Window washer jets packed in

[recomdos]

Hi all,

Not strictly A3/S3 related as it's a 74 plate Q3, but figured there might be more activity in here. Long story short no water coming out the window washer jets. This is the second time it's gone in for the same fault. Dealer said it was fixed, but clearly hasn't. It's been back in and now they want to charge £140 for a diagnostic which isn't conclusive (helpful). We've had a right chew on taking it into the dealer with appalling customer service (not calling back, no courtesy car, kept it over night, still no mechanic/technician looking at it / basically totally forgotten about...the only call we had was from a sales guy offering some 'new deals' whilst our car is in - absolute tw4ts!). They're claiming there is a gauze which is blocked as not used audi approved screenwash. Like WTF? This is ridiculous, not even 2 years old and wanting to charge for things they can't fix. It's outrageous.

Thought i'd pop on and see if others have the same issues. Read a couple of threads which said similar responses from Audi, but I can't see the solutions. My other half is going through a tough time at the moment so this is the icing on the cake and a disruption she doesn't need. The car needs to be safe for a long drive next week.

Any thoughts / pointers would be helpful!

 

[Clarky2015]

My advice would be to give the Audi UK exec office in MK a call/ email if no progress with dealer. Unless you’ve been smashing the windscreen jets with a hammer/ cut the lines with a knife or filled the fluid up with acid there is absolutely no way you should pay a penny with the car under warranty. I’d also be stood in front of the service manager in the dealership with a foxtrot oscar attitude and holding up the queue till they realise how stupid their being…

 

[recomdos]

I 100% agree Clarky. Unfortunately I have been unable to support my other half with this in person due to our work commitments / lifestyle, but I am very upset with the service (lack of) and the attitude. My other half is a miss daisy driver, looks after her car, takes it to main dealer for services etc (which makes me cringe). I think she's only bothered about the attitude, but for me it's the whole situation and the 'quality' of a 50k car. The other half has been watching youtube vids and wants to clean the jets, I can just see it ending in disaster.

Just wondering how common this is. You'd expect it's a manufacturers fault / recall as the last time we were not charged anything and not informed to use audi approved washer liquid but now suddenly we are. Despite it being a small issue it has big potential for accidents if something splashes onto the windscreen and it can't be cleaned!

 

[Sparks43]

I 100% agree Clarky. Unfortunately I have been unable to support my other half with this in person due to our work commitments / lifestyle, but I am very upset with the service (lack of) and the attitude. My other half is a miss daisy driver, looks after her car, takes it to main dealer for services etc (which makes me cringe). I think she's only bothered about the attitude, but for me it's the whole situation and the 'quality' of a 50k car. The other half has been watching youtube vids and wants to clean the jets, I can just see it ending in disaster.

Just wondering how common this is. You'd expect it's a manufacturers fault / recall as the last time we were not charged anything and not informed to use audi approved washer liquid but now suddenly we are. Despite it being a small issue it has big potential for accidents if something splashes onto the windscreen and it can't be cleaned!

VW has this issue with non VW screenwash with the fans jets on the Golf many years ago getting blocked and then blowing the pipe off on the rear washer and filling the boot lid with water and blowing the motor

The gauze they are probably talking about is in the bottom of the washer bottle where the pump pushes in and cheap screenwash turns to jelly and blocks it

However I'm unaware that you have to use VW/Audi screenwash or that it will invalidate any warranty and they should tell you this anyway, so I would be arguing with them as well as poor for a 74 plate that's not even a year old yet

Don't buy the Audi screenwash from in reception though - 500ML in a fancy bottle, get the 1 litre from parts or online - I have always used it since those early issues and haven't has an issue

 

[recomdos]

Cheers Sparks, this is helpful. To be fair it's a disgrace that this isn't clearer. I mean how many of the joe public want to pay a fortune for screenwash, not to mention the sheer inconvenience of when you need it / limited options on a motorway services.

 

[KXL]

Have a 21 plate A3, no issues with water jet. Actually it works so well thought they were fan jet, they weren't. I only use Autoglym and Prestone screen washes, self mix depending on season. I use my washers at least once per car journey. At the service Audi tops it up with whatever they top it up with. I did once upon a time used Sonax Nano screen wash in a previous VAG group car, that one clogged the jets, but no issues for the dealer to unclog it. They said the screen wash turned to goo inside somewhere. Didn't believe, but one day I mixed the Sonax in a plastic bottle, forgot about it for several weeks, when I brought it to top up, noticed bits or jelly in the bottle. It was clear when I mixed it originally.

 

[Sparks43]

Have a 21 plate A3, no issues with water jet. Actually it works so well thought they were fan jet, they weren't. I only use Autoglym and Prestone screen washes, self mix depending on season. I use my washers at least once per car journey. At the service Audi tops it up with whatever they top it up with. I did once upon a time used Sonax Nano screen wash in a previous VAG group car, that one clogged the jets, but no issues for the dealer to unclog it. They said the screen wash turned to goo inside somewhere. Didn't believe, but one day I mixed the Sonax in a plastic bottle, forgot about it for several weeks, when I brought it to top up, noticed bits or jelly in the bottle. It was clear when I mixed it originally.

That's spot on what happens

My Dad had a Vauxhall Vectra and you could hear the pump but no water - My neighbour worked for local Vauxhall dealer at the time and said it will be the little rubber top hat as he called it (it looked like a top hat obviously) with a gauze in it that the washer pump pushes into in the bottle under the wheel arch - Took it out thick jelly of screenwash - washed it out and cleared with an airline and then flushed the water bottle out with a hose and reassembled and worked once again - Halfords own screenwash he was using at the time