headlight washer cover broken

[2.7 S-line]

my car has gone in for a warranty repair today - little hinged flap covering the headlight washer had started to not close after the wash jet had been used - simple repair one would think......

nope, whole new bumper needed as the hinge for the flap has broken and it's part of the bumper panel - ah well will get rid of a few of the stone chips !

the service guys said they'd seen a few of these before - as soon as i mentioned the problem they said i'd need a new panel and go it ordered for me - so if you have washers and the little doors don't close make sure you get them sorted before the warranty expires ! - don't know what the new panel/spray job/fitting etc would have come to but i'm pretty sure i wouldn't have been pleased

[Ardy]

I bet that was due to the cold weather. I noticed mine popped out a few times or didn't close properly but once it warmed up they seemed to settle back into place!

Will now check there actually still working!

[2.7 S-line]

think it started about 2 months ago - i put off getting it sorted as i had a service due so thought it could be sorted during the service - had to rebook it as parts were needed so perhaps would have been wiser in retrospect to have got it inspected a few weeks prior to the service so i'd only be without my car once

its going to be in for at least 3days - i assume this is because the new bumper will need to be resprayed to match the bodywork - been put in an a4 s-line while mines in but its a manual which is a pain

[Red 2]

My car also off the road for 2 days to have a headlamp washer replaced. Refusing to retract properly.

[jon_iz]

Has anyone else had this occur - I'd be interested to hear from you if you have had the hinge on your headlamp washer cover snap and require a new bumper?

[martinfoy]

Yes , happened to me ,flap just not quite closing , Glasgow Audi said it needed a new bumper !

[martinfoy]

Has anyone else had this occur - I'd be interested to hear from you if you have had the hinge on your headlamp washer cover snap and require a new bumper?

Hi Jon ,

Have to reply to your PM here as my post count isnt high enough to reply.

My car is a 10 plate A4 s line which i bought in Aug last year and its going in next week for a new bumper costing 700 pounds, incredible to think for the washer cover being such a small part, and all that was needed was some gentle fingertip pressure for it to close flush with the bumper. Glasgow Audi say its not covered by warranty due to previous accident damage! I bought the car from Wearside Audi and they have agreed to pay , although they tried to argue the bumper brackets ( or something similar ) just needed refitting.

Martin.

[albion80]

yes my drivers side washer doesnt retract automatically - also requiring a very gentle push! Surely theres some easy diy way to sort this? Must be a sticking mechanism?

[jon_iz]

yes my drivers side washer doesnt retract automatically - also requiring a very gentle push! Surely theres some easy diy way to sort this? Must be a sticking mechanism?

Is it the washer cover or the washer jet mechanism that is not retracting?

[albion80]

Is it the washer cover or the washer jet mechanism that is not retracting?

Good point - need to do some further investigating

[Eddo1968]

It's normal in Paris to see VWs and Audis with these little washer flaps missing. As Parisians are incapable of parking without whacking the adjacent cars I suppose the flaps just pop out when they've been hit enough times. This is the main reason why I never park on the street here!

[albion80]

Is it the washer cover or the washer jet mechanism that is not retracting?
Looks like its the flap not closing, preventing the washer from retracting - seems the flap wedges under the washer because if I very gently pull the flap down away from contact with the washer, it then retracts..

So yeh - looks like its the flap lol..

So as mentioned - will I have to replace the entire front end of the car to fix this? lol

[2.7 S-line]

Looks like its the flap not closing, preventing the washer from retracting - seems the flap wedges under the washer because if I very gently pull the flap down away from contact with the washer, it then retracts..

So yeh - looks like its the flap lol..

So as mentioned - will I have to replace the entire front end of the car to fix this? lol

if it is the same fault i had then a new bumper was needed

though if your warranty period had passed it is an expensive repair - i'm not sure what one of those plastic repair type companies could accomplish....

[jon_iz]

Looks like its the flap not closing, preventing the washer from retracting - seems the flap wedges under the washer because if I very gently pull the flap down away from contact with the washer, it then retracts..

So yeh - looks like its the flap lol..

So as mentioned - will I have to replace the entire front end of the car to fix this? lol

It depends.
I have read on other forums that the washer can just need re-positioning to make it retract.
The issue is once the washer has retracted, does the cover close properly on it's own, without you helping it?
If it doesn't, gently open it to check the hinges and lugs. If they are good, it will pivot cleanly against it's spring, if not, it will wobbly side to side slightly.
Try comparing it against the other side, you cab pull it down gently with a thumb nail or a thin credit card.
If the lugs are broken, then you will be able to see them move with the hinge arm of the cover.
If they do, welcome to my world, new bumper time.
:mad:

[albion80]

*UPDATE*
After inspection, it looks as though the offending article is the washer itself,

Comparing it with the other side, it pulls and pushes with far less resistance, leading me to think that maybe the winding mechanism has lost its grip with the washer, meaning the flap wedges it when its out,

If this is the case, surely something other than replacing the whole bumper can be done???

*UPDATE 2*

FIXED!!!!!
If anyone else gets this issue, grab hold of the washer periscope and drench it with suitable lube ( I used Wurth ULTRA 2040 PTFE non-silicone) then plunge it in and out a few times so that the lube gets down into the mechanism

Hope this helps!

J

[NHN]

TBH the newer design of just having the flap fixed to the bumper is ok, but as said if the flap fixings get broken maybe from weathering, brittle, which they shouldnt, then yeap its a new bumper, whole point was to make taking the bumper of easier, but still leaving fogs part of the bumper was a bad move as you still have to pee about with unplugging the looms anyway, so defeats the object imho, also the fixings for the caps arent maybe imho strong enough, they are just 2 studs you push the cap fixings into with a very flimsy wound spring, it works, but could be better.

I recently did a headlight washer system install for a customer & had to adjust the bumper socket where the caps sat in as it sat proud, audi's QC is lacking tbh of recent years.

As for the jets, although you shouldnt manually pull the jets out as it can affect the sping pressure, but if it works then all good for us, but they make a big deal of warning you, dont pull them out manually.

[albion80]

TBH the newer design of just having the flap fixed to the bumper is ok, but as said if the flap fixings get broken maybe from weathering, brittle, which they shouldnt, then yeap its a new bumper, whole point was to make taking the bumper of easier, but still leaving fogs part of the bumper was a bad move as you still have to pee about with unplugging the looms anyway, so defeats the object imho, also the fixings for the caps arent maybe imho strong enough, they are just 2 studs you push the cap fixings into with a very flimsy wound spring, it works, but could be better.

I recently did a headlight washer system install for a customer & had to adjust the bumper socket where the caps sat in as it sat proud, audi's QC is lacking tbh of recent years.

As for the jets, although you shouldnt manually pull the jets out as it can affect the sping pressure, but if it works then all good for us, but they make a big deal of warning you, dont pull them out manually.

I did hesitate when tackling the washer jet issue but decided the pros outweighed the cons, especially with the prospect of it becoming damaged anyway by being wedged, stuck out at 75mph on the m4 or forgetting to push it back in and it becoming knocked or vandalised whilst parked! Thanks for the info tho!

[hawkesbaynz]

Currently glueing an offending broken stud back onto the bumper on my 58 plate A4 S-line. A mechanic friend did this for me last summer and it lasted a few month (doubt my bodge will).

Anyone know if the headlamp washing mechanism can be turned off my the computer? Damned if I am going to spend £700 on an unnecessary repair. Does not effect the use of the car

[NHN]

It can be disabled, but mot bay will test it as its present & fail you because of this.

[Mcdxb]

Currently glueing an offending broken stud back onto the bumper on my 58 plate A4 S-line. A mechanic friend did this for me last summer and it lasted a few month (doubt my bodge will).

Anyone know if the headlamp washing mechanism can be turned off my the computer? Damned if I am going to spend £700 on an unnecessary repair. Does not effect the use of the carI wanted to disable this flap and came across this post.

Did you ever manage to actually disable it?

I want to stick a number plate over it so I don't want it to come out anymore.

Do you know how I go about disabling this?

Thanks.

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[b206]

You can probably disable this with VCDS - but as has been mentioned, your car will fail its MOT.

Your only option is to fix - if it's the flap type you will struggle to find a cheap fix (eBay, breakers for secondhand bumper). Or if it's the type attached to the washer, you should be able to buy a new jet. Audi replaced mine under warranty - think the part was £55 ish.

[Mcdxb]

You can probably disable this with VCDS - but as has been mentioned, your car will fail its MOT.

Your only option is to fix - if it's the flap type you will struggle to find a cheap fix (eBay, breakers for secondhand bumper). Or if it's the type attached to the washer, you should be able to buy a new jet. Audi replaced mine under warranty - think the part was £55 ish.Thanks. I'm in Dubai so we don't have that MOT problem.

I believe it only activates when the headlights are on and the washers are activated.

As is hardly rains here in Dubai I don't think I'd ever use it anyway.

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