Front passenger side pink fluid leak... Windshield washer or coolant ?

[zizouomar]

Hi guys,

So I parked my car home this morning and when I went to start it to ride to the grocery store by the end of the day, I noticed a pink fresh puddle right under the bumper, front passenger side.
I looked at the coolant tank and it doesnt seem to be different than the last time I checked it... The thing is that my windshield washer fluid is exactly the same colour as the coolant in our cars...pink.

What is located on this side ? I looked at threads about B8 2.0t front passenger leaks and didnt found a thing. Can it be the front passenger headlight washer ?

Thanks !

[audrobotic]

Glycol is fairly easy to recognize by the sweet smell. I didnt even know the B8 offered a headlight washer.

[Smac770]

I imagine if you sniff the coolant and the windshield washer fluid, you find they likely smell quite different. It would be of interest which the puddle smelled more like. I'm sure there's a chemical manner to differentiate the two also.

But you have the right end of the radiator over there, and the coolant lines to the turbo. Windshield washer fluid would only be in that area if you have headlight washers. If you don't, then it's going to be coolant.

There's not much to the headlamp washer:
https://audi.7zap.com/en/usa/audi+a4.../9/955-955030/
There's the "lift cylinder" behind the cover, and then the supply line and the elbow.

You might be able to see enough of the stuff to confirm by just removing the closing element on the bottom of the lock carrier (what seals the gap between the 4 screw row and the 3 screw row at the front underside).

- - - Updated - - -

I don't think it was an option in US; but wouldn't surprise me if it was common in Canada.

[Spawne32]

Usually when its towards the front of the bumper it tends to be the radiator, however that is a very broad and general guess with not seeing the car.

[Theiceman]

Glycol is fairly easy to recognize by the sweet smell. I didnt even know the B8 offered a headlight washer.

All xenon lights must have headlight washers. Its german law..
For my car the washer jet failed a leaked. On my b8.5 you can do it without removing bumper so it was nice.
I would just wait and see if your washer tank empty warning comes on then you will know.




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[Theiceman]

Pretty stright forward repair for an 8.5.. pop out tbe headlight. Replace jet pump. Reinstall.headlight..20191209_165130.jpeg

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[zizouomar]

Ok guys so I took advice from all of you, tried to smell the puddle, then my windshield washer, then my coolant tank and they all seem to smell different Haha
However, the puddle is still fresh today and it is still dripping from the bumper/innerfender junction and my coolant tank didnt move a bit.

I'll wait till my washer warning pop on I guess..
I do prefer that than having a water pump or radiator issue though.

[Theiceman]

Yeah i had this exact ussue last fall.

I got a relplacement after market cheap..

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[zizouomar]

Yeah i had this exact ussue last fall.

I got a relplacement after market cheap..

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Which part, jet pump? Was it an easy job?

[zizouomar]

Update : it is my windshield washer fluid. At least not a coolant issue !
Now trying to find from where is the leak.

[Theiceman]

Yup.easy job. Remove headlight, replace sprayer, replace headlight..
Mines an 8.5 so noture if yours will be that easy..
Not even screws holding it in. Just 3 release tabs..

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[mmoiron]

Are you shore it is not oil from the lower suspension arm mount? In other words, is it oil?

[zizouomar]

Yup.easy job. Remove headlight, replace sprayer, replace headlight..
Mines an 8.5 so noture if yours will be that easy..
Not even screws holding it in. Just 3 release tabs..

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Isnt there a lot of piece where the leak could come from ? Valves, hoses ?
How did you know it was this part failing?

[zizouomar]

Are you shore it is not oil from the lower suspension arm mount? In other words, is it oil?

100% sure, I fulled my washer fluid tank 2 weeks ago and almost didnt use it. Got the washer fluid empty warning yesterday.

[Theiceman]

pretty easy to get to ...after removing the light.

[audrobotic]

That would be awesome if a friend fooled you - and after you fixed it poured pink gatorade on the ground in that spot every night. I got the idea from this guy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E6m...hannel=VINwiki

[Novarider]

All xenon lights must have headlight washers. Its german law..
For my car the washer fet failed a leaked. My b8.5 you can do it without removing bumper so it was nice.
I woukd just wait and see if your washer tank empty war nng comes on then you will know.




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It's not that way in the US. My 2011 doesn't have them and I have hid lights

[Theiceman]

Wow really ?? Ive never seen that anywhere. Likely because in Canada.
Pic ?

Edit: just did some reading on this and its very interesting. Apparently there was a change made along the way and low power xenons below 2000 lumens no longer require washers.

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[zizouomar]

Just a quick update guys.... A pretty strange one though, the leak just stopped by itself. I really dont understand how but I dont see any puddle anymore under my front bumper and my washer fluid tank stays full....

[Theiceman]

if you really want to know ... wash your windshiled with your lights on so the sprayyer pops out .. if the seal is gone it will begin leaking again... the seal has to move as the inner cylinder moves in and out on that seal to extend the sprayer..

[zizouomar]

Reviving this thread from the deaths but an update as this issue came back. It is confirmed that it is not windshield washer fluid as I have been fulling that tank with only blue coloured fluid since then to be sure I would not be mixed if a leak would happen. Now I can be sure it is coolant fluid..... So now my question would be, is a full rad replacement has to be done here or maybe a hose ? What is usually the culprit in this situation ?

[Smac770]

Are you losing coolant?

Could be the purple-ish coolant. But maybe it could be ATF? Does it seem to be watery or oily?

ATF lines go to the radiator on that side low.

There's no coolant lines to the radiator on that side: https://audi.7zap.com/en/usa/audi+a4.../1/121-121030/
If it is coolant, it's coming from the turbo, maybe the line across the front of the engine to the turbo, or broken radiator.

Have you tried pressure testing the coolant system for leaks?

[MyDimeIsUp]

Not the best advice but after a long drive check for any wet spots both on the outside of the bumper as well as the inside. Slide your finger through the wet spot and give it a taste. Before I go on with the rest, spit it out and rinse your mouth with water once or twice. Its not gonna kill you with such a tiny amount but best not to ingest that stuff. If it tastes sweet, like unbearably sweet, it's coolant. If not you have a mystery but at this point it seems like coolant. Also like smac said a pressure test is also best.

If its ATF idk what it taste like but when I did a drain and refill on my ZF, it smelled absolutely horrible. Smell your finger and if it just smells really bad (you WILL know) then its ATF.

[jkrew]

Jack the car up and look at every coolant juncture for crusty white/pink residue. It could be anything from a radiator flange to a water pump seal. Make sure all of your hoses are pushed in and clamped correctly. Look for pin holes etc etc. Coolant dries fairly quickly so if you find some crust, look above it to make sure it’s not dripping from above as well.

There’s no way any of us can tell where this issue is coming from on the internet so you’re going to have to do some investigating or pay someone to do it for you


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[zizouomar]

Are you losing coolant?

Could be the purple-ish coolant. But maybe it could be ATF? Does it seem to be watery or oily?

ATF lines go to the radiator on that side low.

There's no coolant lines to the radiator on that side: https://audi.7zap.com/en/usa/audi+a4.../1/121-121030/
If it is coolant, it's coming from the turbo, maybe the line across the front of the engine to the turbo, or broken radiator.

Have you tried pressure testing the coolant system for leaks?

Car is manual ! So not ATF.
I will go for a long ride this weekend and lookup for any puddle but havent seen one since months and months. Only those drips on the bumper.

[Smac770]

Then it's coolant. Pressure test the system, look for leaks.

[Theiceman]

may have got a rock in your rad..