S3 headlight washer leak

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Adam20vt

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Afternoon everyone

First post here so bear with me, I've recently got myself an s3 from a guy at work, was going to sell it on quickly to make a few £ but I'm actually rather taken with it so am going to keep it so I need to fix a few niggly problems.....

It has a leak from one of the headlight washers, having read up on it it's fairly easy apparently, pop the bumper off ad thee you have it, being very lazy and with it being cold I was wondering if I could just unplug the pump for the washers? Assuming the pump is closed and doesn't start pumping until I pull the stalk, surely this will cure the leak as there will be no water in the hose to the washer?

Or is this a good idea that is flawed?

Adam
 
You are correct, it won't pump water if disconnect the motor, but there will still be water in the hose to the washer, so it still may leak, also if you have hid lights , it is really an mot failure if the washer or the self levelling doesn't work.
 
Thanks for the reply

Surely if the pump isn't pushing water the hose won't have any water in them after it has drained or is the pump constantly open and just pushes through when needed?
 
I don't think the pump actually closes to seal the tank from the washer and because the washers are lower than the tank, the pipes wil still be filled with water, even though not under pressure.
 
Well the idea was nice while it lasted

Looks like it will be a bumper off job, one for the weekend

Adam
 
If you want to do a dodgy fix, under the bumper on the driver side there is a join in the hose that goes from the tank to the headlight washers. You could disconnect the hose and block it.

Get under the car and look near the fog light and you should see it, to undo the join you just pull out the little black clip
 
I never looked at the drivers side

This was my first idea but I couldn't see any piping to block off

I assume it's the garden hose looking piping?
 
Adam20vt said:
I never looked at the drivers side

This was my first idea but I couldn't see any piping to block off

I assume it's the garden hose looking piping?
Click to expand...

Yeah looks just like a garden hose, is a clear or white sort of colour from memory. You can definitely reach the clip with the bumper still on. I would make sure you block the pipe with a cork and hose clamp or something quite sturdy as there will obviously be a bit of pressure in the pipe when you spray the wipers and you would hate for the thing to pop out!
 
If I unplug the pump there shouldn't be any pressure so I can hopefully block it with a bolt and a jubilee clip

This should tide me over until the summer when I'll do it properly

A very helpful bunch you lot are

Many thanks

Adam
 
10 mins takes the bumper off, 5 to 6 torx each wheel arch and 2 star under the bumper either side of the rad.
 
I saw the guide, it sounds simple enough

Nothing like that ever goes well with me lol

I also read that I have to take both wheels off which really put me off
 
Adam20vt said:
If I unplug the pump there shouldn't be any pressure so I can hopefully block it with a bolt and a jubilee clip

This should tide me over until the summer when I'll do it properly

A very helpful bunch you lot are

Many thanks

Adam
Click to expand...

By disconnecting this pipe it means you can still use the windscreen washers, without having the headlight washers leak. So you wont need to unplug the pump. A bolt and a jubilee clip will work fine. You might need a tiny bit seep out, but if you're worried about that use some teflon tape on the bolt.


epox said:
10 mins takes the bumper off, 5 to 6 torx each wheel arch and 2 star under the bumper either side of the rad.
Click to expand...

4 clips on top as well. It isn't a huge job taking the bumper off but I must admit it isn't my favourite job putting it back on haha.

Adam20vt said:
I saw the guide, it sounds simple enough

Nothing like that ever goes well with me lol

I also read that I have to take both wheels off which really put me off
Click to expand...

If you jack up the front of the car so the wheels hang down you wont need to take them off.
 
Just turn the steering to get to the screw heads in the arches, I did mine like this with the car on the ground.
 
ye forgot the 4 wee pins on the slamb pannel, put a wee screw in the hole pull out the center pin then lift out the big stud,
depends on the size of the trox bit you have but yes just turn the wheel no need to take the wheeks of or jack up.

peeeeee easy to do, you need to get used do do wee things on these cars or they WILL cost you a fortune.
 
I'm familiar with doing my own jobs, I also own a fiat coupe that constantly needs attention

Adam
 
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