Headlight washers not working (edit)

[Iain_S4]

I have taken my bumper off a couple of times recently. After the first time the headlight washers were not working and I assumed that I had simply nipped the hose somewhere and fluid wasn't getting to them. However, on taking off the bumper I couldn't see anywhere where it looked like it was trapped and also when refitted the second time I am certain its not nipped anywhere. It has also had plenty time for the lines to fill with fluid and bleed through.

I haven't checked to see if there is an issue with the pump and it'll be something I check next time the bumper is off. However, all was working until the first time I took the bumper off.

Has anyone had similar and what was the fix?

[sar]

can you hear the pump working?

[Iain_S4]

Not sure. I've not tried as the headlight washer pump will only work when the windscreen one is already running.

[Timster]

Without wishing to state the obvious.... “you have switched the headlights on ?”
They only work with them on, IIRC (and you hold the stalk for more than 1 second)

[neilparf]

Without wishing to state the obvious.... “you have switched the headlights on ?”
They only work with them on, IIRC (and you hold the stalk for more than 1 second)

1. Headlights on. Not in auto mode
2. Connection - check the pump is connected and the feed lines
3. Faulty pump

All of the above. Good luck.

[Iain_S4]

Without wishing to state the obvious.... “you have switched the headlights on ?”
They only work with them on, IIRC (and you hold the stalk for more than 1 second)

Yep I know that and I'm sure that I did . . . . . although I'm now doubting myself as it was a while ago and I've not specifically tried to test them since. Its probably about 5 weeks since I last took the bumper off so even if I did forget I would have expected that in daily use that there would have been sufficient usage of the washers with the headlights on for them to start working.

I'll check it out later and if you're right come back and face the embarrassment. . . . . easy fix or save face? . . . feck!

[Audi Pardner]

Pretty sure that when I refitted my bumper and tried to operate the light washers, it wasn't until I put the lights on that they worked

[Iain_S4]

Without wishing to state the obvious.... “you have switched the headlights on ?”
They only work with them on, IIRC (and you hold the stalk for more than 1 second)

Nope, still not working. Held them on for a long time in case it was taking time for the lines to fill although they should be by now. I'm pretty sure that I had checked the lights were on when trying to get them to work before.

[j1sgo]

You can get to the pump by taking the passenger side front arch lining off, you can check pump and power feed here, I bet it's the pump as mine had completely seized when I first bought the car

Just as well as guess by now you've had enough of removing the bumper

[neilparf]

That's sounding like the pump.

[Iain_S4]

You can get to the pump by taking the passenger side front arch lining off, you can check pump and power feed here, I bet it's the pump as mine had completely seized when I first bought the car

Just as well as guess by now you've had enough of removing the bumper

Thanks for the tip. I hadn't realised that (although I should have considered it after doing just that to replace the washer pump on my S4). Both times I've had the bumper off was off for other issues rather than the headlight washer. The bumper will be coming off again at some point when I get time (and correct parts) but getting to the pump from the wheelarch means I can try and get this fixed earlier. My only concern is that I'm sure all was ok before I took the bumper off the first time.

Its a pain but I'm getting quite good at removing the bumper now though

[neilparf]

I'm getting quite good at removing the bumper now though

+1

[RossDagley]

Did my first bumper removal a few weeks ago (and refitted it the other day). I consider myself fairly technically competent but the removal is the easy part. Refitting? Now that requires a level of skill mastered only by 20+ years of jedi training!

[Iain_S4]

It would appear that there is not any power going to the headlight washer pump. I get 11.8v on the windscreen washer pump but only 0.03v on the headlight washer pump. Headlights were on

Any suggestions?

[PetrolDave]

It would appear that there is not any power going to the headlight washer pump. I get 11.8v on the windscreen washer pump but only 0.03v on the headlight washer pump. Headlights were on

Any suggestions?

Did you operate the washers for long enough? The headlight washers don't turn on straight away, you have to have the headlights on and operate the washers for a few seconds.