Washer Fluid Reservoir Low-Level Indicator

[coupe-se]

My A3 S-Line is one of the most expensive cars Iv'e bought yet does NOT have a warning light when the washer fluid reservoir gets low.

The vast majority of my previous cars had this feature and its a real pain to run out of washer fluid with no warning during a motorway journey.

My local dealer turned on the ignition, looked at the symbols that scrolled on the DIS and said that because the washer fluid symbol wasn't shown it meant I had no sensor fitted.

Should my A3 have one fitted? Does anyone else with an A3 S-Line have one fitted and operational?

Cheers for any assistance ......... Nick

 

[benw123]

I know what you mean Nick - even my 1984 Ford Escort 1.3GL had a low washer-warning light!

Without me checking the manual, is it a feature included with DIS? I have DIS but have never seen any symbol like this appear.

 

[coupe-se]

Page 50 of the A3 handbook refers to the washer fluid warning being part of the DIS.

No-where does it say that it only applies to certain models though.

The service guy who looked really didn't seem too sure, which is why I'm asking.

 

[benw123]

DIS is optional on the SE and standard on the Sport I think - do you have it on your S-Line?

 

[coupe-se]

DIS is optional on the SE and standard on the Sport I think - do you have it on your S-Line?

Yes it has.

From memory, its showing that it monitors: Engine Oil Level, Engine Oil Sensor, Brake Pads, Speed warning 1, Speed Warning 2, Battery Voltage, Diesel Part Filter ........... not sure what else it displays when the ignition is 1st turned on.

 

[Vertigo1]

My SE with DIS certainly has the warning, in fact it's been going off for the past 3 days cos I can't be bothered to fill it up atm

S-Line has DIS as standard and I see no reason why it wouldn't be there as it's on my 53-plate car. Why would they have removed it!?

 

[RobB]

Had it on my 2005 MY Sline and my 2006 MY one. It is standard as part of the DIS, which is standard on the Sline. Nice orange animated graphic of a windscreen with washer spray appears on the DIS screen.

 

[Booster]

I've got it on my 2005 S-line

 

[Amchlolor]

Yup,it's there on my '05 S-line too.

 

[wilko]

I've got it on my '05 Sport too.

 

[steve184]

my 04 sport had it... perhaps its engine related?

 

[southpaw66]

I think I have it but too new to have come on yet.

From Audi.co.uk s-line 170PS TDI

Interior
Illuminated vanity mirrors
Sun screen for rear windows
Warning triangle
driver information system
instrument insert with mph speedometer, clock, tachometer and trip odometer
manually controlled heating system
service interval prolongation
washer fluid level indicator

 

[Tim Stuart]

I've got it too on my 07MY S-Line

 

[coupe-se]

Well having waited fruitlessly for 3 1/2 hours for a phone call from my local dealer (havinng been promised a call back within 15 minutes) to confirm that I had a fault ...... i thought I'd check for myself.

After the grand total of 5 minutes removing the small tray panel beneath the bottle ....... well just above the washer motor is indeed a seperate sensor (no doubt the low fluid level one) with wiring and plug connected.

I have DIS, I have a sensor ......... I have a fault. The technician that looked at it earlier in the week and said it didn't have one must have been the tea boy.

Thanks for all your assistance, I'll be making a nice call in the morning.

 

[smogthemog]

You will buy these new enfangled cars Nick - stick to pre-98 and you will be fine - everything there, everything works

Hope they can sort it for you matey

 

[coupe-se]

Cheers for that Jim!!!

Using the Technicians logic that 'if the symbols don't appear when the Function Test list scrolls then it isn't fitted' ............... then I don't have diesel particulate filter sensor nor do I have a defective light/rain sensor.

Guess the Audi mechanics are just as bad as the rest of the dealers then.

 

[coupe-se]

Car has been in to check why the low level washer indicator isn't working.

The highly trained expert TECHNICIANS official diagnosis is that they don't know and are we sure its fitted (are the sales guys sure as well)

It has a low level float/sensor fitted and is all plugged into the loom but they cannot work out why it doesn't light up on the DIS when the bottle is empty!! God help me if something serious goes wrong with the car.

It is now booked to go back on the 6th of February, so they can look again, not sure what will be different in two weeks as opposed to today.

 

[Caesium]

It is now booked to go back on the 6th of February, so they can look again, not sure what will be different in two weeks as opposed to today.

Maybe Sooty will be in on the 6th and he can wave his wand over your car and fix it, he'll probably do a better job than the fuckwits that reside in the workshops.

 

[southpaw66]

Have they considered changing the sensor on the off-chance it's not working...

But of course if it doesn't have a fault code how can it be faulty?

Wonder how they diagnose a flat battery?

 

[coupe-se]

Have they considered changing the sensor on the off-chance it's not working...

Easy tiger!!! Throwing wild suggestions and using any sort of common sense like that can cause real trouble with highly skilled Technicians around. Its highly skilled work that needs COMPOOOOTERS and years of training to solve it!

 

[cdb2]

Maybe Sooty will be in on the 6th and he can wave his wand over your car and fix it, he'll probably do a better job than the fuckwits that reside in the workshops.

Now that's what I call funny!

 

[Amchlolor]

I wish my car didn't have a washer level warning.
Every time I hear the 'beeeeep',I just assume the ****** thing needs more oil and buy a bottle...

 

[steve184]

yeh had new wiper motor on mine one sat morning to be told after waiting several hours - oh we are having problems fitting new motor... i thought oh wrong one? i mean its a couple of nuts off with a spanner job isn't it??? oh noooooo they say - we have to plug it into a computer and IT tells us what to do and when like running a programe and until it tellsus to do that we cant undo any nuts or anything and for some reason it isnt running through the programe properly!

 

[PJLarge]

What a co-incidence. I went to wash my windscreen earlier and there was not a lot of water coming out of the jets. It soon fizzled out to nothing at all. I remember my old 8P had a washer warning but the sensor would appear not to be working on mine either. It was definately empty as it took a *lot* of water to refill. Maybe there's a duff batch of sensors or something. I wonder if Audi will charge me for replacement screenwash if / when they fix it

 

[john_cook]

My SE with DIS certainly has the warning, in fact it's been going off for the past 3 days cos I can't be bothered to fill it up atm

S-Line has DIS as standard and I see no reason why it wouldn't be there as it's on my 53-plate car. Why would they have removed it!?

3 days. MIne has been going off daily for a month. Cant be ***** either to fill it up.

cooky

 

[southpaw66]

Mine came on tonight. It's a 'washer bottle' with an animated fountain of drops in the yellow part of the DIS.