I've got a problem with the pipe joints failing on my Octavia.  Various suggestions on here about how to repair the joints, but that doesn't seem to get to the root of the problem, that the system is over-designed and fragile with pipes that are too rigid and unforgiving.

 

It occurs to me that a good solution might be to rip out all the pipes, and replace them with bog-standard clear plastic tube and fittings from H*****ds.  Has anyone tried this?  If not, can anyone think of reasons why it would/ wouldn't work?  My idea would be to use the old pipe as a pull-through, and get rid of a lot of intermediate joints in the process.

 

Cheers,

 

Whitetornado

I agree it's a completely stupid design and I cannot see any reason why not to use that setup. Just one thing though route it your way. The original piping runs through and is inter twined into the main vehicle wiring harness. Which does eventually split and leak behind the dashboard. What fool designed that!

If going to replace it. Why not buy one length of pipe work

Sent from my Galaxy S5

If going to replace it. Why not buy one length of pipe work

Sent from my Galaxy S5

That's pretty much my idea- one run from the motor to the back windscreen, and one from the motor which then tees just below the front washers- and get rid of all the joints that blow.  I assume it was designed that way so that the pipes could be incorporated into each section as it was assembled.

Realistically though how many joints have failed?

 

I've heard of the one along the bulkhead and the other behind the CD changer in the boot along with a few issues around the rear wiper motor / nozzles.

 

Are you suffering from repeated failures?

 

The threads on here where it is discovered there is a leak are usually related to blockages in the pipes that put pressure on the joints leading them to fail. The big one is the rear wiper nozzle getting blocked, in an effort to clear it the pump is held on for too long which instead of unblocking the nozzle pops off one of the joints.

Realistically though how many joints have failed?

 

I've heard of the one along the bulkhead and the other behind the CD changer in the boot along with a few issues around the rear wiper motor / nozzles.

 

Are you suffering from repeated failures?

 

The threads on here where it is discovered there is a leak are usually related to blockages in the pipes that put pressure on the joints leading them to fail. The big one is the rear wiper nozzle getting blocked, in an effort to clear it the pump is held on for too long which instead of unblocking the nozzle pops off one of the joints.

I don't actually know, I've only had the car a couple of months- but there seems to be one gone on the front pipe and one on the rear, and from what I read on here it sounds pretty common.

It is common and you are right to be concerned as they are generally a bugger to fix and can cause electrical damage if you are unlucky too.

 

Are they leaking now?

It is common and you are right to be concerned as they are generally a bugger to fix and can cause electrical damage if you are unlucky too.

 

Are they leaking now?

Completely disconnected- fortunately, I think outside the car, near the pump.  I'm dreading taking the front bumper off, hoping I can get at it by removing the undertray.

Edited 22 January, 201511 yr by Whitetornado

Completely disconnected- fortunately, I think outside the car, near the pump. I'm dreading taking the front bumper off, hoping I can get at it by removing the undertray.

I wouldn't totally remove joints as they're designed to take the damage if it freezes and blow off unlike one continuous pipe

But surely the only problem caused by freezing is the pipe connectors popping off?! I superglued the connectors together on my Octavia and never had a problem again.

I've owned plenty of cars where the pipe is more or less one continuous piece and occasionally the washers would freeze solid in cold weather but work perfectly again when thawed out. It's just silly VAG that put pop off connectors in the pipework. Eliminate them and the problem is gone.

I'm sure the ability for the connectors to pop off is either for ease during the manufacturing process or they are taking into consideration the potential for interior removal for a repair etc. in the future.

 

Super gluing them together is probably a good idea for a long term fix.

 

To access the pump and the source of the hose it is easier to remove the front drivers side wheel and go in from behind the wheel arch liner as the washer bottle is just on the other side in front of the wheel.

I'm sure the ability for the connectors to pop off is either for ease during the manufacturing process or they are taking into consideration the potential for interior removal for a repair etc. in the future.

 

Super gluing them together is probably a good idea for a long term fix.

 

To access the pump and the source of the hose it is easier to remove the front drivers side wheel and go in from behind the wheel arch liner as the washer bottle is just on the other side in front of the wheel.

Thanks!  That sounds so much better than dismantling the whole front of the car, which is what Haynes recommends.

Thanks guys.  I went in via the wheel arch which got me to the back of the washer bottle but couldn't get to pump connectors so removing the fog light might be a good option.  AS it turned out the pipework wasn't as bad as I'd feared, so I'm just repairing the leaks further along the system rather than replace the lot.

My rear window wsher stopped working some time ago and I have not got round to fixing it.  I think the rear wiper nozzel may well be blocked. Is there any recomendations on how I should go about unblocking it?

Thanks Mike.

Regarding super gluing the washer water pipe joints: I assume the side panel you refer to is on the side the door wiring loom feeds through the body?

 

Colin

I've put a new rear jet on mine, but it doesn't seem to clip on or anything- it just seems to push on by about 1mm, and seems really insecure.  Should it be like this?  The spigot on the end of the wiper spindle looks really rusty, I'm wondering if a bit has rusted off?

 

Incidentally, I reckon it's this rust that blocked the old nozzle and caused the problem.

Thanks Mike, reassuring to know I'm not missing something.  It seems strangely under-engineered in a car where everything else is the opposite!

As mike said, we've all been there.
My rear washer doesnt work atm. Ive checked the usual suspects and all is fine. So now i need to find time to get to the washer pump etc.
The drivers foglight is a pig to remove so im not looking forward to it