Windscreen Washer TR3A

[ERNGOR]

Can some one tell me if windscreen washers were fitted as standard on the TR3A. I am in the process of buying an Ex California car which has been returned to the UK converted to RHD and fully restored. I cant see any evidence under the bonnet of washer bottle etc. I have not seen the car in person.

Also where would the washer switch/pump be located

As an aside can someone post a picture of the dash layout showing all switches etc

Would this washer kit be required by UK MOT Standards

Thanks

Gordon

 

[John Morrison]

hello Gordon, and welcome to our forum, and congratulations on buying a TR3A, 

Pretty sure that windscreen washers were not OE on a 3A,

but an aftermarket addition, as such both the bottle and controol can be fitted anywhere.

That said, I'm told by an ex MOT Inspector, that they are about the only item for an MOT, covered

by retrospective legislation, so you will need them for a MOT.

JOhn.

 

[ERNGOR]

Thanks John

 

[stuart]

39 minutes ago, John Morrison said:

hello Gordon, and welcome to our forum, and congratulations on buying a TR3A, 

Pretty sure that windscreen washers were not OE on a 3A,

but an aftermarket addition, as such both the bottle and controol can be fitted anywhere.

That said, I'm told by an ex MOT Inspector, that they are about the only item for an MOT, covered

by retrospective legislation, so you will need them for a MOT.

JOhn.

 

3a washers were dealer fit if requested. Hence no sign of fitment. US cars arent subject to the same tests as UK hence the absence of fitment on this one

Stuart.

[BlueTR3A-5EKT]

As the car has a detachable windscreen, therefore washers are supposedly not compulsory,  take it for MOT with aeroscreens fitted.

 

That said I have electric pumped screen washers with two jets fitted to my car.   The switch is a combined wiper switch with push to wash electric switch from a Land Rover.  My container sits by  the wiper motor, attached to the bulkhead.

My brother’s TR2&3 uses this bottle sat in the battery box next to the battery, very tidy.

https://www.holden.co.uk/p/bottle_type_electric_screen_washer_kit

 

my bottle, with pump under the wiper motor and switch type used

 

Edited May 15 by BlueTR3A-5EKT

[james christie]

The switch I use for wiper and wash is a standard TR 2 position light switch - first position, wipe, second position, wash.

Simples

james

[ERNGOR]

Thanks Guys I will decide which way to go once I collect the car

[Ralph Whitaker]

They could be factory fitted, they are on the build sheet for my 3a which was supplied from the factory direct to Japan. Don`t know if it was a Japanese requirement, or at the request of the person who ordered the car who was presumably an American as he ordered left hand drive and dip to the right headlamps, and the car came back from America when I bought it.

I still have the left hand drive dash panel, but the car had been comprehensively robbed of instruments and switchgear when I got it so I can only guess at where the washer switch went, there is another hole drilled in the dash panel at the side of where the O/D switch went, so presumably this was for the washer switch originally.

 I don`t even know whether they were electric or just a rubber bulb pump type, which is what I have fitted now. I moved my choke to the main dash panel so I didn`t have to disconnect it every time the centre panel is removed, and used the old choke hole to take my plunger type washer pump.

One thing that puzzles me is why they fitted the washers so close to the wiper spindles, although they do squirt under the wiper arms and are quite effective. Again I don`t know if there was a standard place for them, or this was just the whim of the apprentice that was given the job of fitting them.

Ralph

PS, I am now getting the trouble others have had in that the site seems determined to rotate my pictures when I upload them, never happened before.

[Tony_C]

Yes, further to Ralph’s post above, my 3A was one of the last half dozen off the production line and came with ‘every possible extra’ including the screen washer - It’s situated furthest away from the driver near the glovebox. 

The dash is original apart from the toggle switch (indicators when I changed the wheel) and possibly the two white pull switches (spot lamps) under the rev counter, I acquired the car in the 70’s and they certainly appeared to have been in place for some time.

The jet position would appear to be standard Ralph although, I’m not sure how well thought out it was?

Welcome Gordon and well done with your choice of car, they are brilliant cars and great fun. - Let me know if you want any under bonnet photos of the original setup?

 

[Deggers]

2 hours ago, Tony_C said:

It’s situated furthest away from the driver near the glovebox. 

Yep, that looks about right Tony, as confirmed in this illustration from the 'Triumph Sports Car Instruction Book'.  (see "N: Screen Wash Control")

 

  

 

However if there isn't already an original push washer fitted and originality isn't a burning priority, I suppose really it comes down to personal preference. A previous owner of my 3A mounted one to the right of the steering wheel, and as I'm right handed, that's rather fortuitous . Incidentally, I happened to see this TR2 at an auction in Moretonhampstead yesterday, which also has the same arrangement.

Cheers, Deggers

 

[ERNGOR]

Thanks again Tony and Daggers all useful information. Moving from a Morgan Three Wheeler to the TR so should be more civilised?

[Ian Vincent]

FWIW, I fitted my manual washer pump on the RHS of the steering wheel directly below the heater control. 

Rgds Ian

 

[Black Forest TR3A]

There is some evidence that the "most original" washer pump was manufactured by Trafalgar and looked like this: (which I bought NOS some years ago):

[Lebro]

I'm using one of those bottles as my rad overflow bottle

Bob

[Nobbysr]

Have fitted a  Trico glass bottle and support bracket which is year appropriate   but I'd to purchase a knob and pump  identical to Chritians unit. The  pump i have is a Trico pump withe a black  MGA knob

cheers

steve

Edited May 20 by Nobbysr

[BlueTR3A-5EKT]

Nice view Steve.

Why the pedal stop bolts though?   I thought they were for Lockheed systems only.    Pedal height being adjusted by the threaded Girling push rods.

[ERNGOR]

very nice

[harlequin]

I had a manual 1960s washer that was next to useless so I bought an electric washer kit on Amazon that cost next to nothing.

It came with a very discreet little red button for the switch that I fitted to a spare hole just below and to the left of the speedo, and the bottle is on the near side inner wing.

George 

[TimG]

My washer button is under the dash to left of wheel on a dash strut brace. The washer bottle & pump are bag type on left of engine bay forward of Nobbysr's bottle.

[Nobbysr]

On 5/21/2025 at 9:53 AM, BlueTR3A-5EKT said:

Nice view Steve.

Why the pedal stop bolts though?   I thought they were for Lockheed systems only.    Pedal height being adjusted by the threaded Girling push rods.

Hi Peter, the car had them fitted when i purchased it some 30yrs ago  so I refitted them but  I checked with a few Photos online as well,  but to be honest i wasnt aware that they could be used without stops . I assumed that they were to stop the seals getting damaged by going too far in the cylinder ???

cheers

Steve

[BlueTR3A-5EKT]

Hi Steve.  The piston in a Girling master cylinder is retained by a circlip  That is not the case with the earlier system.  The circlip works as the stop for the piston and pedal height is set by the adjustable push rod. 

Edited June 1 by BlueTR3A-5EKT

[Richardtr3a]

I have an electric Trico bottle same size as in the picture on this thread and it feeds the two jets which are about 1" away from the wiper. They work well and do not need much maintenance.

I am going out to the garage to check my pedal stops later this evening. It is cold outside 🤔