Re: Washer jets

[steveb@falcon.kla.com (Steven Buchholz)]

> The driver's side windshield washer jets on my '89 200TQ don't flow
> sufficiently to allow use of the washer.  I've tried cleaning the jets from
> outside.  I think I'm gonna hafta remove the assembly and really get to work
> on them.
> 
> Now the question:  Just how do I get that sucker out and back in without
> tearing sumpin' up?
> 
HAUDI Bob!

Before you start tearing into the jets themselves let me relate my experi-
ences (all related to '84-'88 Audi 5000s, which should be very similar to 
your 200).  You say that the driver's side doesn't flow ... is the passenger 
side pretty anemic as well?  If so, the source of your problem may be the 
check valve near the pump.  I don't know if the pumps wear over time (per-
haps exacerbated by the heavy back pressure imposed by the valve?) but it 
seems that eventually the pumps can no longer overcome the pressure needed 
to open this check valve.  On my '88 I thought it might be that the check 
valve was bad ... so I bought a replacement.  Guess what ... wimpy washers 
remained.  I found that it was possible to disassemble the check valve, 
eviscerate and reassemble it ... washers work just fine.  I did have one 
nozzle on the driver's side squirter plug ... I used a sufficiently small 
sewing needle to unplug it ... I did have to work the pin in there a few 
times ...

I started a project to try to remove the squirter itself once ... I found 
the rubber base is simply slid over the fitting on the squirter, but since 
I didn't have a replacement I didn't want to break off the squirter itself ...

Good luck!
Steve Buchholz
s_buchho@kla.com
San Jose, CA (USA)