I hve a karcher b203 washer and used once tried to use today but when using the lance the washer spray is intermitant. the water flows without the lance so there are no blockages ] any ideas.

When the power washer does not turn on, it is either due to no water flow or no electricity going to the power washer. In other words, either a water or electrical problem.
check water flow issue like this

1. The high pressure hose, spray gun and lance must be connected to the power washer.
2. The garden hose must be connected to the power washer using the garden hose adapter.
3. Turn the water completely on at the water faucet.
4. The power cord should not be plugged in.
5. Squeeze the trigger on the spray gun.
6. If there is water flow through the spray gun and lance shooting 10 - 25 feet, this confirms water flow is NOT the problem for the power washer not turning on.
7. If there is no water flow, perform the following troubleshooting procedures:
   a. Remove the lance, squeeze the trigger. If water flows, the lance is blocked. Use cleaning wire to clean the nozzle tip and try again.
   b. If no water flows with lance removed, turn the water off. Remove the spray gun from the high pressure hose. Turn the water on, if water flows, the gun is the problem. Reattach the gun, turn the water on and squeeze the trigger. Sometimes this unblocks the gun. If not, replace the spray gun.
   c. If no water flow with the gun removed, remove the high pressure hose, turn the water on to make sure there is no blockage in the hose. This is very unlikely but we need to make sure.
   d. If no water flows out of the water outlet, the quick connect garden hose adapter is problem. See Garden Hose Adapter troubleshooting.
8. For electrical solution check
9. The power switch was not turned on. Find the power switch and make sure the "-"side of the rocker switch is pushed down. "O" = Off and "¾" = On.
10. Next, make sure the power cord is plugged directly into an outlet and NOT into an extension cord. The directions do say not to use an extension cord.
11. Each time the power cord is plugged in to an outlet, the Reset button on the GFCI module must be pressed down to connect to electricity.
12. Check to see if the Reset button has been pressed.
13. Next, confirm the small plastic window below the Reset button shows RED in the window. The RED color is not a light but a RED screen that slides into the window when the Reset button is pressed down. Because it is not a light, it can be hard to see in low light. If you are unsure, press the TEST button down. If the GFCI was set and RED was in the window, you will hear and feel a "click."
14. The RED color must stay in the window once the button is released. This confirms there is electricity going to the power washer.
15. If the RED color goes away when the Reset button is released, there is NO electricity going to the unit. Try another outlet until the RED stays in the window.
16. Now if the unit turns ON for a second or two with the Reset button pressed and the power switched on, it is working as it should. All that is left to do at this point is to squeeze the trigger on the spray gun and the power washer will turn on. When the trigger is released, the power washer will turn off. This is due to the Total Stop System (TSS) that only turns the unit on when water is flowing through the power washer. When the trigger is released, water flow stops which the TSS sensed and immediately shuts the unit off. a) So to review, if the Reset button has been pressed and is holding and the power switch is ON, the power washer is supposed to start up for a second or two and immediately shut off. At this point all you need to do is squeeze the trigger; the unit will turn on.

check your lance nozzle is not blocked... Remove the lance from the trigger assy and see if you have water coming through then. If you do then the nozzle is blocked :@)

According to epowerwash.com:
"The unloader valve diverts water flow into bypass when the trigger gun valve is closed. Unloaders may be designed to respond to either an increase in pressure or a change in flow. The unloader valve may also be used for variable pressure adjustment."

More information here:
All About Unloader Valves ePowerWash

This sounds like you need to bleed the system of air. If you take off the lance and then hold the trigger untill you have a steady jet flow and then once this is achieved put the lance back on.

It could also be that something is blocking the nozzle of the lance.

Please try without the high pressure lance on. If this works then you may have a blocked jet in the lance.

hi,
there is a small ball bearing inside the nozzle on the end of the lance , this can get jammed or missaligned and the nozzle orifice can get blocked , clean this or replace the whole lance with another 200 Bar lance .

hope this helps

Hi Have you checked that your nozzle in the lance end is not blocked. Please try this and then try without the high pressure hose attached.

hi mark, you do have a problem with the lance.
you need to disconnect the lance and straighten a paper clip and insert down the nozzle end.
use the machine to wash the dirt in the nozzle backward down the lance.
Dirt only in nozzle end.
if still no good, purchase some nozzle cleaners and file out nozzle very slightly.

Dear Osville,
It is not clear what type of lance or nozzel you have. You said that the machine works fine with the circulating water jet(the turbo). So it seems the machine is fine. I do sometimes service variable nozzels and variable lances. But the best solution is to replace nozzels and variable nozzles and lances with new ones. Regarding the fan spray setting it could have no pressure because it might be in the chemical setting. The chemical setting lets out a fan shape flow of water, but with less pressure. The chemical system only works on low pressure in domestic washers, that is why it needs a low pressure flat spray. The pencil jet has 2 jets comming out because if it is a lance or nozzel with ball bearings, these ball bearings must have stuck in a wrong position. Also 2 jets can come out, due to a damaged nozzel hole.
Altogether, the best advice is to buy a new nozzel or lance...which ever your machine uses. All Karcher machines have their own specific nozzels, lances and high pressure hoses. You cannot change these from one model to another.
Regards,
Fulltech.

Go to this web site for a PDF owners manual for your pressure washer.


http://www.karcherresidential.com/support/downloads/pdfs/usermanuals/5962-0870.pdf