Headlight washers crap ?

[Sootchucker]

HI all. Right been nearly 2 years now since I've owned the Rocco, and I specced it with the Winter pack. Love the heated seats, but I find to be honest the headlight washers completely useless. I've just taken a quick look at my lights now and they are as dirty as the car next to me (that doesn't have headlight washers), and that's despite them spraying 3 times on the way to work this morning.

Is everyone's so poor or just mine ? Is there any adjustment to be had ? I've checked the spray (by getting the wife to pull the lever) and it certainly seems to be directed towards the centre of the headlight, but all it does is makes the front of the car soaking wet !

[Mark V]

Yep thats what they do on most cars! Uses up a lot of washer fluid and makes your bonnet wet. And made all the more irritating by the fact there is no dedicated switch for them in VW's. I think some people have pulled the fuse to disable them - I certainly will if ever have the wrteched things again...

[mordred1973]

theres a way to stop them working (if you can remember how many times you've washed the screen, since they don;t go every time)

I think it's pulling the stalk quickly twice avoids them working (or pull the fuse) and I agree they're useless, despite being required by law on cars with Xenons

[dstill]

You can reduce the frequency at which they operate in VCDS, something like up to every ten squirts if i recall correctly, doesn't eliminate the problem but reduces it.

[martdy]

Another point
If your DRLs are turned off the headlight washers only function when you switch the headlights on

[Sootchucker]

Thanks Guys. The point I was trying to make wasn't about the frequency of operation, or tricks to fool the system etc. but more that when you do actually need them, and want them to spray, all they seem to do is douse the front of the car in suds, but not actually remove anything from the headlights themselves.

[RW1]

What do you apply to the headlight outer plastic cover if anything?

C.

[salsajoe]

Can that make a difference if, for example, you use a shampoo with wax in it - for better or worse as they say?