Hi,

dont really like these or think they are needed. When headlights are on they operate the 1st and 5th time you use windscreen washers. Seem to have a separate fuse (expect there is a high power pump) so wondered if I can just pull the fuse or will it caused other issues?

Gets through screenwash fast this time of year!!

Ian

you can pull the fuse or have them coded out

if you have hid's they will probably fail the MOT depending how the MOT station interperate the rules

if you have hid's they will probably fail the MOT depending how the MOT station interperate the rules

Skoda dealer passed mine through two mot's with them not working (and two services) I only found out when I got vcds and spotted the error code. Just shows how much attention the dealers pay

My dealer never checked the operation of the headlight washer on my xenon equipped vRS either.

As mentioned above you can pull the fuse as this fuse has sole responsibility for the headlight washers. I'm not keen on this idea though as for some reason pulling a fuse doesn't sit right with me

On older Octavia's it is possible to prevent the headlight washer's operating by very quickly pulling on the stalk, releasing then pulling it again. This washers the windscreen but bypasses the headlight wash.

This doesn't work on later Octavia's though, how old is your Superb?

Skoda dealer passed mine through two mot's with them not working (and two services) I only found out when I got vcds and spotted the error code. Just shows how much attention the dealers pay

tbh its a very grey area. If you ask the department of transport their opinion is different to VOSA's, the mot isnt worth the paper its written on imo

tbh its a very grey area. If you ask the department of transport their opinion is different to VOSA's, the mot isnt worth the paper its written on imo

Still think they should have picked it up on the services though (Via a scan if nothing else).

The time that the headlight washers trigger for can be adjusted by vcds iirc so could be made very short to save on washer liquid.

Coding out the washers on VCDS is easy from memory. I am sure I have seen the option to untick it whilst trawling through the long coding helper.

It would be very useful if you could delay the headlight washers coming on. It's one thing that has bugged since I got the new car.

you can pull the fuse or have them coded out

Yup, just extract the relevant fuse. Easily replaced at service and MOT time.

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It's the wifes Octy 58 plate elegance - I'll pull the fuse. She finds them quite annoying too as you momentarily loose sight of everything when they spray!

Thanks for the replies.

Ian

The quick spray method works for me.

Glad I'm not the only one using litres of screen wash each week.

It would be very useful if you could delay the headlight washers coming on. It's one thing that has bugged since I got the new car.

IIRC you can, along with the time they are activated for. So you could have them activated on a "long pull".

IIRC you can, along with the time they are activated for. So you could have them activated on a "long pull".

Interesting, i'll plug vcds in and see if I can find any options.

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Result! Plugged in my laptop and with a bit of hunting through the long coding found the setting for the delay. I increased it from 0.05 seconds to 1 whole second, much better. I also noticed you can adjust how long the washes activate for but I left that set to 1 second.

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Planning to pull the fuse on mine whenever we get snow and ice.

Covers freeze to the bumper, then the washer activates automatically and off pings the cover with a snapping of retaining lugs. Lost 2 in previous years that way.

A real pain, and I've never found the washers that effective at cleaning the lights anyway. A bucket of water each weekend and going round doing all the lights on the car is far more effective.

I presume that with VCDS you could set the duration to zero which would effectively disable them.

Can anyone point me to a copy of the government new MOT rulebook that goes to testers where it says headlamp washers will now be tested (2006 Octavia 2.0L Estate Elegance)? My covers came off due to icing and broke the plastic connectors, so I glued them back since the washers are somewhat superfluous.

Last year one local MOT tester (referring to a chart for specific vehicles) said they would not be included under the new rules, another said they would be!

I'm due a test shortly.

Any advice would be helpful.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/publications/manualsandguides/vehicletestingmanualsandguides.htm#P30_782

Or http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_170.htm

It looks like it is only a fail for them not working if the vehicle is fitted with HID headlights.

Edited 10 June, 201313 yr by Metblackrat

Skoda dealer passed mine through two mot's with them not working (and two services) I only found out when I got vcds and spotted the error code. Just shows how much attention the dealers pay

And that doesn't worry you at all?

The fact they passed a vehicle that they shouldn't have - what else did they miss?

Can anyone point me to a copy of the government new MOT rulebook that goes to testers where it says headlamp washers will now be tested (2006 Octavia 2.0L Estate Elegance)? My covers came off due to icing and broke the plastic connectors, so I glued them back since the washers are somewhat superfluous.

Last year one local MOT tester (referring to a chart for specific vehicles) said they would not be included under the new rules, another said they would be!

I'm due a test shortly.

Any advice would be helpful.

Ask FordFan, he's an MOT tester. ;)

Interesting.....double post :S :S

And that doesn't worry you at all?

The fact they passed a vehicle that they shouldn't have - what else did they miss?

Was DMK, nothing surprises me with that lot, suffice to say I don't go there anymore.

Many thanks for the references Metblackrat – very useful. After ploughing through these, I agree – it looks as if headlight washers will not be tested for my particular Octavia (Elegance). Logical I suppose, since if working headlight washers are deemed a legal necessity then all Skodas without these washers are presumably illegal? If it fails the MOT I’ll advise.

Just to confirm - MOT tester said headlight washers for 2006 Octavia Elegance 2.0L diesel are not a required test item, so the car passed the MOT with non-working washers.