Headlight washers and low washer fluid level warning

[Adrian E]

Hi all

My S8 is going back to the garage who replaced the mirrors tomorrow, as I noticed that the nearside headlight washer isn't popping up at all. The offside is definitely working fine. They had the bumper off and the arch liner out on the nearside to paint the door to remove the scratches.

I dropped in on Monday and they were happy to have it in to have a look, but I need to leave it there for the day as it'll be a couple of hours work.

I gather there's a fairly common issue with a kinked pipe for the headlight washers - does this sound like it's the probable cause? I do wonder if there's been some typical bodgery in there in the past that could do with being rectified properly. Any experience I can pass on would be handy.

On a related (and probably unconnected) subject, I have the low fluid warning light on all the time, despite there being plenty of fluid in there. The washers are working, although don't seem to be all that powerful across all the jets. The car had serious amounts of work done last year by a local specialist, including a replacement washer pump. Is the level sensor part of the pump itself? The garage who did the work have said they'll have it apart if needed, but suggested I let the weather warm up in case it's just frozen fluid in the sensor which might take a while to thaw out. It's less than a year since the pump was replaced, so if it is part and parcel the work should be covered FOC. It's a right pain in the @rse with it beeping every time you start it up and move off!

Adrian

[Adrian E]

Just to update this, the headlight washers have been re-piped and some previous bodgery undone - there was apparently acres of pipework not doing very much.

Took the car in to Camspec in Crawley today as they fitted a washer pump last year to the car, before I bought it. Unfortunately the pump cracked while they were trying to remove it to test, but because TPS have a no quibble parts warranty below a set value they are covering the cost of a new one +++ they've also ordered a pair of new washer nozzles as they're not giving a very good spread.

They also spotted that one of my front wheels is lightly buckled :( I can't feel it through the wheel so I may just leave it as it is - I'll end up doing it every couple of months otherwise!

[RanjS8]

Just to fill you in....

In the washer bottle there are two pumps....one for the windscreen washers and the others for the headlight washers.

There is pipework which goes from the headlight washer pump to the headlight washers. There is a push fit connector between the headlight washers and the pipework from the pump.

Now when the bumper is removed this pipework can get disturbed, or the headlight washer may not be sitting properly in the connector, and therefore leading to a leak. In which case washer fluid will leak out to a level where it is just below your leak point.

That is why the fluid level warning light is on, but u still have fluid in the bottle.

My hunch is that when the bumper was put back on the car, either the washer pipe was not connected properly or the headlight washer was not sitting properly in its connector.

You know the headlight washer pump is working because you will hear the motor running when you pull on your headlight washer stalk.

Good luck.....hope this helps


ps....its really easy to break those pumps when you are pulling it out of the bottle...done it once myself.....cos they are lodge in really tight

[RanjS8]

The washer level sensor has nothing to do with the washer pumps....

Further if your wheel was buckled you would definitely no about it.....you would get shaking in the steering wheel above a certain speed.....kind a like when the wheels are not balanced properly......if you are not getting those symptoms then you will be fine with what you have.....for the sake of sanity however....just rebalance the wheel and move it to the back and dont worry about it......

[Adrian E]

When the low warning came on it took no more than 0.5 litre to top it up to the maximum.

The headlight washers are now working perfectly, after the re-pipe.

The pump was cracked while trying to get it out, so that is being replaced FOC anyway under parts warranty along with a new seal. Garage told me the level sensor was integral to the pump, at least on my '02 S8 :Confused:

Car should be going back in on Tuesday - the pump is the last thing to come into stock! They have the seal and the pair of washer jets which I'm having done as well as they're a bit lacking in spray pattern.

On the wheel front, I'll see how many of the wheels need attention - he forgot to check them all before getting it off the hoist, so he said he'd let me have a look as well when I take it in again and he'll point out any problem areas on the wheels as we go round.

Given how bad the wheels are round here I'll just wait till I find another mega pothole and will file it with the council to try and get some money back. Luckily the tyres seem fine.

[Adrian E]

New screen washer pump fitted today and no low warning light for screenwash now +++ new washer jets fitted too, so all good

The buckled wheel is a proper job :( flat spotted almost! Will defo need to be repaired and can't believe I can't feel it through the steering!! Luckily my spare is OK, although needs a refurb, so I may opt to get the spare re-furbed and put the decent tyre back on that, then have the repaired wheel as the spare.....

[jayzee]

Lepsons will sort the buckle to better than new +++

[Norretal]

Adrian, did the new washer pump definitely solve your washer fluid level problem, or was it just coincidence and maybe a connection was remade properly when it was all fitted back together?

The reason I ask is that I had a washer pump replaced last year and it's all been fine until a couple of days ago when my fluid level warning light came on and I topped it up as normal. However, the level warning light has remained on, which is annoying but nothing more. The windscreen and headlamp washers are working fine and I'm not losing fluid through a leaking pipe or anything so I was just checking before I start investiagting further under the bonnet.

Thanks in advance, this was the only thread I could find with any reference to the problem I'm experiencing +++

[Adrian E]

A new pump under parts warranty has sorted it and never had a repeat of false warning since. Whether that was down to the part being replaced or dodgy connection I can't say as I didn't change the part myself

[Norretal]

Cheers, I'd suspected it's just a matter of eliminating things as I go but just wanted to check. I can't find any mention of anyone else experiencing this issue so I'll just have to check the connections etc first +++

[Dave McB]

I dont think my headlight washer jets work at all - does anyone know if they are controlled by motors or some other method?

[Norretal]

As I suspected I checked with the garage that fitted the washer pump last year and it's an awkward area to access so I guess I'm going to have to live with the washer bottle level warning display until something more significant requires fixing in that area :(

Dave, I don't know what model you've got but mine's a PF and all I know is that the headlights have to be switched on for the washers to work ;)

[PsYcHe]

They usually need to be switched on, and it doesn't squirt every time, usually about 1 in 10.

[Adrian E]

On the FL D2 if the headlights are on and it's not below a temperature threshold where they might be frozen they should always operate if you hold the wash function for over a second. They fire sequentially and work just on water pressure

If I let mine run low it can take quite a few goes at operating the washers before the headlights join in again!

[Dezzy]

There are 2 pumps in the bottle for cars fitted with headlight wash and it's about 7 litres to fill i think. To get to them you'll have to remove the airbox and i took head light out to give more room, can't remember if i took the arch liner out too i think i did. Pumps come out easily as they're just a push fit in the bottle. it's not a hard job at all, replaced mine recently.

Headlights need to be on either side or main and bottle has to have so much juice in it as it shuts off headlight wash when getting low so you have more for the screen.

Edit: I'm PF

[Adrian E]

Later cars I think only have 1 pump assembly although may be 2 motors contained in it.

[The_Laird]

Headlights need to be on either side ........

Yep, I've found that too! :D

[Norretal]

There are 2 pumps in the bottle for cars fitted with headlight wash and it's about 7 litres to fill i think. To get to them you'll have to remove the airbox and i took head light out to give more room, can't remember if i took the arch liner out too i think i did. Pumps come out easily as they're just a push fit in the bottle. it's not a hard job at all, replaced mine recently.


Edit: I'm PF

Howay Dezzy man, you're talking to a bloke that struggles to get the spare wheel in and out ;)

I've been informed the pump and level sender are one unit but the pump is working fine (and is an new OEM one fitted a year ago) so unless the pump packs in altogether it can stay as it is (annoying but bearable) until I get the enthusiasm to take a closer look at it.

[Architex_mA8tey]

Ron have you checked all the pipework between the washer bottle and the headlamp washers? from memory the same pump is used for both and the pipework just splits off and the tees and pipework is prone to either coming off or leaking which reduces the pressure to the headlamp washers and stops them coming up etc

[Norretal]

Hi Neil, the problem isn't with the washers (windscreen and headlamps) as they're all working fine, it's a "false" low level on the bottle which is the issue. It came on a few days ago so I topped up but it didn't clear so the DIS is constantly telling me I need to add washer fluid.

[Adrian E]

You get a 2 year parts warranty from TPS so if your garage bought it from them they can get you a replacement free of charge and they bill TPS for labour :)

[Norretal]

You get a 2 year parts warranty from TPS so if your garage bought it from them they can get you a replacement free of charge and they bill TPS for labour :)

Thanks for that Adrian, may be worth me following up on. I seem to remember they struggled to find me one and had to reluctantly go to Audi for a replacement. It was just prior to me discovering A8 Parts so I didn't realise I had an alternative. Regardless of whether it was TPS or Audi I suppose it should have some form of warranty on it, I'll investigate further +++

[Norretal]

Well that was an hour well spent, thanks Adrian +++

I spoke to my independant who bought and fitted the washer pump last year (a year to the day as it happens) and explained the issue I'm having. They checked the invoice and had bought it from TPS so they contacted TPS and confirmed it has a two year warranty but can only be replaced under warranty if the work is carried out by an Audi main dealer. The independant contacted the main dealer on my behalf and confirmed that they'll carry out the work F.O.C provided I provide proof of purchase of the defective pump. So, it's booked in for next Wednesday and will hopefully be sorted then.

Is this "standard procedure" because it seems too good to be true, especially where I'm concerned? I'm told if the value of the part is less that £50 they'll simply exchange the defective part for a new one but if the value is above £50 this triggers the requirement for the work to be carried out by an authorised main dealer. I don't recall reading any other examples of this on here but maybe it's the sort of thing you only see if you're looking for it. Regardless of that, it's good information to know and share, I for one may be about to benefit from it :)

[Adrian E]

Mine had the pump replaced by the independent who serviced my car before I bought it so I wasn't even the customer!

TPS wanted them to establish the cause before booking me in at the local main dealer, but because the pump fell apart on inspection they were authorised to replace it by TPS

Pump is about £100 iirc

Worth noting this only applies if the garage supply the parts - if you source your own parts from TPS and supply to your dealer you only get a 12 month warranty on parts and I'm not sure you get the same replacement policy?

The local Indy was definitely in favour of them sourcing parts for big jobs for that reason as for potentially no financial penalty or a very small one you get an extra warranty on the work, in effect

[Norretal]

They (TPS) told them to go ahead straight away so maybe there's a bit of history of them failing? The garage sourced it so no problem there and pump price is spot on, give or take a quid.

[Norretal]

All sorted today, washer pump replaced, recall (that I wasn't aware of) sorted and a decent report of what's wrong that could or should be rectified by my independent, not a bad result at all.

Oh, and a tin of sweets +++

[oldnick]

I notice from the handbook that my 2000FL has headlamp washers as an option .... I have the hatches in the bumper , but do I have the washers ? can't say I am bothered but am curious ...with my life style going out in the rain in the south of france isn't really on the agenda !
I read they only work with the headlights on ...is that correct ?
and how can I check if they are there ? is it safe to lever the hatches up ?

[HPsauce]

Yes, they pop up when in use. I think just due to the pressure, so purely mechanical (no servos).
Just turn the lights on and operate the washers for an extended period and you'll see spray all over the headlights, or ask someone to stand outside (well away) and observe.
If driving it's pretty obvious as the lights change and you get spray coming up all over the bonnet.

I have seen references to at least two different modes of instigation:
1. Every third (or so) operation of the windscreen washers
2. Only with an extended wash, about a second or more
Either way you need the lights on, headlights not just sidelights IIRC.

[Adrian E]

Yep, headlights on and pull the washer switch for over 1 second. You get a sequential spray to keep the pressure in the system, so one washer will operate ahead of the other :)

[oldnick]

thanks guys , I know I should RTFM but somehow ..........