I have read all the posts on headlight washers and did not see any answer to this - Does the engine have to be running for the headlight washers to operate? I know the ignition must be on and the headlights have to be on, but I was not sure if the engine also had to be running.

 

I don't know the answer to that but for some time I have thought of trying to take a few seconds of video of the headlight washers in action next time I'm washing the car. I just need to have an assistant to get in the car and activate the headlights and wipers and then the windshield washer function and I'd try and capture the function with my digital camera. It would be interesting to see exactly how they work and what the mechanism looks like when it pops out of the bumper.

This is all the manual says about the operation of the headlight washers. No mention of whether the engine needs to be running.

HEADLIGHT WASHERS

The headlight power wash operates automatically with the windshield wash. The headlight power wash operates only if the headlights are switched on and there is sufficient washer fluid in the reservoir.

The headlight wash operates with every fourth operation of the windshield washers. The headlight wash operates provided the headlights are still switched on and approximately 10 minutes have elapsed since the last headlight wash.

Switching the headlights or the ignition off and back on again resets the cycle. See LIGHTING CONTROL, or SWITCHING OFF THE ENGINE.

 

no idea, because my FTR never sees bad weather or dirt, so I've never used the windshield or headlight washers.. 😆

 

That makes two of us. I bought mine new and the headlight washers have never been used. I want to test them out before my warranty runs out and make sure they still function.

 

Haven't tried it on the F-Type but what worked for me on my old XFR to get the headlight washers to activate is this:
1. Start car (ie engine on)
2. Turn on lights
3. Turn on windscreen wipers
4. Activate windscreen wash (ie press wiper stalk button) a few times.
I think had to repeat these steps two or three times before the headlight washers burst into life but don't quote me on that as it was some eight or so years ago!
Also no guarantee that what works for an XFR also works for an F-Type.

Edit - I decided to run a little 'speriment on the F-Type which was a resounding success (unlike 99% of my 'speriments!).
1. Ignition on but engine off (ie no need to start the engine)
2. Lights on (low beam)
3. Windscreen wipers on
4. Hit the windscreen wash button five or six times.
Hey Presto, headlight washers worked!
I didn't see anything from the driver's seat, ie no spray coming up over the headlights/hood, but when I got out and checked both headlights were covered in spray droplets with almost zero water anywhere else (other than on the windscreen of course!).
So at least on my car this method was a way to check if the headlight washers are working or not.

 

My F Type is a fair weather driver only. It definitely stays garaged during the few times a year that we get snow up here in the mountains. My intention was never to drive it in the rain either but I got caught in a downpour on the way up to Santa Barbara a couple of months ago. I have the auto rain sensing wiper function disabled as I don't trust it to work as well as my own eyeballs.

It was somewhat puzzling at first as I don't have the muscle memory developed from past use to reach down and operate the wiper stalk controls by feel and I was busy concentrating on the road and the drivers ahead of me and didn't want to look down. But I finally figured out what each setting and control was and how they worked without managing to bounce off of the concrete lane dividers in the construction zone. I did activate the washer function several times as the water that was being thrown up by cars ahead of me was pretty dirty. I assume the headlight washers were working.

I'll bet there is some kind of service menu available through the touch screen that only dealers know of that activates the washers and causes them to pop out and stay out in case repairs are needed. I'd like to see them in action.

 

Insert Step 0.5 - Put the top up. (Why I've never engaged the headlight washers.)

 

I've only owned my F Type for a month but it will never see rain or inclement weather - unless I'm caught in it somehow. But I was curious whether or not the wipers and headlight washers worked, so right before washing the car, I tried them! The first thing I noticed was the windshield washers only sprayed when the wipers moved in one direction - I can't remember if it was the upstroke or downstroke - but it was most certainly only in one direction. I thought to myself, "this is fancy!" but then the headlight washers are a whole new kind of fancy! I call them my machine guns!

Headlamp Washers...

 

Nice video!

 

Looks...ERIE!

 

Excellent, thanks for posting that !
That looks like something that was devised by "Q Branch"

 

Never thought that was how they come out! Are they activated when the windshield washer is used? or just the WS wipers?

 

They activate (in the UK at least) when the headlights are on and you wash the windscreen. To save fluid they only operate once every (I think) 6 windscreen washes. It's water pressure that pushes them out, rather neat, but the front fender has to be correctly aligned for them to retract fully (guess how I know that).

 

For those owners that use their car as weekend fair-weather fun cars, it's worth cycling these every now and then. If you never drive your car in conditions requiring use of the windshield washer, the headlight washer caps can become stuck to the bumper cover due to lack of use combined with wax build-up or road debris build-up and they won't deploy properly when needed (since, as scm points out, they are activated simply by fluid pressure). Additionally it's worth checking to see if the body-colored cap is firmly affixed to the top of the washer mechanism. As a former BMW owner, it was quite common for these to get deployed at speed and the wind velocity would just rip the top cap off the mechanism since it is usually a molded friction/snap fit. You'll see many (BMW) cars driving around with a cap missing because of it.

 

Ok, so best I check this operation... lights on and make the washers work.. count down as well.