Polo Rear Washer Not Working

**cameraman** · 05-12-2008,02:49 PM

The Wifes '54 plate Polo Twist Sdi has a slight problem, as per the title the rear washer is not working, the washer fluid dribbles out from below the front of the car, so I assume the pipe has become disconnected from the washer bottle somehow.

Anyone know how to get at it to check/repair the connection

, I'd rather have a bash myself than pay VW the £40 that I've been quoted.

**Flash2** · 05-12-2008,09:53 PM

Hey Cameraman.
This is a common fault on the older Polos. Look in the engine bay on the passenger side. Low down on the bulkhead you'll see the ABS pump (big square lump with pipes attached). If you reach your hand down between the pump and the bulkhead you should find the washer hose. There is a connection down there that comes apart.

Also have a look in the boot. Pull the trim back on the passenger side and you will see 3 electrical connectors. There is another washer hose connection above the electrical connectors. This connection comes apart too and leaks water onto the electrics.

Once you get those two fixed, watch for water leaking out the bottom of the tailgate trim. The washer hose usually comes adrift at the wiper motor too. That leaks water onto the switch on the tailgate latch.

Hope that helps.

Regards - Jim

**cameraman** · 05-12-2008,10:55 PM

the water comes out from the aera of the washer bottle so i'll have a look down there 1st, thanks for the advice

VinceVegaUK · 09-12-2008,03:30 PM

Hi, im new to the forums but need similer help.

With the current icy spell i also have a leak coming from my rear washer under the front of ther car, i have exprienced the one in the boot and know where to fix it, is the pipe connection the same in the engine bay?

I can feel the spray and can see all the foam from the wash fluid i just can seam to get my hands on the pipe, also is there a perminant solution? When the car was under warrenty VW had a look at it for free (as i didnt know what the problem was) after i discoverd they just put a cable/zip tie around the clip join in the one in the boot but it didn't hold for long.

I guess its just best to always have high freeze screen wash, i bought some -8 premix from Halfords.

Thanks

VV

**Flash2** · 09-12-2008,07:51 PM

Hi Vince. Yeah the connection in the engine bay is the same as the one in the boot. The correct VW fix it to fit a little metal hose clip around the joint.

If you look in the engine bay, down low on the bulkhead on the N/S you should see the ABS pump. The washer hose from the tailgate comes through the bulkhead just behind the ABS pump. The other end routes from the bottle up the inner wing and round behind the ABS pump from right to left. You should find the bottle end of the connection on the inner wing. I'd reroute the hose across the front of the pump. Removing the air filter box will make it a little easier to get at the hose (at least it does on the 1.2 engines).

Hope that helps ya.

Jim.

VinceVegaUK · 09-12-2008,10:48 PM

Yep mine is the measly 1.2, 3 cylinder but it gets me from AtoB, wish i had a Leon K1 :-p

Thanks so much, with the dark night will check it at the weekend.

Later

VV

**stork1968** · 18-01-2009,09:17 PM

I have a washer fluid leak inside the tailgate on my 2002 (02-reg) Polo 1.2E 65.

How do I remove the tailgate trim to get to the washer hose connection? I've had a go at pulling it off (gently) but it's not obvious where the clips are, and I don't want to break them.

And what's likely to be wrong with the connection? Does it just push on, or might there be a clip or other part which needs replacing?

VinceVegaUK · 19-01-2009,09:51 AM

Hi Stork,

With this cold spell I didn’t put enough screen antifreeze mix in either (bought Halfords -8 now so not frozen so far).

All 3 locations (unless there is more I don’t know about) popped off a few weeks ago and I had to chase them up and clip them back together. (Its just a simple plastic bullet type clip that you can push together by hand)

If you have a wet looking boot lock after you have tried to use the rear washer then the final washer clip that attaches to the main nozzle which is behind the boot trim has popped off. So you need to remove the boot trim, first unscrew the two screws that are inside the two boot trim handles then get your fingers in the side edge of the boot trim where the cream window surround meets the black larger boot trim. Ease it off and you should find it pops off quite easily; it’s easier if you work it from both sides. They are just a series of metal fold clips that pop on and off so with a firm but carful pull it will all come off easily.

However if you have wet carpet in your boot the second washer clip could be loose, this is located behind the carpet on the left side of the boot just above the wheel arch and behind the rear light. If your polo is the same as mine it’s where there is a little metal bracket and rubber strap (that would probably hold a tool kit or fie extinguisher if it where there)

The final location that I’m aware off which could be leaking and would be shown by seeing fluid poor onto the road from the engine bay is situated on top of the front left wheel arch underneath the air filter and power steering pump. It’s a bitch to get to, I had to remove the air filter (the large black plastic box on the right side as you look at it near the battery) to get to it, once I did I feed the pipe around the front of the power steering pump so now if it ever pops off again I can get to it easily.

Good luck its not too hard to do and if your confident enough to do its deffo worth doing yourself unless you have a friendly garage that won’t charge you otherwise it could cost you a few £££ for something so simple.

Thanks

VV

PS put better screen antifreeze mix in

**stork1968** · 19-01-2009,08:49 PM

Vince

Thank you for the comprehensive reply -- it gives me some confidence that I might be able to sort it out myself. I'll take a closer look at the car when I can take the time to do this in daylight.