Hey guys just looking for a bit of info my car had its mot this morn and failed on xenon headlamp washers not activating..

Any idea how to solve this problem

Sorry to read. Frustrating. Unusual for both to fail....fuse possibly?

I presume they knew how to activate the lights/washers together?

Sorry danny im not sure what way it works myself too be honest

I had that on my previous car, B5 VW Passat 4Motion, in that case it was a failed high pressure pump, which annoyingly meant that I had to replace the wire harness connector as that had changed on the pump - not that you should have the connector issue. The original pump seemed to start corroding externally and that expansion cracked the plastic housing and killed the pump motor.

 

Questions:- can you hear the pump running?   is the reservoir loaded up with cold weather proof fluid?

 

As implied above, switch the headlights on and perform a few windscreen washing cycles - the headlight washers should activate at least once if you hold the windscreen washers on for a few seconds each time.

Edited 9 January, 201610 yr by rum4mo

Reservoir is full will. He k and see if I can hear pump running

Sorry that came out arse ways ... the water bottle is full and il check shortly and see if I can hear the pump

Check the fuse first, a common issue.

 

The caps can freeze to the headlight which then results in the fuse blowing when they try to operate.

 

You also need to be aware that the headlight washers do not operate every time that the windscreen is washed, it can vary from 3-5 times of the windscreen being washed before the headlight washers work. Also note that the dipped headlights need to be turned on but the MOT tester should know this.

 

One final point, the car is fitted with the bi-xenon headlights right? I.e it is an Elegance or L&K specification, or had them fitted at the factory as an option?

 

Even cars without the bi-xenon headlights have the headlight washer caps as they are part of the headlight. There is nothing behind them but the caps are present on all MkII Superbs whether they have the bi-xenon headlights or not, this can confuse some MOT testers.

 

Finally have you had the car from new? Could the previous owner have fitted an aftermarket HID kit to the car?

 

 

Edited 9 January, 201610 yr by silver1011

Cheers for in depth reply the car is elegance model and definitely has the washers I can hear both pumps working but they just not coming out

Where would I find the fuse

Guys thanks for all yer help it was the fuse

A fuse goes for a reason but why?

So is this a new check introduced in the last 6 months?

 

I only ask because the mrs' Fabia vRS has only had one headlight washer working for around three years now and that's never been mentioned on any of the three or four MOTs it's had in that time. They both pop up but only one of them squirts water out.

 

I also always hang around and watch when either of our cars has an MOT and I've never seen a tester checking the headlight washers are working.

A fuse goes for a reason but why?

 

They can freeze shut.

From the MOT testers manual...

 

"Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system.

Where such systems are fitted, they must work; however, it is accepted that it may not be possible to readily determine the functioning of self levelling systems. In such cases, the benefit of the doubt must be given.

Headlamp washers may work in conjunction with the windscreen washers (when the dipped beam headlamps are switched on) or by a separate switch. HID lamps may be identified by: - taking a few seconds to reach full intensity

- having a bluish tinge to the light

- having an igniter module/inverter behind the headlamp

- having ‘DCR’ marked on the headlamp lens. HID headlamps use high voltage and extra care should be taken when inspecting these items."

Edited 9 January, 201610 yr by silver1011

Does it say when that was added? As I say I've never seen any of the testers (In more than one garage too) do anything other than check the lights come on and that they are correctly aligned on any of our cars since 2003 which is when I got my first xenon equipped car... And every car I've had since has had xenons. And it's never been raised as a fail on the mrs' car over the last three or four years.

Of course..... This is where the mrs' car fails on it next time.

On 1/9/2016 at 11:51, silver1011 said:

Check the fuse first, a common issue.

 

The caps can freeze to the headlight which then results in the fuse blowing when they try to operate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big thanks for this thread! Had exactly this problem after the unusually cold weather back here last week. I thought it would be a major pain replacing motors or pumps, but checked the fuse as recommended above and sure enough, blown fuse! After everything that's gone wrong with the car recently, it was a relief to find something cheap and easy to fix!

Hello! I’m having the same issue could you care to tell me what number fuse it was please?

 

thanks so much 

Off the top of my head, I think it's fuse 36. But the best thing is to consult the fuse map on the back (inside) of your fuse cover flap, and check which number it is on there. You're looking for the same symbol as is shown in this image at number 36. Then use the handy visual here to find where that fuse actually is (the layout is mirrored to the map on your cover I think). Once you find it, you can swap another 20amp fuse into it and test it to see if it's working. One handy hint that I always forget about: turn the fecking headlights on when you want to test, or the washers won't deploy! 

17 hours ago, Declan O'Shaughnessy said:

Off the top of my head, I think it's fuse 36. But the best thing is to consult the fuse map on the back (inside) of your fuse cover flap, and check which number it is on there. You're looking for the same symbol as is shown in this image at number 36. Then use the handy visual here to find where that fuse actually is (the layout is mirrored to the map on your cover I think). Once you find it, you can swap another 20amp fuse into it and test it to see if it's working. One handy hint that I always forget about: turn the fecking headlights on when you want to test, or the washers won't deploy! 

Thanks so much for the info! I downloaded the Skoda iOS app which is pretty good!

will

let you know how I get on and report back once it’s stopped raining!

 

cheers

All sorted they now work!!

 

thanks so much!!

fuse was dead!!

 

next thing is the heated seats..lights come on but I don’t think they work!!

 

need it to be cold to try!!