Leaking washer fluid during operation

[LimestoneR7]

Recently my Golf's washers have been hitting the windscreen too low.

I adjusted the nozzles to their highest setting bit it made no difference.

I removed the nozzle housings and soaked thin in a water / vinegar solution but it made no difference.

When I running the washer with the nozzles disconnected the outflow is just a piddle.

After doing some reading on this subject I noticed there is a some leaking on the concrete driveway on the left side of the car, a little in front of the front left wheel and also a little behind it, probably in the area directly beneath the battery.

There is no leak on the right side of the car where the reservoir is.

The rear washer nozzle pressure is perfectly fine (although I haven't checked if there is any leakage anywhere when I use it).

The sound of the washer pump sounds normal.

The leak only occurs if I use the front washers. So it's not leaking all the time.

I've always been using Bosch washer fluid I don't know if this is in line with what VW recommend, as I was reading that non genuine fluid can can issues.

It looks like there is a leak in the hoses from the reservoir or in the washer pump (which I now know from the video below) is situated just ahead of the front wheel well.
Volkswagen Washer Pump Replacement - How to find hidden windshield water pump. - YouTube

Given the nature and location of the leaks I have, is it likely that this is all caused by leaks in the hoses, a cracked connector, or a faulty washer pump, or possibly a combination of all 3?

I'm hoping that I can access all of the relevant hoses when I removed the inner plastic guards, and see where the leak(s) come out when someone else operates the washer.

[gregozedobe]

I'd check the hoses - either one is dislodged or split is my guess.

Re washer fluid, I've also read that anything other than genuine VW washer fluid can lead to blocked nozzles, but it doesn't seem likely that is your problem.

[Lucas_R]

I had a similar issue with the washer jets in my Mk6 Golf a few years back. Nothing seemed to be able to clean them well enough to work properly - so I ended up just buying new washer nozzles. They were about $20 each.

[LimestoneR7]

Thanks for the responses so far. As I only have a carport I'll wait till the weather improves a bit and then remove the inner plastic guard and try to see what is going on.

[LimestoneR7]

Unfortunately removing the inner guard does not help as tubes/pipes are not assessable. They are inner located in the LHS engine bay under the air cleaner, battery and many other things. In my case the leak is in vicinity under the battery. I suspect that when the waterpump/thermostat was replaced they may not have connected everything up firmly.

It looks like Ill have to put up with it until the next service.

[Lucas_R]

They dont work anywhere near the washer bottle when replacing the waterpump and thermostat unit just FYI. The waterpump is under the inlet manifold.

You will have to remove the front bumper to get proper access to the washer bottle unit.

[LimestoneR7]

The washer bottle is not leaking in any way.

The leak is somewhere in the vicinity of the right of the inlet manifold, if standing in front of the car.

[Lucas_R]

The washer bottle is not leaking in any way.

The leak is somewhere in the vicinity of the right of the inlet manifold, if standing in front of the car.

Might be your headlight washer then for the passenger side headlight.

[LimestoneR7]

Might be your headlight washer then for the passenger side headlight.

I thought about that, but there is no water weeping/leaking from the LHS headlight. When I removed the inner guard I could see exactly where the headlight washers where. The leak is somewhere slightly forward of the front axle line, but higher up in the engine bay.

[spellbound]

Sounds to me the same problem i have but the RH in my case , when i fill the bottle , a puddle appears right behind the headlight washer
Got a small mirror and searched , nothing coming from bottle or hoses coming out, so it must be the hose into the washer , which i cannot see .
The weird part is the bottle drops to about a third and then it stops puddling , drove me nuts , can live with it till the bumper needs to be detached for some reason .