How does one go about removing the windshield washer nozzles from a 2005 model year without breaking the plastic parts?

Here's a diagram for reference. The parts in question are: 8, 10, 13, 15, 19, and 20.

I've already tried carefully twisting the tubing (15, 19, 20) but it's not moving at all. I'm afraid to use more force because the plastic parts may break.

 

hmm its pretty straight forward man. hold the nozzles in place with your hand. take a pair of pliers and grab the hose under. twist it left and right to break it free. then just pull them off. the nozzles them self are held on like clips. use the pliers to squeeze the tabs and lift out.

 

You should be able to just use your fingers, no need for pliers. The tips that push into the hose are in fact easy to break though, especially if they are old. But there's no real trick to it as far as I know. Just twist the tubing back and forth while pulling away lightly. You can try soaking with WD-40 or warm soapy water to help.

 

You're presuming I'm a man.


Yup, they're old--8 years! I couldn't move the tubing at all with my fingers, so next time I will gently use pliers as iamxpL suggested. Although beforehand I will take a tiny flat head screw driver and use it to pry the tubing up so I can get some lubrication in & around there as you suggested.


My thanks to both of you for your suggestions.

 

my apologies! but yes i would try squirting some lubricant to help it get loose. those hoses may be brittle under that hot nevada sun. hope you get it all sorted out.

 

That hold that hoses connected to a fitting develop over time is called a 'habit bond'. You have to break this bond free before you can remove any hose that has been attached to any fitting for any time.

The easiest way is to just twist the hose. This puts the least stress on the fitting, reducing chance you will damage the fitting. But if its a delicate fitting, and the bond is strong, this could still break the fitting.

In those cases all you can do is try to wiggle something in between the hose and fitting, to break the bond one spot at a time.