Just got a call from the missus on her way to work - she used the windscreen washers with the headlights on and of course the headlamp washers activated too........no water came out of either as it was -3C when she set off and it appears either the nozzles or the wash has frozen, but now the headlamp washers haven't retracted back and are sticking out, one about 2 inches and the other about 1.5 by all accounts.

I'm assuming that the mechanism may be frozen - so is the best thing to either just leave them to thaw out eventually or should she pour some warm water on them - and will they just naturally retract back automatically, or does she need to activate the washers with the headlights on to get them moving again?

Its a new 2.0TDi L&K Estate bought 2 months ago.

Just had an update - she got to work and has poured warm water on the windscreen washer nozzles and they are now working fine - she also poured some on the headlamp washers and with a 'wiggle' one has retracted, however the other still hasn't budged.

Is the motor likely to have burn't out and be knackered?

She said the temp went down to -5C at some point during the journey, but surely the headlamp washer modules themsleves should be up to the task in colder weather?

Edited 1 December, 200817 yr by Adywebb

Just wait for the thaw. Less like to break something than trying to force a frozen part.

I may be wrong, but it was my understanding that the headlight washers worked off water pressure from the jet itself to move (hence why the car is hungry for screenwash) rather than being motorised?

Is your screenwash a winter mix? or a weaker summer mix?

Niall

Hmmm, thinking about it your probably right about them being operated by water pressure rather than a motor - makes sense to me

It got a winter mix - but obviously not strong enough by the looks of it.

Further update......the other washer module has now retracted and all working fine

It would seem that although the wash in the bottle is not freezing - by the time it thins out at the nozzles it freezes despite a good winter mix.

it will do with a 70mph windchill!

they are water pressure driven fyi

Time to make a mix up for -16 degrees me thinks.

2 Bottles of screenwash to a 5L tank of water.

Oh the delights of winter motoring and high tech cars.

For me; I avoid using the screen wash unless I absolutely have too when the temp is below freezing as more often than not it makes the screen worse and I have taken the fuse out, no 36 in the fuse board on the side of the dash, to neutralise the headlamp wash.

Have a look at this old thread for more info; http://briskoda.net/octavia-ii/beams-washer-disconnect/89260/

For this reason TOYOTA headlamp washers are operated via a separate button, so you only wash what you want to wash. And the fluid consumption is much better. :-)