug of windshield wiper fluid
Step 1: Determine if your car’s windshield wiper fluid is low
Different car manufacturers build their products using varied designs so the way you’ll check windshield wiper fluid levels will depend on the type of car you drive. But it's not too difficult to check windshield wiper fluid.
Some cars have a low level light that will illuminate within the gauge cluster while other cars will have a clearly visible reservoir under the hood where you can see the levels.
Regardless of how your car is set up, the most obvious way to tell if your windshield wiper fluid is low is to engage the sprayers. If nothing comes out, it’s time to refill.
Step 2: Locate your car’s windshield wiper fluid reservoir
Knowledge is power, so break out your owner’s manual and turn to the maintenance section to find the exact location of your windshield wiper fluid reservoir. This is going to be located under the hood and will typically be close to a left or right fender.
For many cars, the reservoir is tucked underneath the fender itself, but the filler neck should be easy to spot. Look for a plastic cap with the famous windshield wiper fluid "light" symbol: a windshield with a "fountain."
Step 3: Organize your supplies
Gather your supplies. You can buy fluid at any autoparts store, most gas stations, and even certain department stores. You get what you pay for with car fluids, with the more expensive fluid offering more cleaning power.
Some brands will tout de-icing properties, which is a worthy investment if you live in northern climates. Color choice is irrelevant, so don’t worry about buying blue fluid one day and orange fluid the next. A funnel will be a helpful tool as well to avoid spilling.
Step 4: Fill the windshield wiper reservoir
You'll next need to fill the windshield wiper reservoir
Pop the reservoir cap open, place the funnel inside and begin filling it with fluid.
Some cars have a clearly visible "fill" line while others don’t. For those in particular, simply fill the reservoir until you can see fluid stagnate in the filler neck.
Owning a car is one of the most rewarding responsibilities you can have, and there are plenty of DIY maintenance items that anyone can accomplish. For cars that have a windshield wiper fluid light, paying attention to this is a good indication of fluid levels - if the light goes off, then you have an acceptable amount of fluid in the reservoir.
MORE: How to Check and Add Brake Fluid
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FAQs
Where is the windshield wiper fluid located?
It depends on the car. But the good news is that it's usually pretty clearly indicated. All you need to do is look for a plastic neck and cap. It's typically next to a left or right fender.
Where can I get cheap car insurance?
If you need to see a mechanic to fix your windshield wipers, it might cost a little. However it doesn't have to be too expensive if you use
Jerry
. Jerry is the easiest and most effective way to find a car insurance policy that is customized for you.After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, Jerry will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to.
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