Washer Bottle

Post by **vw_nutta** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:46 am

I've got a leak with either the pipe that runs to the washer bottle or the bottle itself, not had time to really investigate but I'm just finding out if any of you guys has ever taken it out before? Is it a pain in the arse? It looks pretty jammed in with everything else.

Cheers

Post by **Dippy** » Thu Jul 22, 2004 5:35 pm

I had the same problem, so decided to check the bottle for leaks.

You need to jack up the front and remove the nearside wheel. Then remove the screwclips (about 8-10) which hold on the wheel-well liner. Then remove the liner by pulling it out (you need to ease it out in place, but it's obvious when you're doing it).

Now you can see the bottle. It is held in with 3 bolts (one inside the engine bay). However removing it is not easy and I gave up.

The reason I gave up is that there was clearly no split in the bottle, and no leak from any of the connections. Since my leak was coming from under the front bumper offside headlight, I assumed that the leak was in the region of the headlight washer.

Not being inclined to remove the bumper myself, I resigned to the fact that I would need to pay a stealer to fix the problem.

However lucky for me the problem went away! Maybe whilst investigating the problem I moved a connection to stop it leaking, I don't know. However that was a quite a number of weeks ago and there's been no sign of a leak at all.

I know this doesn't solve your leak, but some of the information may help.

Post by **BlackShadow** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 1:35 pm

I had this problem, with the windscreen washer warning light coming on every time you start the car, and next to bugger all in the washer bottle. The garage which repaired it informed me that it was the connection to the headlight washers which had come loose. These operate under very high pressure and so the connection does come undone sometimes. The windscreen washer bottle is plastic and so it doesn't corrode naturally. Given this, and provding you have headlight washers, it may be more likely that it is the connection than the bottle.

Post by **S4 OXON** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 6:29 pm

I had the same type of leak from the front end and turn out to be the pump for the head light washers it had corroded on the in side were the moter is and was all rusty cheap to buy BUT very hard to change and you need very smail fingers and be realy nimble with them there was a new part number when i took the old one in ? 2001 S4 (inport) good to ask on here as it took me a long time to find after cheeking the outher places were it could be coming from

Post by **Morpheous** » Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:39 am

Common fault this.
Either the quick release connection to the wash elements or the elements themselves.
Bumper quite easy to remove, once off its fairly straight forward to sort.
Worst part is getting the bumper released from the wing mountings.

Post by **Golfather** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 12:37 am

Headlamp washer pump is very common on the S4.
It is superceded by a later part which is supposed to last a bit longer.
Not too difficult to replace.

Post by **vw_nutta** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 12:35 pm

right, just had a look, still not got time to take it all out yet but I can see the leak if I look down at the bottle from the front of the car, the vertical hose which runs down the bottle (about an inch wide) is leaking out of what looks like an overflow hole. Leaking at the lower part where the headlamp washers connect.

Any thoughts on what parts (if any) I might need?

I'll take it apart next weekend and let you know how I get on.

Post by **Dippy** » Mon Aug 02, 2004 12:46 pm

From my reading around this issue, the main fault is that the housing of the pump cracks, so expect to have to replace the pump. However it has been known for the bottle casing itself to crack, and of course the pipe could be perished or loose.

I suggest you start with just a closer investigation (no more than an hour of your time) before confirming what has failed and buying a new part.

Post by **DJG** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 1:34 pm

Wondered why my feet got wet when I filled up my screen washer bottle.....

Couldn't actually see where it was coming from, but it is pretty obviously it's from the headlamp washer as there is still a small amount left in the bottle and the screen washer still works.

Took it back to Reading Audi, who changed the cambelt and water pump last month, hoping it was just a hose that had not been properly refitted, but they have diagnosed the headlamp washer pump as needing replacing and quoted £160 to replace it.

From this thread this sounds quite possible, but it is a bit suspicious that I have a leak so soon after the front end was taken off to do the cambelt.

Has anyone tried sourcing the headlamp washer pump themselves?

David

Post by **UKS4APR1** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:40 pm

Hi vw nutta
Take a look at this Link, it is your Christmas present!!

http://www.audiworld.com/tech/misc28.shtml

Good luck

PS It's easy - remove wheel arch liner and you'll find you can pull the pump out of the washer bottle, without removing the bottle from the car. The pumps are a push fit via 'O'-rings into the washer bottle.

Post by **DJG** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:19 pm

Nice link UKS4APR1.

Mine is definitely split.

Unfortunately too much going on at the moment, so I think I am going to get the dealer to do it next week when they do my 80K service.

Cheers,

David

Post by **gavsteryoung** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:32 pm

80k Service, are you having the Cambelt and waterpump done too?

Just wondered what you have been quoted?

Post by **DJG** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:13 pm

Hi Gavster

Take a look at http://www.rs246.com/index.php?name=PNp ... ic&t=47676

My waterpump got very noisy so I had it replaced last month by Reading Audi along with cambelt, tensioner, aux. belt etc. for a total of £550.

I am being quoted approx £380 for the 80K service on its own, but will save a bit by supplying my own Mobil 1.

All in all a pretty expensive couple of months and now the headlamp washer pump....

David

Post by **gavsteryoung** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:50 pm

Cool thanks David

I called my audi garage and they quoted 800+vat for 80k service+cambelt waterpump would be extra 40quid

QST quoted 820inc Vat and the waterpump......+ the expense of shopping in Brighton.....

Post by **Dippy** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 9:34 am

Dippy wrote: However lucky for me the problem went away! Maybe whilst investigating the problem I moved a connection to stop it leaking, I don't know. However that was a quite a number of weeks ago and there's been no sign of a leak at all.

Of course problems don't go away, they just go dormant!

My warning light came on and I had thought it was simply time to fill up (should have been due for a fill-up anyway). So last night I did so and all the water came back out again!

Unlike last time the leak is very clearly coming from the bottle area itself, so I guess I might have the pump problem. I'll have a closer look next week.

Now I have to think whether or not to fix it myself. What I hate is doing a job just to find out the problem was elsewhere. And my original leak maybe at the headlamp washer, just waiting to happen again. With my brakes needing a service, maybe I'll just take it to a dealer...

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