So I was driving down the highway and all of a sudden I get a "Washer Fluid Low" warning on the dash. It wasn't low as it didn't take much to top it back off, so my guess is, the sensor is going bad or is stuck.

Is there any EASY way to get to the sensor to remove it and replace it with a new one? Or do I have to remove the bumper to do so?

 

If you want to access the float switch then yeah you have to remove the bumper. If you want to try to just unstick the thing then use a small mallet with a piece of wood as a drift and "tap" on the reservoir, hopefully the vibration will dislodge the stuck float. Might have to drift it from both the top and bottom of the vehicle.

Do you make sure to only use window washing fluid? Water only can corrode the switch and pump motor.

 

I've seen this a lot lately. The washer fluid light seems to be the most useless light on the dash. Can the pump be ruined by running it dry?

 

I've never let mine go dry. I check monthly on washer fluid and rarely ever use mine to the point where I'm almost anti-washer fluid spraying. My wife is the opposite. I have to fill hers monthly with an entire bottle.

I suspected it would be a process to get to the sensor. I've already got a replacement and was thinking it would be easy, but after looking at the washer fluid reservoir and how it aimed towards the bumper, I stopped thinking it would be easy.

 

Do you use Rain-X or something similar in the tank? I usually use the concentrate that you dilute into a gallon of regular wiper fluid but one time I bought the premixed orange gallon while on a road trip. The orange mix was too concentrated and the sensor got coated by the jelly/wax buildup. If that sounds plausible for your situation, try running the tank low and refilling with clean fluid, it worked for me after a few cycles and it saves a bunch of time getting to the tank.

Bonus, you end up with a VERY clean windshield

 

Typically it's a normally closed circuit (when the washer tank is full) and it reads a resistor in the switch so it knows there isn't a dead short somewhere.

 

Easy fix is to just unplug it at the tank, same as full. When fluid stops squirting, fill.

I did not want to bother with replacing the switch...