The pipe to the rear washer has fallen off somewhere inside the tailgate (hatch). Can anyone advise me how the big plastic trim comes off so that I can get at the pipe and reconnect it? I had a quick look, and I can get it to unclip along the bottom edge, but it seems stuck fast elsewhere. Didn't want to pull too hard and crack it, but I can't see any screws anywhere. Anybody?

Ta

Hi Nick,

I've just taken the trim off mine (for a different problem).

My approach was to wait for a warmish day, so the plastic was less brittle, then take it apart gently. Pull the bottom of the trim "away" from the hatch, and then push it up as the clips clip the plastic "down". Careful not to knock the wiper mechanism.

If you want some piccies to get a better idea of the clips I could probably arrange those tomorrow.

I got there by brute force and ignorance - once I could shine a torch up inside the trim I could see the extra two clips in the middle and once those were out it pretty much just fell off. However ... several mucky fingers and one reservoir of screenwash later I'm no further forward. The pump pumps, but no water comes out. It isn't the jet, and from the tailgate end I can blow fairly comfortably into the pipe, but not the other way. Will have to wait for a clear day so I can get all the pipe out and find the blockage/breakage. At least it's only the rear one.

There's a joint under the carpet somewhere. That's a possibility

In the estate there is a joint near to the CD changer. I am pretty sure I read a post not long ago about curing the lack of water for a rear wash for a hatch....

Arh yes. Try this: Fabia-vrs.com - Repairs to Rear Washer Pipe - Fabia and Octavia (A4 / A5).

That's a nice site - whoever owns it has put a lot of work into that.

That's a nice site - whoever owns it has put a lot of work into that.

Just in case you really didn't know, Mr C, it's run by Stu

I was really pleased to find this post. I've only had my 02 Octavia Estate for 2 months now and found this site last week to find out why the CD Changer was not working.

The CD Changer posts mentioned water getting into the plugs from just this kind of leak. At the weekend I removed the CD changer and was unsurprised to find that exactly this had occured - unfortunately some time before I bought it. The wiring loom has been soaked for some time - the CD changer plug and wiring is a write off and the fact that the boot lighting and rear demister are also offline is probably the same cause. I removed the CD Changer and unclipped the wiring loom, hanging it on the CD Changer bracket to keep it dry for now.

I dried out the bay and then ran the rear washer - no spray on window - then checked the rear well and it was about an inch deep in water - yuk! Unfortunately I didn't have a mate with me to run the washer while I watched where the water came from. That's a job for this weekend

Returning to the site I quickly found this post linking to the Skoda repair reference. All I can say is wow and thanks - the Haynes Manual had nothing on this area.

Whether I can fix it myself remains to be seen but even if not I know what to ask a garage to do - many thanks folks!