Do any of you know how to keep the the headlight washer arms out when they spray? the passenger side (uk) sprays fine but on the drivers side nothing comes out. I want them to stay out so I can try and unblock the jets.

 

From my understanding they will only come on when your headlights are on AND they will only come on every 3rd or 4th time you squirt the window washers.

 

May have to grab it when out but risks breaking something.

 

I wouldn't recommend grabbing it when it comes out. An alternative is breaking a Calgon tablet in half and putting it in with your washer fluid. Make sure your washer water/fluid is warm, but not boiling hot.

Also drain your washer fluid completely before doing this and only put in about 750ml so that you can drain your system easily after unblocking.

The Calgon contains a very light acid which removes calcium carbonate from dish washers so should help breakdown blockages.

Leave in for around 15 minutes then spray a few times and see if it becomes unblocked, if it doesn't just drain the rest out of the system.

You will want to have a spare wet and dry cloth on the standby to wipe any excess that comes down on to any bumper paint, it won't do any harm whilst trying to get the jets unblocked but if you leave it on the paint for a day or two it can damage the paintwork.

 

That's a good idea apachegogo, I didn't think of tackling it from the inside out. (so to speak).

I Just thought last night though "what if I disconnected the battery when it comes out?" I would guess with no power it would just stop and the washer arms would stay out. My worry then would be dose disconnecting the battery reset any of the car settings.

 

No worries, let me know if it works!

Not sure about the dangers of disconnecting the battery whilst the engine is running or even in ignition mode. Depends if there is a capacitor for that component that maintains some charge, I wouldn't know but if its getting to that stage it might be worth taking it in.

 

Bad idea, I reckon.

Some of them are pumped out so need water pressure which would vanish if you did that.

 

It might not work, but worth a try, it seems to be a popular option on the interwibble:

How to unblock washer jets A8/S8 D2/D3 - A8 Parts Forum

 

Ok apachegogo I give it a go and it's a bit of a hit and a miss.

I emptied the tank by spraying it out, it took about 20-25 times for the headtlight washers to stop and about 15 times for the wipers to stop after that.

Hear's a vid showing you nothing coming out the drivers side.


I had 1 Calgon tablet with the blue ball and put it in 2L of hot(ish) water, Mixed it up and give it time to dissolve. I put it in the tank give it about 10 mins and then started to spray.... First spray it starts to to come out but it seems to lack pressure. I thought ok it's maybe still a bit blocked, give it a couple more sprays but no it just the same.

Hear's a vid of it after the "treatment"


So it works but there seems to be more to my problem than a block.

 

Thanks for posting this video splatter88, it looks like it is quite badly blocked or another issue at bay, but the fact that some water did come out shows the calgon broke down "some" of the blockage. I'm guessing a bit here now, but sorry it didn't completely sort the problem out for you.

What other options are there? Could you try another round with fresh calgon? Or take it to the dealer?

 

Lovely cat by the way

 

The car is jew for a service in May so I think I'll just get them to sort it.