Pipe taking screenwash fluid to rear window leaking inside
Discussion
Hey all,
I have a 2003 Audi A6. The pipe that supplies screenwash to my rear screen is leaking somewhere in the footwell on the left hand side. I have taken the rear carpet up and checked the pipe where I can see it and it's OK so the leak is somewhere under the front carpet. I have lifted the outer edge of the carpet and I see that the pipe goes under the seat towards the centre of the car.
Does anyone know where the pipe goes to next? I have a feeling it goes under the seat and along the side of the transmission tunnel and through the bulkhead somewhere into the engine bay? Does anyone have a diagram that might help? I can find the parts diagram but that doesn't tell me where the pipe is routed in the car.
By the way, I see that there is some sort of plastic box in the left hand footwell - anybody know what's in there? I'm worried about what effect water might have on anything there?
Hope someone can help,
Allen
I have a 2003 Audi A6. The pipe that supplies screenwash to my rear screen is leaking somewhere in the footwell on the left hand side. I have taken the rear carpet up and checked the pipe where I can see it and it's OK so the leak is somewhere under the front carpet. I have lifted the outer edge of the carpet and I see that the pipe goes under the seat towards the centre of the car.
Does anyone know where the pipe goes to next? I have a feeling it goes under the seat and along the side of the transmission tunnel and through the bulkhead somewhere into the engine bay? Does anyone have a diagram that might help? I can find the parts diagram but that doesn't tell me where the pipe is routed in the car.
By the way, I see that there is some sort of plastic box in the left hand footwell - anybody know what's in there? I'm worried about what effect water might have on anything there?
Hope someone can help,
Allen
The washer pipes leak where they come apart at the connection in the front passenger footwell, you just need to remake the connection and make sure the rear washer jet isnt blocked, it the pressure from the blockage that forces the connection apart in the first place.
The black box contains the convenience ECU, does interior lighting + central locking, open the box, take out and dry the ECU if there is any sign of water inside the box.
Removing the front passenger seat and its easy, can be done with it in, but its much harder work, wedge teh carpet up as best posible with somthing.
The black box contains the convenience ECU, does interior lighting + central locking, open the box, take out and dry the ECU if there is any sign of water inside the box.
Removing the front passenger seat and its easy, can be done with it in, but its much harder work, wedge teh carpet up as best posible with somthing.
Thanks Paul!
I expect the cause was frozen washer fluid - it was as low as -14 here before Christmas.
Is there more than one connection under the carpet? If the connection is nearer the front I might try and pull the carpet back and get at it but if it's nearer the seat that would be impossible. Does the seat just unbolt? From above or below?
Sorry for the list of questions! Hope you can help.
Cheers,
Allen
I expect the cause was frozen washer fluid - it was as low as -14 here before Christmas.
Is there more than one connection under the carpet? If the connection is nearer the front I might try and pull the carpet back and get at it but if it's nearer the seat that would be impossible. Does the seat just unbolt? From above or below?
Sorry for the list of questions! Hope you can help.
Cheers,
Allen
Only one connection I know of, Its nearer the front, its where your left foot would be as you sit there, infront of the seat.
Seat removal isnt required but just makes it easier to lift the carpet. the carpet dont peel back very well so you end up folding it over front the sill side rather than folding it back fron the bulkhead.
Should be able to see the pipe if not, get somone to briefly run the pump, the water should make it visable.
Seat removal isnt required but just makes it easier to lift the carpet. the carpet dont peel back very well so you end up folding it over front the sill side rather than folding it back fron the bulkhead.
Should be able to see the pipe if not, get somone to briefly run the pump, the water should make it visable.
are you sure its screenwash ie does it smell of sceenwash,if not the water will be coming in through the pollen filter housing under the bonnet passenger side at the bulk head,they are notorious for the gasket failing and leaking rain water in to the car down through the heater blower and gathering in the front footwell damaging the control box causing all sorts of electrical problems,very common on audi and vw passat.this is so common a problem the dealers should be fixing it on recall but they refuse to accept resposibility ,it can be caused by leaves and dirt blocking the drain holes in the bulkhead under the battery there for filling up with water and leaking through the pollen filter gasket make sure you dry the box out £350 for a new one
Hey all,
Thanks for all the help - Reddybear, yep it's definitely screenwash - the car stank of it and I have found where the pipe had separated.
Thanks Tame Technician - found the pipe. I'd been tracking the wrong one - for anyone else who has this problem it is not the thick green 'pipe' (which is probably a very thick wire) but is the black flexible pipe that runs down the left hand side of the passenger footwell. It's loosely wrapped with loads of other wires - I hadn't spotted it inside the 'loom'.
The pipe had separated at a join which is accessible by removing the plastic trim in the front left passenger footwell (it's held on with two screws). By the time I found the join I had already removed the whole panel and left hand sill trim and begun to lift the carpet. Here's a few photos of where the pipe had separated.
1. wide shot - pipe is in the left hand corner of the passenger footwell
2. closer shot
3. close-up showing pipe with joint
The reality is that by the time you realise that you've had a leak here your floor and carpet will probably be soaked. In the wide shot above you can see a plastic box under the carpet - apparently this contains an ECU for central locking, windows etc so needs not to get wet. The carpets is heavily moulded and the foam is like sponge - to dry the carpet out you'll really need to remove the passenger seat and get in under the carpet at the foam lining which will be holding a lot of water.
Removing the seat is pretty easy. First, slide the seat fully forward and remove the plastic trims at the rear end of the runners - they just clip-on so pull them off by pushing them hard towards the centre of the footwell. Then push the seat fully back and raise it to its highest point. Look under the front of the seat and there is another pull-off plastic trim behind which are two 13mm nuts. To remove the seat you have to completely undo these two nuts. When you remove the bolts the seat can be moved backwards and the rear rollers will roll back out of the runners.
Be careful with any wiring to the seat. There will be a loom under the seat at the front and near the centre tunnel. It's easier to separate the connections when you have the seat unbolted and can lift the front on the seat slightly and see what you are doing. Mine (A6 Quattro Avant) had three connectors to be disconnected.
The seat can then be easily lifted out of the front passenger door.
The carpet is bloody hard to fold. It will come out from under the rear seat with a bit of effort but will not easily come out at the front edge above the front footwell so I just left it there. I put some towels and sponges under and above the carpet and walked about on it to force out the screenwash which worked to some extent.
Hopefully the carpets will dry out in a week - I plan to keep the seat out and keep the outer edge of the carpet lifted while pointing hot air at the passenger footwell. The hot air feed to the rear footwell is currently flowing under the rear carpet so should help dry out the rear.
So, thanks for the help guys and hope this post helps someone else!
Cheers,
Allen
Thanks for all the help - Reddybear, yep it's definitely screenwash - the car stank of it and I have found where the pipe had separated.
Thanks Tame Technician - found the pipe. I'd been tracking the wrong one - for anyone else who has this problem it is not the thick green 'pipe' (which is probably a very thick wire) but is the black flexible pipe that runs down the left hand side of the passenger footwell. It's loosely wrapped with loads of other wires - I hadn't spotted it inside the 'loom'.
The pipe had separated at a join which is accessible by removing the plastic trim in the front left passenger footwell (it's held on with two screws). By the time I found the join I had already removed the whole panel and left hand sill trim and begun to lift the carpet. Here's a few photos of where the pipe had separated.
1. wide shot - pipe is in the left hand corner of the passenger footwell
2. closer shot
3. close-up showing pipe with joint
The reality is that by the time you realise that you've had a leak here your floor and carpet will probably be soaked. In the wide shot above you can see a plastic box under the carpet - apparently this contains an ECU for central locking, windows etc so needs not to get wet. The carpets is heavily moulded and the foam is like sponge - to dry the carpet out you'll really need to remove the passenger seat and get in under the carpet at the foam lining which will be holding a lot of water.
Removing the seat is pretty easy. First, slide the seat fully forward and remove the plastic trims at the rear end of the runners - they just clip-on so pull them off by pushing them hard towards the centre of the footwell. Then push the seat fully back and raise it to its highest point. Look under the front of the seat and there is another pull-off plastic trim behind which are two 13mm nuts. To remove the seat you have to completely undo these two nuts. When you remove the bolts the seat can be moved backwards and the rear rollers will roll back out of the runners.
Be careful with any wiring to the seat. There will be a loom under the seat at the front and near the centre tunnel. It's easier to separate the connections when you have the seat unbolted and can lift the front on the seat slightly and see what you are doing. Mine (A6 Quattro Avant) had three connectors to be disconnected.
The seat can then be easily lifted out of the front passenger door.
The carpet is bloody hard to fold. It will come out from under the rear seat with a bit of effort but will not easily come out at the front edge above the front footwell so I just left it there. I put some towels and sponges under and above the carpet and walked about on it to force out the screenwash which worked to some extent.
Hopefully the carpets will dry out in a week - I plan to keep the seat out and keep the outer edge of the carpet lifted while pointing hot air at the passenger footwell. The hot air feed to the rear footwell is currently flowing under the rear carpet so should help dry out the rear.
So, thanks for the help guys and hope this post helps someone else!
Cheers,
Allen
Two things perhaps of interest.Seen on Briskoda applying to Skodas ,but it's possibly the same pipe etc.
1) - Skoda recommend using screenwash all the time.The idea is that it makes the fluid less dense and reduces the pressure on joins.
2) There was a cure for Skoda joints parting - some sort of clip .
Possibly something for TT to comment on .
1) - Skoda recommend using screenwash all the time.The idea is that it makes the fluid less dense and reduces the pressure on joins.
2) There was a cure for Skoda joints parting - some sort of clip .
Possibly something for TT to comment on .
Sorry to resurect this thread but I think I have the same problem on a 2003 A6 and your experience may really help. I think it may be causing my parking sensors to go on the blink. I've started a new thread here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Thanks in advance for any help!
Kieran
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Thanks in advance for any help!
Kieran
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