Headlight Washers and how do they work?

[Mr G]

Hi guys,

Looking at the below, I assume my car has headlight washers?

How on earth do they work and what function do I use to activate them?

Or, are these just a cover?

Thanks.

 

[cliffcoggin]

That appears to be a blanking plate to cover the hole where headlamp wipers would be if they were fitted.

[Mr G]

47 minutes ago, cliffcoggin said:

That appears to be a blanking plate to cover the hole where headlamp wipers would be if they were fitted.

AH, I see, to its just a cover. I guess they just use a universal bumper then.

[Steve Q]

If the car has xenon headlights then it'll definitely have headlight washers as it's a legal requirement I believe. 

In theory once you activate the windscreen washers they should pop out to clean the headlights. 

[Mr G]

41 minutes ago, Steve Q said:

If the car has xenon headlights then it'll definitely have headlight washers as it's a legal requirement I believe. 

In theory once you activate the windscreen washers they should pop out to clean the headlights. 

I don't think they do....

[spartacus 68]

Audi cut-backs. On cars with xenon headlights, then yes they are fitted as standard, however on cars they moved over to LED headlights and became option only. On cars with old school halogen - then there's no requirement for wash. LED Matrix will have headlight wash.

Other cutbacks include removing oil level dipstick (moved to MMI display), reflectors instead of door open warning lights

[Mr G]

46 minutes ago, spartacus 68 said:

Audi cut-backs. On cars with xenon headlights, then yes they are fitted as standard, however on cars they moved over to LED headlights and became option only. On cars with old school halogen - then there's no requirement for wash. LED Matrix will have headlight wash.

Other cutbacks include removing oil level dipstick (moved to MMI display), reflectors instead of door open warning lights

I think mine are standard LED.

[Stevey Y]

25 minutes ago, Mr G said:

I think mine are standard LED.

Hi your headlights are HID I think you will find that they are fitted with D5S bulbs and for reasons only known  only to type approval in Germany they do not qualify for washers even though they throw out an equivalent amount of light to the old D3S equipped units, which needed washers, D5S units use a lot less voltage than D3S/D1S bulbs therefore are considered a greener alternative as they extend battery/alternator life, also D5S  will not burn the reflector bowls unlike the above mentioned and they also have an integral ballast unit built in to the bulb housing so no more guessing if its the bulb or the separate ballast that was fitted to D3S/D1S.

Steve.