Is there a way to turn off the 'auto every 5 uses of the windscreen washer it then auto activates the headlight washer function'?

In this freezing weather my delicate headlight washer covers are stopping out in the washing position.

Probably due to ice in the retract/extend mechanism which looks very flimsy.

If it is icy (covering the headlight cover for example) using the windscreen washer could damage this

mechanism if the headlight washer operates at the same time.

As I doubt if this would be covered under warranty I would like to turn off headlight washing during icy weather.

How do you do this and avoid costly repairs??

Edited 25 December, 201015 yr by kibby

You cant if you have xenon headlights since the washers are required by law.

you cant the only thing you can do is turn the lights off briefly as they only work when the lights are on .

Edited 25 December, 201015 yr by bill2

I believe you can alter the time of the washers in the Octavia 2, same might apply to the Yeti

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/177313-anyone-altered-headlamp-wash-settings-for-an-octy2/

Please don't turn it off.

i have covered 100 miles on my way home from visiting my son for Christmas. The biggest pain in the butt was dirty headlights, blinding on-coming drive - Xenon or Halogen - so the wash function is an important safety feature.

LEAVE IT ALONE AND BE A GOOD CITIZEN ON THE ROAD.

you cant the only thing you can do is turn the lights off briefly as they only work when the lights are on .

Are you sure about that?

Mine seem to work every 5th blast, no matter what the lights are doing!

Are you sure about that?

Mine seem to work every 5th blast, no matter what the lights are doing!

The headlight washers work every fifth time whether the lights are on or not on my car.

The headlight washers work every fifth time whether the lights are on or not on my car.

Agreed.

They wash the headlights on the first occasion that you use the windscreen washers after turning headlights on, then every 5th time subsequently.

I agree though, they do seem to spray for rather longer than I want at the moment, but presumably that's because until the muck on the lights is properly wet, the jets alone wont clear the lens.

If you turn back to parking lights (or lights off) wash the w/screen, then turn h/lights back on, the headlights won't be washed, but the next time you forget... they'll remember & wash the lights for you!

I must try going to front fogs (without h/lights) to see if you can beat the system that way!

Edited 25 December, 201015 yr by speedsport

The washers should only work with the lights on, I know that when mine are off or in the auto position then the washers do not function unless the lights are actually on.

On mine they only wash the xenons if the lights are on.

Having driven home Christmas Eve 100 miles in the dark with heavy traffic on the motorway and a lot of snow, it was a real pain being blinded by all those irresponsible twits with snow and other muck on their headlights. So what do they do, as they cannot see as well as usual? Turn the fogs on as well and make things worse.

I am sure it is ignorance, lazyness perhaps, but not ill will. Just goes to show the lack of brains in a too large part of the population.

I can't see that a jet alone will clean the lights, this is the second car I have had with this function and neither work well, so I don't see the point. If a little hand came out and wiped them then fair enough but a jet on its own is a bit pointless. I'd like to turn them off but this post has been done before and I have yet to see a positive response.

I can't see that a jet alone will clean the lights, this is the second car I have had with this function and neither work well, so I don't see the point. If a little hand came out and wiped them then fair enough but a jet on its own is a bit pointless. I'd like to turn them off but this post has been done before and I have yet to see a positive response.

That's why they wash more frequently than some would like.

The high pressure spray has a better chance of removing recent and wet dirt than older dried on muck.

The reason they can't be turned off is obvious, they are a legal requirement.

Better that than the horrible looking wiper blades as seen on older Volvo's that get stuck half way across the headlight, never rest in the correct position and are more vulnerable than retracting arms.

Best just to accept the fact that you will use a little more screenwash at this time of year, a small price to pay for increased visibility.

That's why they wash more frequently than some would like.

The high pressure spray has a better chance of removing recent and wet dirt than older dried on muck.

The reason they can't be turned off is obvious, they are a legal requirement.

Better that than the horrible looking wiper blades as seen on older Volvo's that get stuck half way across the headlight, never rest in the correct position and are more vulnerable than retracting arms.

Best just to accept the fact that you will use a little more screenwash at this time of year, a small price to pay for increased visibility.

Agreed!

I can't see that a jet alone will clean the lights, this is the second car I have had with this function and neither work well, so I don't see the point. If a little hand came out and wiped them then fair enough but a jet on its own is a bit pointless. I'd like to turn them off but this post has been done before and I have yet to see a positive response.

My experience is that the washer jets for the xenon lights do a good job.

My car is SE without xenon lights.

My point was not about the benefits of a headlight washer but about the damage to the unit if they

auto function when in extreme conditions causing the mechanism to break.

Mine have already not retracted (the cover) on one side which I assume is related to the ice build up.

When conditions improve of course I would like to switch the function back on.

In the fully out position the mechanism behind the cover is very delicate!!!

The problem is that unless you are very careful it is not easy to assess when they are due to wash

the headlight and if this happens when the mechanism is compromised by cold/ice on the outside

cover of the headlight washer mechanism it could blow a fuse/break the mechanism which is

made of delicate not very strong plastic links.

I doubt if damage would be covered by warranty leading to extra expense.

Would have though Skoda would have thought this through especially as the other electronic

systems are very clever assuming they work!!!

Edited 26 December, 201015 yr by kibby

My car is SE without xenon lights.

My point was not about the benefits of a headlight washer but about the damage to the unit if they

auto function when in extreme conditions causing the mechanism to break.

Mine have already not retracted (the cover) on one side which I assume is related to the ice build up.

When conditions improve of course I would like to switch the function back on.

In the fully out position the mechanism behind the cover is very delicate!!!

The problem is that unless you are very careful it is not easy to assess when they are due to wash

the headlight and if this happens when the mechanism is compromised by cold/ice on the outside

cover of the headlight washer mechanism it could blow a fuse/break the mechanism which is

made of delicate not very strong plastic links.

I doubt if damage would be covered by warranty leading to extra expense.

I assume it is not a legal requirement if xenons not fitted or are you saying if they are fitted

it would be illegal to have a 'switch off' function??

Would have though Skoda would have thought this through especially as the other electronic

systems are very clever assuming they work!!!

My car is SE without xenon lights.

My point was not about the benefits of a headlight washer but about the damage to the unit if they

auto function when in extreme conditions causing the mechanism to break.

Mine have already not retracted (the cover) on one side which I assume is related to the ice build up.

When conditions improve of course I would like to switch the function back on.

In the fully out position the mechanism behind the cover is very delicate!!!

The problem is that unless you are very careful it is not easy to assess when they are due to wash

the headlight and if this happens when the mechanism is compromised by cold/ice on the outside

cover of the headlight washer mechanism it could blow a fuse/break the mechanism which is

made of delicate not very strong plastic links.

I doubt if damage would be covered by warranty leading to extra expense.

Would have though Skoda would have thought this through especially as the other electronic

systems are very clever assuming they work!!!

I think I'm right in saying that the washer jets are not electric in terms of them being motor driven but work on the water pressure so there should not be any problem in terms of damage, unless some smart-arse snaps them when they are out and frozen. They should retract and work normally once thawed out but this illustrates another good reason to ensure adequate winter mix of screen wash (probably best to dose assuming temperature far below that expected as I would guess the tubes leading to the headlight jets will not get any heat from the engine).

Is there a way to turn off the 'auto every 5 uses of the windscreen washer it then auto activates the headlight washer function'?

Its simply done.

Use your handbook to locate the correct fuse number for the 'headlamp wash' and remove it. Keep it in a safe place (there is a 'spare fuse' space in the fuse box) and replace when required.

On the Octavia its in the fuse box on the right hand end of the dashboard, you have to have the drivers door open to access this, but I can't remember the fuse number (and don't have a handbook to hand to look); I expect it to be in the same place on Yeti.

Good luck.

Thanks never thought of that

The fuse is #31 in the dashpanel fuse box.

As far as i can tell, this system is just a higher pressure pump, as the washer mechanism is powered by the WW fluid pressure.

The real solution to your problem is to use fluid with enough alcohol to stay liquid at low temperatures.

Whatever you do, please keep those headlights clean - both so that you can see and not blind your fellow drivers.

The fuse is #31 in the dashpanel fuse box.

Thanks. IIRC its #28 in the Octavia, but this will save me working it out when I get my Yeti in a week or so's time.

Yes; don't worry I always keep my lights clean wiping them each morning when I defrost/wipe my windows. :yes:

My experience is that the washer jets for the xenon lights do a good job.

Yes, my experience too.

Its simply done.

Use your handbook to locate the correct fuse number for the 'headlamp wash' and remove it. Keep it in a safe place (there is a 'spare fuse' space in the fuse box) and replace when required.

On the Octavia its in the fuse box on the right hand end of the dashboard, you have to have the drivers door open to access this, but I can't remember the fuse number (and don't have a handbook to hand to look); I expect it to be in the same place on Yeti.

Good luck.

I'd be a bit iffy about doing this, If you had a collision (particularly if there were any injury) and the other driver claimed to be dazzled by your Xenons, the Police would check for this sort of thing and you could be in trouble for the 'modification'. The washers are there for a purpose and even though you might clean the lamps first thing, they get filthy surprisingly quickly.

I can't see what the problem is in just keeping the washer bottle topped up with washer fluid. The stuff isn't that expensive.

The reason they can't be turned off is obvious, they are a legal requirement.

Not if you have the SE standard lights. Agreed for the Xenons but not for standard halogen lights. Not so obvious after all.

Not if you have the SE standard lights. Agreed for the Xenons but not for standard halogen lights. Not so obvious after all.

Agreed but you need all the help you can get if you have halogens