Can anyone tell me how to get the front washer jets out on a Skoda Octavia Mk4? Currently getting either no washer fluid or just a dribble of washer fluid out of them and wanted to get them out to either clean or replace them rather than wait over a month for a garage to look at it. Only problem is I can't work out how to detach them and I don't want to break anything by being stupid!

Use obd11 and deactivate washers

14 hours ago, blackdahliasam said:

ow to get the front washer jets out on a Skoda Octavia Mk4?

Can you be more specific? Are you referring to the headlights washer jets, or the windscreen washers?

The front windscreen washers, just the heads - I don't have the skills to fix things if the problem is further back from that!

There is a thread in the past week in the Fabia MK3 and MK2 section covering 2 types of nozzle removal.  Are they just the twist type.  Vids in the threads or on YouTube.  Are they the kind that is blocked you just replace for a few Quid each? 

Traditional cure is to shove a pin into the washer nipple bit to clear our any debris. Don’t know how the modern washers are put together but it might be easier to see if you can clear them from the top end before taking them out.

 

I am presuming that there aren’t any breaks/leaks in the pipes between the washer fluid tank and the washer heads?

25 minutes ago, toot said:

There is a thread in the past week in the Fabia MK3 and MK2 section covering 2 types of nozzle removal.  Are they just the twist type.  Vids in the threads or on YouTube.  Are they the kind that is blocked you just replace for a few Quid each? 

Not sure which types the Fabia have, I've seen videos on the twist ones, but those seem to be ones mounted in the bonnet itself, whereas mine are mounted on the main body of the car.

26 minutes ago, FatWolfie said:

Traditional cure is to shove a pin into the washer nipple bit to clear our any debris. Don’t know how the modern washers are put together but it might be easier to see if you can clear them from the top end before taking them out.

 

I am presuming that there aren’t any breaks/leaks in the pipes between the washer fluid tank and the washer heads?

Yeah gave that a go but it didn't help. Just wanted to try and do the simple bit and rule them out as the culprit before I start trying to get to the rest of the system - I'm not particularly proficient with any type car maintenance so trying not to get in over my head and cause damage.

Are the like these ones? 

2.5 Removing and installing washer jets
Removing
– Support the nozzle -1- in the direction of the arrow -A- and
swivel this out in the direction of arrow -B- and partially push
it out.
 

 

– Unlock and remove the hose connection -1-, the hose remains
in the holder -2-.

2 hours ago, varooom said:

2.5 Removing and installing washer jets
Removing
– Support the nozzle -1- in the direction of the arrow -A- and
swivel this out in the direction of arrow -B- and partially push
it out.
 

 

– Unlock and remove the hose connection -1-, the hose remains
in the holder -2-.

Amazing, will give this a try later!

4 hours ago, toot said:

Are the like these ones? 

Close, these are mine:

Hi @blackdahliasam

 

I have a similar issue with a dribble just from both front windscreen jets and the jets look identical to yours

The headlamp washers have stopped working altogether and the motor/pump sounds horribly loud when i pull the right stick for the front wipers

The rear windscreen water works perfectly

Hence, i'm thinking the pump/motor for the front washers is knackered

 

Did you manage to resolve your issue and if so, what was it for you please ?

 

Edited 7 June, 20232 yr by SeanyH

How did you resolve this? Got the same problem here. Headlamp washers work fine, rear windscreen washer seems to be weaker than normal and front windscreen just dribble or don’t work at all.

On 22/01/2025 at 11:22, TH2024 said:

How did you resolve this? Got the same problem here. Headlamp washers work fine, rear windscreen washer seems to be weaker than normal and front windscreen just dribble or don’t work at all.

As it happens you have EXACTLY the same issue as my 2023 Octavia VRS.  First let us understand how the VAG/SKODA Octavia washer system works as there seems to be a few points of confusion on the web. 

 

The washer bottle (normally located behind the wheel well covers) will have a 1x washer pump mounted to the side for the front vs rear washers with two outlets, and if you have the headlight washer system there will also be a seperate pump that works at higher pressure >2bar for the headlight cleaning system.

One washer pump mounted to the side of the bottle for the front vs rear washers has TWO outlets, one outlet that feeds both the front screen washer, and the other outlet feeds the rear washer. The pump can operate in two directions, one motor direction pumps to the front screen nozzles, the opposite pump motor direction pumps to the rear glass nozzle. The direction is decided upon whether you pull the operation stalk UP for the front scrren or push the stalk DOWN for the rear washer. So as you cannot do both direction together that is why they use one single pump in a bi-directional system

 

NOW, this is the important part, there is also a screen filter inside the bottom area of the washer bottle that in these cars can easily block. The root cause is due to the small filter membrane blocking because certain screen washers fluids (esp when mixed with different brands) may cause the fluid to gel slightly, and then block the filter.  There are ways to 'attempt' to clear the problem, from the top but to fix it properly you really need to get the washer bottle out, and remove and clean the internal filter. Fully flush the system, refill using a VAG approved type fluid (or the many equivalents out there) and try and stick with THAT fluid choice.

 

So to answer your question, in your case as you seem to have an issue with only your front and rear washer operation, while it it is possible all the jets might be blocked, it is unlikely. Therefore if you can hear the pump motor working then it is almost sure the fliter inside the washer bottle is blocked.  If you cannot hear the pump motor working then either the pump itself is duff or the power supply, ie fuse, has failed. Oh and if you hold the front washer stalk up for a longer while and only see a sort off white foamy fulid spit our the nozzles, then it will defo be a blocked internal filter. The white foamy fluid that spits out is casued by the pump drawing air into the system because the blocked filter wont allow the fluid to pass from inside the bottle.

 

Note:  The front headlight washer are not fed via this internal filter so they can easily still function ok on their own. They dont use a filter in the bottle due to the higher pressures used for the headlight washing.

 

All of this is of course assuming the washer bottle is full of screenwash fulid 😉 just a little joke.

 

Good Luck and let us all know how you get on.

Chances are it's the filter at pump end actually in the water bottle causing the issue. Had to take mine apart not that long ago due to cheap screen wash.

 

Look on Google. You can put stuff in washer bottle to clear it

 

Weirdly this happened to me yesterday !! Weak then nothing front jets, weak rear jet.

 

8 hours ago, Novascape said:

Look on Google. You can put stuff in washer bottle to clear it

 

Any suggestions on what 'stuff' I should search for ? Anything I've found assumes that you are cleaning rather than unblocking or conflicting use this / don't use this.

Edited 28 January, 20251 yr by Maxi24

This was my issue. Easy access underneath the windscreen. 

Good to know. I would assume in your case it was only the front screen washers that didnt work.

Suggestions are to use washing up liquid or some type of detergent to break down dirt on filter.

 

Plus denture cleaning solution to disinfect.

 

Wish I had tried that first. I ended up having to take my plastic wheel trim half off to get access to filter. Managed to do it without wheel removal. Just had to remove about 10 screws and then pull it towards wheel a bit to get access

 

19 minutes ago, Novascape said:

Suggestions are to use washing up liquid or some type of detergent to break down dirt on filter.

 

Plus denture cleaning solution to disinfect.

 

Wish I had tried that first. I ended up having to take my plastic wheel trim half off to get access to filter. Managed to do it without wheel removal. Just had to remove about 10 screws and then pull it towards wheel a bit to get access

 

I'm trying the fizzy Milton tablets at the min - will give it a bit more time then go and try it.

Interested to know if the Milton tabs work?

Me too. Did it work OK. Lessons to learn 😉

11 hours ago, Novascape said:

Interested to know if the Milton tabs work?

Sort of - left 3 tablets in for 30 mins then tried. Rear working much better but nothing from the fronts - I suspect whatever gunk is there is no in the water pipes. Next will be draining the bottle and trying to dislodge whatever is there with a hose / warm water.

31 minutes ago, Maxi24 said:

Sort of - left 3 tablets in for 30 mins then tried. Rear working much better but nothing from the fronts - I suspect whatever gunk is there is no in the water pipes. Next will be draining the bottle and trying to dislodge whatever is there with a hose / warm water.

Another thing to try before taking the tank out and apart would be warmed up cleaning vinegar. It has been known to work on other types of issues caused by "the wrong type of" screenwash.

On a different vehicle I've had screenwash gunk problems after a dealer service when the dealer topped up the screenwash with VAG branded fluid which reacted with the high street fluid I used to created a thick gel which blocked the washer jets.