Stinking Windscreen Washers

[Dpicariello]

This is really weird but is really starting to get to me.
Everytime I use my washer jets the entire car is overcome with the most ungodly smell! It's horrendous! I have to wind down the windows which invariably ends up with me getting a soaking from the washer fluid!

The simple explanation would be that the fluid is just stagnant but i've had my nose right down the washer bottle filler pipe and it smells like roses.

Has anyone else had a similar problem?
Is it possible to drain the washer bottle or it a job of syphoning it all out by hand?

Also I've read about a lot of the car's fluids being specific audi ones (coolant, brake fluid etc). Is the washer fluid another one???????????

Please...... the smell is so bad........ someone....... help me!!!

[Greg_S]

I have this problem on mine too. it happened on claires corsa for a week or so too when we used halfords fluid. I've found the audi stuff is fine and doesn't stink. once I've run some water through I will change the fluid again because I tried the halfords stuff again when it stopped smellong in claires

[iain1067]

Decosol is by far the best screenwash i have ever used, Sainsbury's sell it

[big_chris1981]

i had this problem after using some premix at a petrol station.

ended up buying some cleaning soloution for baby bottles and stripping the whole washer system to get rid of the stink!

the new vag scrrenwash is top stuff...and it smells of lemons too.

[iain1067]

i find the audi stuff doesn't get rid of road grease and grime as well as my favourite stuff, each to his own i guess.


Iain

[Fat Audi 80]

I LIKE the Halfords one

[big_chris1981]

to be fair iain i probably dont dilute it anywhere near as far as i should!

[Dpicariello]

I have halfords screenwash in there now but it doesn't smell in the bottle. Anyway, on the way into work this morning I attempted to drain it using the washers. (Takes a long, long time) My god the smell is awful!!!!
I'll use some cleaner and then go straight to Audi.

[batty]

I've had just that problem with the Halford's stuff. smells okay in the bottle, but use it on the windscreen & the whole of the inside of the car smells like there's been a clutch of tom-cat's peeing inside !!!

I just rinsed it out with some extra low-temp capable stuff a couple of times.

[dan_b]

I like the Halfrauds stuff too.
Speaking of windscreen washers, does anybody else get this - my right right nozzle always blocks up. I unblock it, and it'll last about 2 weeks then it blocks up again. If I leave it longer, then the right left goes. Always in that order. Damned annoying. Oh and then the really short hose that isn't quite long enough that supplies the right nozzle will fall out sometimes too, that's annoying.
Oh and my headlamp washers have stopped working. The pump goes, but no spray...

[s2driveruk]

hardly ever use anything in mine except in the depths of winter...just plain old water and it works fine...

@ Dan yeah my bloody link pipe comes off mine which really annoys the hell out of me when the drivers side gives up and i still have a missing drivers side headlamp washer too

[dan_b]

That link pipe is what, about 1cm too short? Grr! Why did Audi decide to try and save weight on that little hose?!

[HPmuirt]

A common fix for the short hose syndrome is the cable tie....works a treat

As for the smell, I too have had this problem for months now. I have rained the system repeatedly and tried various makes of screen wash, but the stench persists. I have come to the conclusion that I have some sort of grown or algae bloom in the bottle so I am gonna need to strip it out and sterilise it

Cheers n

Si