Rear washer worry

I have a 2005 Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI Sport. I have a problem with the rear wash/wipe, in particular the lack of any water being sprayed on the rear window. The wiper moves and I can hear the pump working, but the level in the washer tank does not go down and there is no water on the rear screen. The rear nozzle looks clear and free from dirt and debris. The front screen washers

work fine, so I am assuming the pump is okay and that the same pump drives rear and front washers. Any ideas on what I can do to get the water to flow?

Martin Handyside

One of the most common causes of failure on the Skoda rear wiper system is due to a blockage in the small metal tube that runs through the motor spindle. To check this you will need to remove the rear hatch trim panel and access the rear washer connection on the motor. After removing the fixing screws for the trim panel handle, the trim panel can be loosened from the hatch using a plastic lever – a spatula handle should do the trick. With the panel off, you will see the washer pipe going to the back of the motor. By detaching the pipe and operating the washer, you will be able to eliminate or confirm this as the problem. If this is the cause of the problem, Skoda can supply a repair kit consisting of a new pipe and spindle.

If there is no washer fluid coming from this section of pipe, you will need to check through the system, starting at the front to ensure fluid is actually being pumped from the system. There are two connections that may be at fault. One is around the nearside front of the bulkhead where the washer pipe enters the vehicle, the other is at the rear nearside before the piping exits to go through to the hatch. You should also ensure that the pipe between the hatch and body has not been crushed.