GolfGTIforum.co.uk

Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: Merlin on 07 January 2009, 21:23

Title: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Merlin on 07 January 2009, 21:23
 :sad: Hi All,

Guess this is due to the recent icy conditions and me trying to wash the screen with the lights on + frozen washers? Has anyone else had this issue and if so how did you fix it?

Thanks,
Merlin.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Fatty B on 07 January 2009, 21:25
use the correct vw screenwash and look at the dilution rate on the side of the bottle.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Merlin on 07 January 2009, 21:31
use the correct vw screenwash and look at the dilution rate on the side of the bottle.

Hi,
Washers are still not working and it's no longer freezing....ie it's bust. What do I need to look at? Do the headlight washers have their own fuse etc.

Ta.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: No Golf Clubs at all on 07 January 2009, 21:45
Daft question maybe but are your lights on when you try? Cos I believe they only operate with the lights on and even then only once every so many washer skooshes  :smiley:
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Merlin on 07 January 2009, 21:52
Daft question maybe but are your lights on when you try? Cos I believe they only operate with the lights on and even then only once every so many washer skooshes  :smiley:

Yep they are on and I am aware the headlight washers operate once then every fifth wash after that. They are bust, was just wondering if any avid DIYers have had a go at fixing their own? Worth asking the question  :smiley:
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: synnea on 08 January 2009, 10:40
Same happened to mine - they broke. Replaced under warranty.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Merlin on 08 January 2009, 20:50
Same happened to mine - they broke. Replaced under warranty.

Hi, Do you know what was fixed / replaced under warranty? Clues would be useful.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Rollini on 09 January 2009, 09:22
Same happened to mine - they broke. Replaced under warranty.

Hi, Do you know what was fixed / replaced under warranty? Clues would be useful.


Same thing happened to me -they spotted it in my frst service (i hadn't noticed) and replaced....something...under warranty - i'll dig out the work sheet they gave me when i get home from work and see if they give specifics as my memory is  :sick:
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: AlanD on 09 January 2009, 10:32
I fooking hate them washers and wish mine would break. Spend all day cleaning the car and then go to clean your windscreen and a now my nice shiney clean bonnet is covered in poxy washing fluid and stains it. Drives me fooking mad !!!!
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: synnea on 09 January 2009, 11:27
Must check myself what happened to mine.

Alan, you can have the washers turned off using VagCom. However as I think it is a legal requirement to have them with factory xenons so not sure where you might stand there.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: AlanD on 09 January 2009, 12:24
Not running xenons :(

I have the winter pack which adds the washers. Good idea with regards to looking at VAGCOM.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: synnea on 09 January 2009, 12:37
OK then you in the clear legally then. I have just ordered a VAGCOM kit but with me in N Ireland I wont be much use to you.

I would hope if you spoke to your dealer nicely they would do it for free. Or else if you know anyone else with VagCom. The other annoying thing about those washers is they completly drain the washer fluid. I seem never done filling it up!
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: AlanD on 09 January 2009, 12:39
Normally I'm OK. What I do is for the first wash I tap it so that none comes out and that tricks that car into thinking that its don the washer, then when I press it again it doesn't do the lights and just the windscreen. Sometime I forget and ruin my bonnet :(
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: synnea on 09 January 2009, 12:43
ohh, ok nice one ill try that then. Nice trick that!
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Kermit on 09 January 2009, 17:39
use the correct vw screenwash and look at the dilution rate on the side of the bottle.

Hi,
Washers are still not working and it's no longer freezing....ie it's bust. What do I need to look at? Do the headlight washers have their own fuse etc.

Ta.

Same happened to me just before Christmas - in the end found out the fuse had gone - no idea why (manual doesn't help) but on this forum (somewhere) is relay/fuses layout - headlight washer is fuse 36 in the fusebox on the drivers side in the dash - 3rd row up from bottom, 5th one in (from the right) - should be a yellow 20amp - hopefully broken  :wink:
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Merlin on 10 January 2009, 14:35
use the correct vw screenwash and look at the dilution rate on the side of the bottle.

Hi,
Washers are still not working and it's no longer freezing....ie it's bust. What do I need to look at? Do the headlight washers have their own fuse etc.

Ta.

Same happened to me just before Christmas - in the end found out the fuse had gone - no idea why (manual doesn't help) but on this forum (somewhere) is relay/fuses layout - headlight washer is fuse 36 in the fusebox on the drivers side in the dash - 3rd row up from bottom, 5th one in (from the right) - should be a yellow 20amp - hopefully broken  :wink:

Cheers Kermit,

I'll have a look later.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Merlin on 11 January 2009, 10:52
Fixed - Thanks Kermit.

Fuse 35 drivers side fuse compartment- 20A. As you say it's not in the manual!

Thanks for your help.

Merlin.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: AlanD on 11 January 2009, 10:53
Might just go a and pull this fuse out :D
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Kermit on 11 January 2009, 12:44
Fixed - Thanks Kermit.

Fuse 35 drivers side fuse compartment- 20A. As you say it's not in the manual!

Thanks for your help.

Merlin.

Cool - no probs.  strange about fuse 35, pretty certain mine was 36 (not that it matters as yours is working now).  In case you are interested this is the VagCom code that came up - initally thought the relay needed replacing:

00924 - Relay for Headlamp Cleaning System (J39)

What annoyed me most is the mileage on VagCom for when the fault happened was the same as what is in my service book - so it happened when my car was getting serviced by VW somehow - grrrrrr

Anyway - this is the info I was referring to - really useful (thanks go to Teutonic).
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=54324.0 (http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=54324.0)
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Golfgirl on 17 January 2009, 17:33
My headlight washers stopped working too.  When I washed the screen you could hear the pump activating behind the washers but they weren't popping up.  I changed fuse no. 35 today and hey presto, they work again (thanks to this thread, no thanks to the manual :angry:).  I think it must have been when we had the really cold snap last week and the washers were frozen (I drove 95 miles without being able to clean my screen until I was 4 miles from home :rolleyes:)...probably blew the fuse then.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: tonyh on 20 January 2009, 12:28
 forgive the daft question, but how do you know if your car has this function ?  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: AlanD on 20 January 2009, 12:33
You should have a litte rectangle thing under your headlights.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/twior/washers.jpg)


Its quite hard to make out but you see the line / gap going though it? Thats where it comes out and sprays the headlights. If you dont have them then you wont have that line / gap.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: tonyh on 21 January 2009, 20:11
ah, ok. pretty sure mine's w/out. thanks  :smiley:
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: clive on 27 January 2009, 21:19
This thread just saved me a trip to the dealers, fuse #36 was blown and after replacing it my headlamp washers are working :cool:

A note to anyone looking at the fuse box diagram in the workshop manual (linked in the maintenance section).. The fuse box diagram in page 8 is for LHD cars and is the mirror image of what you will see in a UK car.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Golfgirl on 30 January 2009, 15:56

A note to anyone looking at the fuse box diagram in the workshop manual (linked in the maintenance section).. The fuse box diagram in page 8 is for LHD cars and is the mirror image of what you will see in a UK car.

LOL, I realised that when I'd been sat there a few mins trying to work out why the wrong fuses were in the wrong holes!
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: daviescotland on 19 January 2010, 20:14
This thread just saved me a trip to the dealers, fuse #36 was blown and after replacing it my headlamp washers are working :cool:

A note to anyone looking at the fuse box diagram in the workshop manual (linked in the maintenance section).. The fuse box diagram in page 8 is for LHD cars and is the mirror image of what you will see in a UK car.

This happened to mine over the bad weather recently.

Bumped for anyone who is cosidering going to the dealers to get it fixed. I replaced the 20a fuse today in #36 at the fuse box inside the car on the drivers side.

50p for the fuse and now works a treat..... soap all over my bonnet again  :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: GolfTi on 19 January 2010, 20:48
Normally I'm OK. What I do is for the first wash I tap it so that none comes out and that tricks that car into thinking that its don the washer, then when I press it again it doesn't do the lights and just the windscreen. Sometime I forget and ruin my bonnet :(

AlanD

I have a mk 6 but still relevant I hope.

I hate these sooo much. Froze solid in Germany 2 weeks ago with -20C in the bottle. One of the spray arms was actually stuck in the up position!! (OK after it thawed out in the Chunnel)

What's this 'tap' you mention, in the mk 6 the headlight washers seem so come up 1st/ then every 5th time with the lights on regardless, and as you say always after washing/polishing. And as for heated jets, they freeze up if you're on a long journey in the cold (-5 or so).
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Ant on 31 January 2010, 02:08
Normally I'm OK. What I do is for the first wash I tap it so that none comes out and that tricks that car into thinking that its don the washer, then when I press it again it doesn't do the lights and just the windscreen. Sometime I forget and ruin my bonnet :(

From what I'd read I thought that the only washed every so often after the first squit, but mine seem to do it on every one so I can't use this trick. Any ideas?
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: AlanD on 02 February 2010, 10:49
GolfTi - I'll try and explain it better lol

Excuse me if I'm teaching you to suck eggs. The way the headlight washers work is that when the lights are on, the first time you pull the stalk back it will wash the lights and windscreen and then every 5th wash (I think you need to be on a pretty long journey / dirty road to be washing your windscreen 5 times, in which case a bit of soap on the bonnet is irrelevant). So when you are just doing normal driving at night this works well.

If you just pull the stalk back for a split second (i.e not enough time for any spray to actually come out) you will see the windscreen wipers start to wipe as they think you have just squirted washer fluid. That is classed as its first whipe so when you do it again it WONT do the headlight washers and will just do the windscreen saving your bonnet and giving you a clean windscreen :)

Capice?
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: GolfTi on 02 February 2010, 11:21
GolfTi - I'll try and explain it better lol

Excuse me if I'm teaching you to suck eggs. The way the headlight washers work is that when the lights are on, the first time you pull the stalk back it will wash the lights and windscreen and then every 5th wash (I think you need to be on a pretty long journey / dirty road to be washing your windscreen 5 times, in which case a bit of soap on the bonnet is irrelevant). So when you are just doing normal driving at night this works well.

If you just pull the stalk back for a split second (i.e not enough time for any spray to actually come out) you will see the windscreen wipers start to wipe as they think you have just squirted washer fluid. That is classed as its first whipe so when you do it again it WONT do the headlight washers and will just do the windscreen saving your bonnet and giving you a clean windscreen :)

Capice?

Cheers Alan

Tried it and the headlamp jets pop up instantly even with the tiniest of tiny flicks. (It's a mk6 - just thought I'd post in the mk5 as you guys might know some tricks - which you do but it looks as thought the mk6 has a slightly different system).
Anyway I've now removed fuse 36 as the things are a pain.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: AlanD on 02 February 2010, 11:24
Sounds like the MK6s are much more sensitive compared to the MK5. In the MK5 you can get away with just flicking it and the headlight ones wont come out.

I think removing the fuse is the best way.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Ant on 02 February 2010, 11:41
GolfTi - I'll try and explain it better lol

Excuse me if I'm teaching you to suck eggs. The way the headlight washers work is that when the lights are on, the first time you pull the stalk back it will wash the lights and windscreen and then every 5th wash (I think you need to be on a pretty long journey / dirty road to be washing your windscreen 5 times, in which case a bit of soap on the bonnet is irrelevant). So when you are just doing normal driving at night this works well.

If you just pull the stalk back for a split second (i.e not enough time for any spray to actually come out) you will see the windscreen wipers start to wipe as they think you have just squirted washer fluid. That is classed as its first whipe so when you do it again it WONT do the headlight washers and will just do the windscreen saving your bonnet and giving you a clean windscreen :)

Capice?

On my 56 the washers still come on after the 'first wipe' in fact they seems to wash everytime I pull back on the stalk, is there any VagCom settings that could change this?

I'm not worried about getting the bonnet covered in washer fluid, when you wash the windscreen you get the roof and side covered anyway. But with it washing everytime I keep running low on washer fluid.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: AlanD on 02 February 2010, 11:46
VAGCOM will sort you out. It shouldn't be doing it everytime. VW might even do it for free as it shouldn't be doing that.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: Ant on 02 February 2010, 13:45
Cheers, am going to be contacting VW to see if they can check the alignment of the xenon so will raise that at the same time.
Title: Re: Headlight Washers stopped working
Post by: jaydubveedub on 03 February 2010, 17:39
I've got Xenons and my headlamp washers come on every time I clean the screen. Is this because of the Xenons perhaps?

In the UK it's a legal requirement for cars with Xenons to have headlamp washers - is this why they wash every time?

It does run down the screenwash really quick at this time of year, although I think cars with headlamp washers have a slightly larger screenwash tank.