Honda Pressure Washer Troubleshooting Problems
Resolving Honda Pressure Washer Troubleshooting Issues
Honda pressure washers are high-quality, reliable pieces of pressure washing equipment. They help clean even the most stubborn dirt from outdoor areas with ease. However, even the best pieces of machinery can suffer from problems and mechanical issues at some point in their lifespan, and Honda pressure washers are no different.
Fortunately, all Honda pressure washer models follow relatively similar construction principles. Here at Best of Machinery, we’ve put together several simple troubleshooting options you can use to solve many of the problems with most models of Honda pressure washers.
Engine Won’t Start
The engine is the most complex part of any Honda pressure washer, meaning it’s the area where most problems occur. If you can’t get the engine to start, there are a few simple steps you can follow to check what’s wrong.
First, check you’re using the correct starting procedure. This is one of the areas where Honda pressure washers vary the most, so it’s important to check the manual for your specific model to determine whether you’re starting it up correctly. Then, check various interior options.
The engine could be flooded. Try cranking it while the choke is in. If you can smell gas when you do this, leave the engine for 10 minutes or so to drain before you try again.
The air filter may be too dirty to function properly. Open the filter compartment and clean the filter according to the manual’s recommendations. This will require either soap and water or compressed air.
Engine Stalls
If the engine of your Honda pressure washer starts up but stalls or runs but slower than it should, your problem is probably a blockage in one or more of the air passages. The easiest way to fix this is to clean or replace the air filters to clear up the airflow. However, if the problem continues after cleaning the air filters, you probably have a problem with the carburetor of your Honda pressure washer. This means you should take your pressure washer for professional servicing as soon as possible.
Water Leaking from Inside
If water is leaking from inside your Honda pressure washer, you’ve probably got a problem with the internal plastic components. This is often caused by leaving the washer idle over the winter without draining it properly. This causes the water left inside to freeze, expanding and splitting the plastic elements of the pressure washer.
Unfortunately, there’s no simple home repair option for this problem, as elements of the Honda pressure washer have been physically broken. But the good news is you can replace any broken parts! Check the Honda manufacturer’s website for more details on this.
No Water From the Sprayer
If no water is coming out of the spray nozzle of your Honda pressure washer, there might be an issue with the water flow. First, check you’ve connected it correctly to the water source (such as a tap) before turning the engine on. Then, if the issue persists, inspect the hose for kinks. Sharp kinks in the water hose can prevent water from flowing into your Honda pressure washer, so it’s important to check it and make sure the hose is free from kinks, allowing water to flow through smoothly and freely.
Low Pressure
If the water pressure falls too low, it won’t wash anywhere near as effectively when you use it. There are several possible reasons for this! For example, the nozzle may be blocked, preventing water from moving through properly. To repair this, switch off the pressure washer, remove the nozzle, and flush water through it to clean it.
A minor filter blockage can also prevent water from flowing through effectively. In this situation, follow the same steps as above. Switch off the pressure washer, remove the filter, and wash it by hand.
Alternatively, you may have chosen the wrong setting on your nozzle. Check which setting you’re using. The soap cleaning setting has a much wider aperture than a high-pressure water nozzle and won’t provide anywhere near as much pressure. Adjusting the nozzle settings can make a significant difference to the pressure of your washer!
Pressure Falls Rapidly
If your Honda pressure washer starts running well, but then the pressure rapidly falls, the problem could be with a hose or the water source. Start by checking whether your water supply is powerful enough. Measure the gallons it produces per minute by filling buckets. Compare this number to the requirements for your Honda pressure washer.
Alternatively, one of the hoses you’re using may have a minor kink in it, choking out the water flow, or it might be leaking, preventing the pressure from building up properly. Check all your hoses and replace any that are damaged.
No Soap
The Honda pressure washer’s soap injection mechanism is a separate mechanical component. This means it can fail in a number of ways, distinct from the main body of the washer. The most common problem is simply that you’ve forgotten to change the nozzle set to a soap-appropriate one. Higher pressure washing settings won’t draw soap into the tube, which might make you think something major has gone wrong.
Alternatively, the soap injector itself may be the problem. Start by checking that the soap injector valve has been switched on! If it has, and there’s still no sign of any soap, disassemble the injector and clean it thoroughly. Soap residue can prove a significant problem.
Conclusion
If you follow the above instructions, you should be able to troubleshoot many of the most common Honda pressure washer problems. Get back to keeping clean with ease!