Feeder pipe location for rear washer on S3

[simonjriley]

Hi

Can someone please help me by telling me whereabouts under the bonnet I can locate the feeder pipe for the rear washer on my 1999 S3

The washer has stopped working and when the car was serviced last year the garage re-fitted the pipe, so I suspect it has come loose again

Many thanks

[00161wj]

why dont you squirt it and watch where it comes out? not rocket science.

[Tame Technician]

They usually come apart inside the boot. I'd check the connections to the wiper motor first.

You are sure its not just a blocked jet? Does it sqirt out the midle of the wiper when you take the jet out?

Should it turn out to be at the pump end, you need to take the N/S wheel arch liner out to get to it.

[simonjriley]

Tame Technician

Many thanks for your reply, I have just tested the washer with the car static on the roadside and a getting water coming out on the nearside of the engine bay towards the bulkhead.

Unfortunately I cannot really see exactly where the water is coming from.

Any suggestions?

[Tame Technician]

Thats the pump end then, the pump is attached to washer fluid botle, is most likely that its blown the pipe off, they do that, but somtimes a bit breaks off the pump and a new pump is needed.

To gain access to refit the pipe or check if its a broken pump, you need to remove the N/S/F ( front passenger side) wheel arch liner, the big black piece of plastic thats inside the wing (you will need the wheel off for this)

Normally they blow the pipe off because the washer jet is blocked, (build up of pressure) did you try the rear washers with the rear jet removed??

[S3_Graham]

could you see the tank ( therefore pump ) if you took off the cover and looked down the side?

[00161wj]

Its an a3 tame tech! It will have come adrift in the plastic cowelling behind the battery that routes the wiring into the vehicle.

[Tame Technician]

00161wj said:

Its an a3 tame tech! It will have come adrift in the plastic cowelling behind the battery that routes the wiring into the vehicle.

Never seen that before in my life, but we dont see many cars as old as that.

[simonjriley]

Thanks to you both for your replies.

Tame Technician,

Should I try the washer with the rear jet removed before I jack the car up and take the wheel arch cover off?

00161wj,

How do I get access to the area you have described behind the battery?

[00161wj]

Dont take the wheel arch liner off. And no dont bother taking the rear jet off, if its coming out in the engine bay its not going to work.
Your best off removing the air box, then have someone operate the jet and you will see where the waters coming from. If you look next to the NSF shocker top mounting point the plastic cowelling is next to it.