Volkswagen Add Windshield Washer Fluid

Does the windshield washer symbol appear on your Volkswagen dashboard? Learn how to fix the problem by adding windshield washer fluid to your Volkswagen.

This guide provides instructions on adding windshield washer fluid to any Volkswagen vehicle, including Jetta, Passat, Bora, Beetle, Golf, Routan, Tiguan, etc.

Procedure

For this step, a windshield washer fluid is needed. Using just water is not recommended.

1. Park your Volkswagen on level ground.
2. Turn off the ignition and set the parking brake.
3. Pull the hood release under the dashboard and open the hood.If you need help with this step or your hood won’t open, see our guide on How to open the VW hood. 
4. Go to the front of the vehicle, release the hood latch, and lift the hood. Secure the hood with the hood rod or ensure it stays up on its own.
5. Locate the windshield washer reservoir. Lift the cap. 
6. Add windshield washer fluid until the level is about two inches (5 cm) below the top of the filler neck. Close the cap and test the washers.

Washer Fluid Tips and Troubleshooting

Never pour coolant into the washer bottle

Both reservoirs sit near each other under the hood and the caps can look similar, and people do mix them up. Antifreeze sprayed onto the windshield smears badly enough to blind you at the worst moment, strips wax and damages paint and rubber trim, and it is toxic to animals where it drips onto the ground. If it has gone in, do not operate the washers. Siphon the bottle out and flush it with clean water before refilling. The washer cap is marked with a windshield and spray symbol.

Water alone causes more problems than it solves

Plain water freezes, and when it does it can split the reservoir or burn out the pump, neither of which is a cheap repair on a modern Volkswagen. It also grows algae in the bottle over a summer, which blocks the jets and the filter. If you have topped up with water in warm weather, run the system down and refill with proper fluid before the first frost rather than after it.

Pump runs but nothing comes out

If you can hear the motor working and get no spray, the fluid is not reaching the glass. In winter the lines and jets freeze first, so a warm garage for an hour usually restores it. Otherwise the jets are blocked, and a fine pin or a blast of compressed air clears them. On cars with heated washer jets, a jet that only works once the engine is warm points at the heater element rather than a blockage.

Check the headlight washers too

Volkswagens fitted with headlight washers draw from the same reservoir and use a surprising amount each time they fire, which is why the level seems to drop faster than you expect on those cars. They usually only operate when the headlights are on and at intervals, so a bottle that empties quickly in winter is normal rather than a leak.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put water in my windshield wiper fluid?

• Not recommended. When you use water instead of windshield washer fluid: you risk calcium deposit buildup, mold growing in warm weather, and ice damaging the washer fluid pump, lines, and reservoir itself can crack in cold weather when water is used.
• Do not use engine antifreeze, either.

How much washer fluid do you put in?

• Pour the windshield washer fluid directly into the reservoir through the opening. Usually, one gallon should fill up the whole reservoir. You can fill the VW windshield fluid reservoir up to the cap and stop two inches (5 cm) below the cap.

How do I know my VW windshield fluid level is low?

• The windshield washer fluid at the low level stays on constantly and does not turn off when the car is started.

How often should you add windshield washer fluid?

• The windshield washer fluid level should be checked and added when empty or at every service interval.

Related Guides

• How To Check And Add Brake Fluid On Your Volkswagen
• How to Check and add Coolant on your Volkswagen

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