How to unblock washer jets A8/S8 D2/D3

[cathedral60]

Been reading alot of forums over the years and a common problem that seems to reoccur is block washer jets. So cause most A8/S8 have headlight ones as well I thought I'd share the one tip that works every time regardless of make or model of car,

Its really simple all you have to do is dissolve a calgon tablet in some hot water and pour that into the washer jet fluid bottle. leave for approx 10 mins and try your washers. Will work every time.

Saves alot time removing wheel arch covers to get to the washer bottle pump and trying to trace the washer lines. And is totally safe so can be done at winter service time even if jets are not blocked. Prevention is better than cure

[cathedral60]

has any member tried this yet? just out of interest

[lecoste_ray]

i've tried it once and its works wonders..

[A8L Chick]

I must be the only person this didn't work for-in fact-it made the washers on my D3 totaly give up the ghost. I need to pull them apart now

[cathedral60]

Really?
Did you use the powder version or the tablet form?
Cause once I had a BMW 530d and poured some spoonfuls of the powder stuff straight into the wash bottle just clogged it right up. Had to suck the stuff out again and flushed with hot water. Eventually it cleared and the washers worked brill from then on

[A8L Chick]

No I dissolved the tablet form in hot water-poured it into the washer bottle, and squirted through-after 10 mins my washe pump is squeeling it's balls off and no water from the jets

[billblank]

no workie here either. Bah.

[A8L Chick]

OK, I thought I would update this thread, because I had to diagnose why my washer jets were blocked, and I might save someone the hassle of replacing the washer pump like I did unnecessarily.

If you remove the wheel & carpet half wheel arch liner (o/s), you will have access to the whole washer bottle.
You can see the pump, which can simply be unplugged and removed (you might get a little wet if your washer bottle is full)
Once the pump is out, you will see a little rubber seal (where the pump pick-up was removed from).

Pull this little rubber gromet out carefully-as it has a little plastic mesh filter on it, voila! It'll probably be absolutely clogged like mine was with green algae looking stuff.

I cleaned mine off with an old toothbrush, and while the pump & gromet were off the washer bottle, I stuck the garden hose into the filler and flushed the bottle to remove all the disgusting dirt that had accumulated in the bottom of the bottle.

I fitted a new pump while I was there, but I didnt "need" to.

Re-assemble and you'll probably have nice powerfull washer jets again

Thought I would share this easy peezy 10min fix with you all.

Bex

[cathedral60]

Thats what always happens. The pump filter over time gets clogged with algae type substance, due to screenwash and stuff. Thats why using the calgon tablet thingy works to help reduce this build up, reducing the need to remove the wheel arches etc.

You have to watch sometime when cleaning the washer system, cause believe it or not the washer system can harbor legionnaires disease

Glad you got sorted though its a bugger when they dont work

[A8L Chick]

Originally Posted by cathedral60

Thats what always happens. The pump filter over time gets clogged with algae type substance, due to screenwash and stuff. Thats why using the calgon tablet thingy works to help reduce this build up, reducing the need to remove the wheel arches etc.

You have to watch sometime when cleaning the washer system, cause believe it or not the washer system can harbor legionnaires disease

Glad you got sorted though its a bugger when they dont work

Indeed, most washer systems carry that disease, I have to be particularly careful in my job.

The calgon tab didn't help at all-in fact it made mine worse lol. But it was only a 10 min job which even the simplest of people can master so I thought I'd share with those who have the same trouble

Bex