Leak Help!

[Lukai]

After owning my Daytona Avant for just over a month, today I noticed the ground was a bit wet in front of the passenger side front wheel. Sure enough there is some sort of fluid dripping from the bodywork in front of the wheel arch.

I'm concerned that this could be a leak from the aux radiator, but the fluid seems to smell a lot like screen wash. The screen wash reservoir is on that side of the car, could that be the culprit?

I've put a bowl under to catch the fluid so I can get a better look at it. Does coolant smell similar to screen wash?

[TAB1S]

Hi Lukai, im no expert but from what I've read it's almost certainly the aux rad as it's very common on our cars, have a look through the fog light grill even pop it off & have a feel around lol, you should have a pretty good idea just from looking at it what condition its in.
Good luck

[Harris.]

Don't panic just yet as like you have said the washer bottle is located behind the bottom of the bumper passenger side. There is a rubber washer located at the bottom of the bottle that may be corroded or may have moved. I undone my bumper and jetted mine since then it's been fine.there was so much crud up there.

[MikeFish]

The aux rad is certainly a common problem, but if it smells like screenwash rather than coolant than it is most likely to be from the washer bottle / pipes. I've recently had to fill my washers up twice so I suspect I have a leak too.

[marc1]

There is a T (or L, can't remember) joint in the washer plumbing down inside the front bumper at the passenger side. You can just about see it through the two find in the bumper. It's notorious for leaking if the O-Ring gets pinched. Has the bumper been off for anything?

[Lukai]

Thanks for all the replies.

I've not had the bumper off within the month I've owned the car, and can't see any reason for it being removed in the recent history of the car.

I've had the fog light grills off the car and the aux rad seems in decent condition, so hopefully it sounds likely that it could be a problem with the washer bottle / pipes. I'm hoping a low screen wash warning will come on soon to let me know for sure.

I take it this will be fairly inexpensive to fix down at the dealers? Or is it something I'll be able to sort myself without much trouble?

[MikeFish]

I think you need to take the wheel arch liner to get to the washer bottle. On terms of cost it depends on what needs replacing but I'd imagine the parts are fairly reasonable as pretty sure they are the same as the whole A4 range so no RS tax. And I'd imainge it is possible to change most bits fairly easily, just might take a bit of time to remove bits eg bumper might need to come off.

[PaulT]

I had similar leak when bought mine last year. Can confirm that removing wheel arch liner gives access to the reservior and pump. Once you have the liner out you will be able to see if there is a leak from the pump or reservior. Pump is push fit in bottom of reservior and costs around £50 from audi. Pump includes a valve to send fluid to front or rear wash/wipe - this was leaking in my case. If i recall reservior is 2 piece design one part above wing in engine bay and one part under wing in arch - so there is join that can also leak, this was not problem for me.

[Dabber]

Mine did this it was one of the joints in the the arch liner from the washer system that had been rubbing on the inside of the bumper, I used a soldering iron on the plastic joint to reseal it an rerouted the connection.

Don't panic until you've had a peek lol might have a picture somewhere