A4 Avant Windscreen Washer malfunction Help wanted

[frabro]

My 2003 A4 Avant 2.5 TDI Quatrro Sport washers to both rear and front screens have both stopped working having probably been frozen. They are no longer frozdn but don't work .Can anyone advise where best to start as I don' have a manual. Do they have separate pumps and do they have over load cutouts or do they rely on fuses?

[mikeybutch]

I have the same model only SE and the manual says jets are heated when ignition on.The fuse for this is the second from the left on the top full row of 7 a 5 amp.the pump is the middle of the bottom row of three 25 amp.Check for blockage of the rear jet You can easily pop the nozzle of to clean it inside I did mine 2 weeks ago and found it to bebunged up!

[frabro]

I have the same model only SE and the manual says jets are heated when ignition on.The fuse for this is the second from the left on the top full row of 7 a 5 amp.the pump is the middle of the bottom row of three 25 amp.Check for blockage of the rear jet You can easily pop the nozzle of to clean it inside I did mine 2 weeks ago and found it to bebunged up!

Many Thanks, it may be the sport , which is not so high spec as the SE doesn't have the heated jets but I'll know where to start on the fuses in the morning

[spartacus 68]

Could be you've popped the washer pipe off the pump. Fairly common if the pipes are frozen at this time of year. If you can hear the pump but no water, the pipe enters the car at the passenger side (under plastic side footwell trim). Could have disconnected here or at the washer reservoir itself.

No pump sound - then check the main fuse box.

[Two Audi family]

Hi,

I also have a B6 2.5TDi Avant Quattro sport and had the same problem in the summer. It turned out to be a dead short on the pump that operates the (xenon) headlamp washers. The way it was checked was to replace the fuse for the washers then with all the lights off operate the washers. The washers then worked on the front and rear screens (the headlight washers only operate when the side lights or headlights are on. Put the lights on and operate the washers and they will blow the fuse and none of the washers worked. If you then replace the fuse, as long as you dont operate the washers with the lights on, the screenwash (front and back), will work OK.

The pump had to be replaced and they are located under the nearside (kerb) front wing. Not that easy to get at. There are 2 motors and it was the front one causing the problem. Since it has been replaced I have had no problem. It initially confused the audi dealer technician who had not seen the fault previously.

Hope this helps

Regards

TAF

[frabro]

Hi,

I also have a B6 2.5TDi Avant Quattro sport and had the same problem in the summer. It turned out to be a dead short on the pump that operates the (xenon) headlamp washers. The way it was checked was to replace the fuse for the washers then with all the lights off operate the washers. The washers then worked on the front and rear screens (the headlight washers only operate when the side lights or headlights are on. Put the lights on and operate the washers and they will blow the fuse and none of the washers worked. If you then replace the fuse, as long as you dont operate the washers with the lights on, the screenwash (front and back), will work OK.

The pump had to be replaced and they are located under the nearside (kerb) front wing. Not that easy to get at. There are 2 motors and it was the front one causing the problem. Since it has been replaced I have had no problem. It initially confused the audi dealer technician who had not seen the fault previously.

Hope this helps

Regards

TAF


Thanks , it turned out to be the fuse blown and fortunately both pumps are still serviceable. I suspect the load when the screen wash is icing up and one is constantly using the washers front and rear with the lights on causes an overload . Apparently Audi now suggest the 25 amp fuse is replaced with a 30 which supposedly mitagates the problem Here's hoping

Regards

[Two Audi family]

Hi Frabro,

Glad it turned out to be something cheap!! My bill was about £150!!

Happy new year

TAF

[mikeybutch]

Did you find a fuse for the heated washers?My sons sport has them .They should not have ffrozen up may be they need agood clean with all the winter muck about

[frabro]

Just shows he diference in cars, this one doesn't have heated washer jets

[mikeybutch]

We agree that it seems that this is another optional extra but seems odd that a german car would not make them standard to cope with cold conditions

[toff]

Check for blockage of the rear jet You can easily pop the nozzle of to clean it inside I did mine 2 weeks ago and found it to bebunged up!

Hi, Are you talking about the rear washer jet? Do I just pull the plastic cowling off (from the outside of the car) to gain access to it?

Cheers
Al.

[mikeybutch]

Yes the cowling unclips then you pop off the nozzle with a screwdriver blade and clean itout from inside

[sbt]

i have heated washer jets but when it gets realy cold they make no difference its the water in the tubes supplying the jets that freezes rendering the heated jets useless

[mikeybutch]

Same here today but perhaps some stronger wash solution may help or it may be a good flush to remove any blockages Is it the exposed pipe to the bonnet which freezes ?If so perhaps it can do with some more insulation.It is not good travelling far without working washers.Before the were invented we used to carry asqueegy bottle with some soapy water but this means hanging the right arm out of the window and having a good aim not to be recommended on todays motorways.

[toff]

Yes the cowling unclips then you pop off the nozzle with a screwdriver blade and clean itout from inside

Thanks,

Turns out my rear washer jets were 100% bunged-up with crud!

I've made a little how-to guide whilst I went about unblocking them.

Click here to see it (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=87959)

Al.

[Oldfart]

Hi.

The cold weather is testing out my Audi facilities. Everything is standing up to the adverse weather except the windscreen washers, which although tthey are being fed with a solution of 75% washer fluid, the hoses are iced up. Has anybody any ideas which are simple and work?

Additionally my car is a 1998 Avant Quattro and does it have heated washers jets and is the off side mirror the only heated one of the two external mirrors

[toff]

It's not supposed to be very good for your paintwork, but you could try an even higher concentration of washer fluid.

Also, not all washer fluids are equal.. read the bottle next time you're choosing and buy the one that can withstand the lowest temperature.

Apart from that, make sure your jets are as clear as possible - you may have already seen it, I've made a little how-to (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=87959) guide.

I thought if you had the heated wing mirrors, both should heat-up, not just one. You will probably find that you need to replace the mirror (expect a heated mirror to cost around £30 - £40 from the dealerhsip) It'd be worth taking the mirror out first to inspect the state of the connections.

To get the mirror out, tilt the glass so it's pointing towards the ground as much as possible; you should then be able to get your fingers behind and pull the mirror off - careful now!

Al.

[sbt]

Hi.

The cold weather is testing out my Audi facilities. Everything is standing up to the adverse weather except the windscreen washers, which although tthey are being fed with a solution of 75% washer fluid, the hoses are iced up. Has anybody any ideas which are simple and work?

Additionally my car is a 1998 Avant Quattro and does it have heated washers jets and is the off side mirror the only heated one of the two external mirrors

ok i will tell you what i have had success with regards the frozen tubes its entirely up to you weather you do it open the bonnet you will see a rubber seal around the battery compartment take this off and remove the plastic bulkhead cover this seal prevents engine heat reaching the washer tubes they dont work straight away obviously you have to build up some heat from the engine then as you drive forward heat from the engine leaves the engine bay through the gap where you have removed the seal from and bathes the tubes in warm air this is only a tempory measure whilst this unusually cold snap is on before i done this i could drive 21 miles to work and still my washers would not work when i arived . now in about 3 miles they are working fine . as regards the mirrors i am pritty sure both are heated not sure about the heated washer jets my car is an a6 2.8 quattro avant and it as heated jets i am not sure but i think its part of the winter pack ? hope this helps

[Borab0y]

I dont think mine are heated either, gonna check at the weekend cos I'm a little annoyed at them freezing, even with 90% pure screenwash now.

[sbt]

I dont think mine are heated either, gonna check at the weekend cos I'm a little annoyed at them freezing, even with 90% pure screenwash now.


its not the jets that freeze they may be working fine its the tubes that feed them with washer fluid that freezes somebody at audi had the bright idea of clipping them to the bonnet which transfers the cold from the freezing steel to the tube