Ralphie

On Thursday night, I pulled the lever for my windshield washer fluid. They started squirting, and then stopped. I tried again, but nothing came out. My dash didn't indicate that I was low on fluid, and I was pretty sure I wasn't because I had just filled up. I couldn't hear the windshield washer fluid pump make a sound either.

Friday morning I called my dealership, and they explained that, maybe, somehow, the windshield washer fluid froze. If it freezes, the fuse that controls it dies. I don't know how this could have happened since I park indoors at home and at work, and I only use winter windshield washer fluid (good for up to -40 degrees).

My service advisor said I could just replace fuse 37, with one of the extra 20a fuses provided. But first, I would have to make sure that the ice in my reservoir was melted.

So I bought some more windshield washer fluid and put it in a bucket full of hot water - not boiling water, but pretty close. When I was satisfied that the windshield washer fluid was hot enough, I put as much as I could in the reservoir, and went to work on the fuse box.

<img src="http://www3.sympatico.ca/ralphkaram/aw/fluid01.jpg">

I didn't have a screwdriver in the car, but I found that my key fit in the little slot for the fuse panel perfectly. So if you're on the road and don't have a screw driver, use your key. The fuse panel popped right off.

<img src="http://www3.sympatico.ca/ralphkaram/aw/fusebox00.jpg">

Unfortunately, I didn't have any spare 20a fuses. So I looked through the description of the fuses on the panel, and found that the sunroof fuse is also a 20a fuse. Well, since it's twenty below outside, and I won't be using my sunroof for a while, I just swapped the two fuses.

<img src="http://www3.sympatico.ca/ralphkaram/aw/fusebox01.jpg">

I waited about half an hour for the hot windshield washer fluid to do it's work, and then turned the car on. Tried the windshield washers, and voila! They worked. YAY!

I did some searching on AW, and apparently, <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/201418.phtml">there is a TSB out for this problem</a>. This 20a fuse should be swapped out for a 25a fuse, prior to delivery.

Any questions? Ask away...

Big D

great write up, now if only it would get down to 32 degrees here...

KobeCow

A-Ha!!! i told you guys that it could be the liquid freezing since only part of the system is heated

Ralphie

I don't remember seeing a screwdriver there, but it's very possible that I overlooked it.

*ignoring your 32 degrees comment so I don't have to kill you*

motorwaffen

2. that Audi didn't foresee such a problem in their product testing. It does get cold over there too, but perhaps not as cold!

Ralphie

However, the service advisor *did* say something to the effect of "... Audi, in their infinite wisdom, decided to..." =)

ken_in_montreal

it was due to cold temperatures and lights being on. Didn't mention anything about fluid freezing up. Shouldn't washer fluid remain fluid even at extremely low temps ? It says -40 or -45 on the bottle.<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/220966.phtml">https://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/220966.phtml</a</li></ul>

vx211

mine came with a screwdriver, and a few other small goodies

Ralphie

other than the fluid got in there and froze.

Big D

Yes, screwdriver, flat and phillips head, a small set of pliers and the wheel tool.