Karcher pressure washer fix

[micky.]

I just upgraded all my car care products with mainly Autoglym products, including the three piece Polar range (snow, shampoo, seal). These need to be applied with a pressure washer. Mine is an approx four year old Karcher K4. It failed about a year ago, when water came gushing out of the housing, but it was just inside its warranty period, so Karcher collected it, fixed it, refreshed it, and sent it back. It failed again today, even though I only used it last week. It just wouldn’t fire up. I looked up the YouTube tutorials, which all gave the same airlock guide of removing the trigger handle and running water through for five mins, but this didn’t work. I fiddled about with it for ages, and then I accidentally pulled the hose out of the trigger handle while the water and power were still switched on. Bingo! The motor activated and water came spurting out of the bare hose end. I didn’t get round to cleaning the car in the end.

So in summary, just in case you can’t get your Karcher working and it appears to be totally dead, just turn everything on, then press the yellow lock button and pull off the trigger handle.

 

[EmilysDad]

My K4 Karcher is piddling water out at the bottom too ..... but mine is way out of warranty. Karcher do a fixed price repair but the price to me is too high when you can buy a new jet wash not not much more.

 

[Blobcat]

A lot of them die because they freeze in the winter..

 

[micky.]

My K4 Karcher is piddling water out at the bottom too ..... but mine is way out of warranty. Karcher do a fixed price repair but the price to me is too high when you can buy a new jet wash not not much more.

It's annoying isn't it? These are meant to be a premium product, they certainly cost a lot more than other brands. When mine failed last year, it had fallen on its back the last time I packed it away, and I think this broke something inside. Obviously it should be able to withstand falling over, but it suggests there's a defective internal part. It might be an easy fix. Have you thought about opening it up to have a look inside?

 

[rorywquin]

A lot of them die because they freeze in the winter..

Yep ....if you store it in your shed, make sure you drain it before winter.

 

[EmilysDad]

.... Have you thought about opening it up to have a look inside?

Already have but there was nothing obvious

 

[Wighty]

There is a £10 capacitor inside that is sometimes worth a cheap repair attempt if nothing works at all

 

[Wighty]

Already have but there was nothing obvious

I think they can develop hairline cracks in the black plastic housings that leak water but are hard to see without them running

 

[Blobcat]

Yep ....if you store it in your shed, make sure you drain it before winter.

Mine are in the garage, I keep them in a double cardboard box and blankets over the top. Not lost one like that, but I did lose one previously due to frost.

 

[LostKiwi]

My Nilfisk has lived outdoors for the past 6 years. Still going strong.

 

[AnthonyUK]

I've kept all my Karchers indoors over the years and never had an issue. Even the cheapy K2 still works fine after 6-7 years although it is now with a relative.
For car washing a K2 is adequate and can often be found on the outlet for around £50.
I have a K4 full control now and notice no difference tbh but it is better for for cleaning the patio etc.

 

[EmilysDad]

I've kept all my Karchers indoors over the y .....

I never had an issue with the previous Karcher when that also lived in my shed, but this one only lasted a few years before dying

 

[AnthonyUK]

I never had an issue with the previous Karcher when that also lived in my shed, but this one only lasted a few years before dying

You only need one hard frost in an unheated shed. Any water left inside will freeze and expand cracking parts.
As we know, water can burst pipes when it freezes so can be pretty damaging.

 

[EmilysDad]

Anyway ... I'm waiting till such times I can use my B&Q card in the store to get another ... I can get 8% off with it

 

[micky.]

Anyway ... I'm waiting till such times I can use my B&Q card in the store to get another ... I can get 8% off with it

Are you going to get another Karcher?

 

[EmilysDad]

Are you going to get another Karcher?

probably ..... otherwise I'd have accessories that won't fit other makes

 

[Blobcat]

Anyway ... I'm waiting till such times I can use my B&Q card in the store to get another ... I can get 8% off with it

I'd check elsewhere as well, discount on a higher base price still equates to more folding leaving your pocket...

 

[V6Matty]

You can always give somewhere like John Pye auctions a try as well if you want to save some folding, they are often shop returned items or repaired but customer already received a new one

 

[John Laidlaw]

My K4 Full control is on year 4 now, I must admit when I first got it, it felt cheap rubbish and I doubted I'd get a year from it!
It lives in the garage and is always drained which probably helps.
Back to OP, I don't rate the washer applied products personally (apart from Snow Foam of course), it's just not possible to apply correctly.....

 

[micky.]

You can always give somewhere like John Pye auctions a try as well if you want to save some folding, they are often shop returned items or repaired but customer already received a new one

Problem with the auctions is that you don’t get any warranty. I got my K4 with a full set of tools from the Amazon Warehouse, £105 brand new and unused, it just had an open/damaged box. It included a three year warranty which proved to be very valuable.