Windshield Wiper and Washer System - Up to 2000 Audi A6 C5

Windshield wiper system

Note. Determine the correct coding for the anti-theft radio before disconnecting battery Ground (GND) strap. Remember to reactivate vehicle options (radio, clock, power windows, engine) according to user manuals after reconnecting battery.

Windshield wiper system, removing and installing

Note. Before removing the wiper arms, be sure that the wiper motor is in the park position. Before removing the wiper motor, remove the cover for the electronics box (E-box).

Removing wiper arms

1. Remove wiper blades.
2. Pry caps off wiper arms using screwdriver.

1. Loosen nuts (arrows), but do not remove them completely.
2. Loosen wipers arms at their base -1- by rocking them gently.
3. Remove nuts completely and remove wiper arms.
4. Pull out cowl retainers (3x).
5. Carefully pry up cowl panel grill -2- at bottom of windshield.
6. Remove cowl panel grill.

Removing wiper frame together with linkage and wiper motor

1. Remove three hex bolts -1- (number 10).
2. Carefully tilt wiper frame -2- up at rear (arrows) and remove complete assembly from plenum chamber out and to right.
3. Remove harness connector from wiper motor.

Wiper motor, removing from linkage

Note. Do not loosen the hex nut (number 13) on the wiper motor crank.

1. Pry linkage rod -3- off ball joint (arrow).
2. Remove three bolts -2- on wiper motor bracket.
3. Remove wiper motor -1- from bracket.

Installing

1. Install wiper motor -1- together with crank on wiper motor bracket.
2. Engage linkage rod -3-, adjust end position of linkage at -a-.
3. Install harness connector for wiper motor.
4. Insert wiper frame (wiper motor first) into plenum chamber.
5. Tilt wiper frame forward and tighten nuts to 8 Nm (71 in. lb).
6. The rest of the installation is the reverse of removal.

Adjusting wiper blades to park position. See Wiper blade park position, adjusting .

Wiper blade park position, adjusting

1. Operate wiper motor and allow it to return to park position.
2. Position wiper blades against windshield, align wipers and tighten nuts.

Note. When adjusting to park position, set park position to minimum distances -a- and -b-.

up to m.y. 1999

1. a = 25 mm (1 in.)
2. b = 12 mm (0.5 in.)

from m.y. 2000 and up

1. a = 15 mm + 5
2. b = 35 mm + 5

Positioning Wiper Blades Against Windshield, Aligning Wipers And Tightening Nuts. Scheme 1

1. Operate wipers (brief wipe function).
2. If necessary, re-align wiper arms and tighten nuts again. Tightening torque: 16 Nm (144 in. lb)

Note. The dimensions given are the distances between the wiper blades and the water deflector at the bottom of the windshield.

Possible causes for wiper blades skipping

1. Windshield is scratched
2. Wiper blade rubber has become detached from arm or is split
3. Wiper arm or blade is loose or bent
4. Wiper blades are coated with wax or road grime

If the wiper blades are skipping and none of the causes listed apply, check and, if necessary, adjust the angle of the wiper arms relative to the windshield before installing new wiper blades.

Required special tools and test equipment

3358 B windshield wiper adjuster

Checking wiper arm angle

1. Move wiper arms to park position.
2. Remove wiper blades.
3. Insert wiper arm -2- into windshield wiper adjuster 3358 B and secure with locking screw -3-.
4. Compare actual angle with specifications.

Specifications for wiper arm angle

1. Driver's side: - 9°
2. Passenger's side: - 5°
3. Tolerance: +/-0°

Adjusting wiper arms

1. Move wiper arms to park position.
2. Remove wiper blade.
3. Insert wiper arm -2- into windshield wiper adjuster special tool 3358 B and secure with locking screw -3-.
4. Adjust wiper arm to specified angle using a 24 mm wrench -1- as shown (arrows). Specifications. See «Wiper blade park position, adjusting»(/audi/a6/c5-1997-2001/remont/wiperwasher-systems/#windshield-wiper-and-washer-system-up-to-2000__wiper-blade-park-position-adjusting) .
5. Loosen locking screw -3- and remove wiper arm from adjuster tool.
6. Re-install wiper arm -2- in adjuster tool 3358 B, tighten locking screw again and re-check angle.
7. Compare indicated angle with specified value. See «Wiper blade park position, adjusting»(/audi/a6/c5-1997-2001/remont/wiperwasher-systems/#windshield-wiper-and-washer-system-up-to-2000__wiper-blade-park-position-adjusting) .
8. If necessary repeat procedure until angle is as specified.
9. Remove adjustment tool and install wiper blade.

Windshield washer system, repairing

Note. Determine the correct coding for the anti-theft radio before disconnecting battery Ground (GND) strap. Remember to reactivate vehicle options (radio, clock, power windows, engine) according to user manuals after reconnecting battery.

Removing

1. Remove left-front wheel.

See WHEELHOUSING LINER, FRONT .

1. Remove hex bolt (number 10, arrow).
2. Remove hex bolts (number 10, arrows).
3. Disconnect harness connector -2-.
4. Remove washer fluid container -1- from engine compartment by moving it downward.
5. Disconnect harness connector from washer pump.
6. Remove pump from washer fluid container and remove washer fluid container from vehicle.

1. Install in reverse order of removal.

1. Remove hoses -1- from washer jets.
2. Remove harness connectors -2- from washer jet heaters.
3. Pull washer jets forcefully through holes in front hood.

1. Install in reverse order of removal.

Required tools

1. Windshield washer aiming tool 3125A with 3125/5A replacement tips

Adjusting

1. Mark the four points on windshield using water soluble marker.

Note. The adjustment points are measured from the outside rim of the windshield water catch molding -1- and at the bottom from the cover for the plenum chamber -2-. (Scheme 2) The adjustment points consider the moving vehicle, meaning that the water sprays at a slightly different angle when the car is stationary.

Adjustment dimensions

1. a = 400 mm (15.75 in.) (+/- 50 mm)
2. b = 190 mm (7.5 in.) (+/- 50 mm)
3. c = 420 mm (16.5 in.) (+/- 50 mm)

Identifying Front Windshield Washer Jets Adjustment Dimensions. Scheme 2

1. Using adjustment tool, aim jets to marked spots on windshield.

Rear window wiper and washer system, repairing (Avant)

Note. Before disconnecting the battery, determine the correct coding for the anti-theft radio. After re-connecting the battery, activate the vehicle's electrical equipment (radio, clock, power window regulators) according to the operating instructions.

Rear window wiper, removing and installing

Note. Before removing the wiper arm, make sure that the wiper motor is in the park position.

Note. The following list refers to see scheme 12.

1. Wiper blade
2. Cap for rear wiper
3. Nut Number 13, 16 Nm (12 ft lb)
4. Spring washer
5. Wiper arm
6. Rear washer jet
7. Shaft for rear wiper
8. Wiper blade rubber

1. Carefully pry off cap -2- using small screwdriver. see scheme 12
2. Loosen nut -3-. 16 Nm (12 ft lb)
3. Remove nut -3- and spring washer -4-.
4. Remove wiper arm -5- from shaft for rear wiper -7-. see scheme 12

Note. Before installing, make sure that the switch for the wiper motor is in the "OFF" position.

1. Place wiper arm -5- together with wiper blade -1- onto shaft for rear wiper. see scheme 12
2. Install wiper blade rubber -8- in park position with ends of wiper blade 5mm from ceramic with full pressure. see scheme 12
3. Secure wiper arm -5- with nut -3-.
4. Activate rear wiper.
5. If necessary re-align wiper arm and tighten nut. 16 Nm (12 ft lb)

Rear wiper motor, removing and installing

Note. The following list refers to see scheme 13.

1. Wiper motor
2. Rubber seal
3. Hole in rear window
4. Rear washer jet
5. Shaft for rear wiper
6. Connecting pipe
7. Harness connector
8. Mounting nuts (3x, number 10)
9. Washer fluid hose
10. Motor cover

1. Remove rear window wiper. See «REAR WINDOW WIPER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING»(/audi/a6/c5-1997-2001/remont/wiperwasher-systems/#windshield-wiper-and-washer-system-up-to-2000__rear-window-wiper-removing-and-installing) .
2. Remove interior trim from tailgate: See «TAILGATE TRIM, REMOVING AND INSTALLING»(/audi/a6/c5-1997-2001/remont/exteriorinterior-trim/#interior-trim__tailgate-trim-removing-and-installing) .

1. Disconnect harness connector -7-. see scheme 13
2. Carefully remove washer fluid hose -9- from connecting pipe -6-. see scheme 13
3. Remove nuts -8-. 8 Nm (71 in. lb)
4. Remove wiper motor -1-. see scheme 13

1. Install in reverse order of removal.

Note. When installing rubber seal -2-, carefully insert into hole in rear window -3-. see scheme 13

Rear washer jet, removing and installing

1. Carefully pry off cap for jet using screwdriver.
2. Remove interior trim from tailgate

See TAILGATE TRIM, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .

1. Carefully remove washer fluid hose -9- from connecting pipe -6-. see scheme 14
2. Remove mounting bolts (7x, T10) (arrows) and remove motor cover -10-.
3. Using combi-wrench carefully pull out connecting pipe -6-.
4. Remove rear washer jet -4- toward front from connecting pipe -6-. see scheme 14
5. Replace rear washer jet and insert with rubber seal in previously installed connecting pipe.

Note. Install jet with the jet opening facing directly upward.

1. Windshield washer aiming tool 3125A with 3125/5 replacement tip

1. Using water soluble pen, mark dot on rear window.

Adjustment dimensions

The adjustment dimension for the rear window is calculated from a right angle to the center axis of the shaft for rear wiper -1-. see scheme 15

d - 280 mm (+/-50)

1. Remove cap -2- from over shaft for rear wiper.
2. Using aiming tool, aim rear washer jet at dot.

1. 3358 B windshield wiper adjuster

Checking adjustment angle

1. Place wiper arm in park position.
2. Remove wiper blade.
3. Install wiper arm -2- into 3358 B windshield wiper adjuster and tighten with locking knob -3-.
4. Compare indicated angle with specified value in table below.

WIPER ARM ADJUSTMENT ANGLE FOR A6 AVANT - REAR WIPER

Adjusting wiper arm. See ADJUSTING WIPER ARMS .

Rear window washer fluid container, removing and installing

Note. The window washer container for the front and rear washer systems is located in the front-left of the engine compartment. Removing and Installing, see WINDSHIELD WASHER CONTAINER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .

Headlight washer system, repairing

Note. Determine the correct coding for the anti-theft radio before disconnecting battery Ground (GND) strap. Remember to reactivate vehicle options (radio, clock, power windows, engine) according to user manuals after reconnecting battery.

Before removing headlight washer system

1. Remove screw (arrow) to be able to remove left air shroud. Do same on right side in mirror image.

Note. To make later removal easier, remove the covers for fog lights in the lower part of the bumper. See FOG LIGHTS, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .

1. Separate air shrouds from cooling line for power steering by slightly twisting front part of shroud close to center of car.

After installing the headlight washer system

1. First attach air shrouds with lower opening to cooling line for power steering.
2. Continue installation in reverse order of removal.

Note. The following list refers to (Scheme 3).

1. Disconnect washer fluid line for headlight washer system at connection -X-.
2. Disconnect spray jet from washer fluid hose.
3. Pull spray jet cover upward from bumper and disengage retainers using small screwdriver.
4. Remove phillips head screws -2- (two on each spray jet) to remove jets -1-.
5. Loosen phillips head screw -4- on spray jet bracket -3-.
6. To remove front bumper, see «FRONT BUMPER, REMOVING, INSTALLING AND ASSEMBLY OVERVIEW»(/audi/a6/c5-1997-2001/remont/exterior-body-panels/#bumper) .

Removing And Installing Headlight Washer System. Scheme 3

Note. The following list refers to (Scheme 3).

1. Install spray jets -1- into bumper with screws -2-.
2. Install phillips head screw -4- into spray jet bracket -3-.
3. Install spray jet covers and press in until they snap into place audibly.
4. Connect washer fluid hose to spray jets.
5. Connect washer fluid line for headlight washer system at connection -X-.
6. Install bumper. See «FRONT BUMPER, REMOVING, INSTALLING AND ASSEMBLY OVERVIEW»(/audi/a6/c5-1997-2001/remont/exterior-body-panels/#bumper) .

Headlight washer jets, adjusting

Note. The spray jets are supplied with the correct settings and do not need to be adjusted after installation.

Washer fluid container, removing and installing

Note. The washer fluid container supplies both the windshield and the headlight washer systems. The container is located at the front-left of the engine compartment. Removing and installing, see WINDSHIELD WASHER CONTAINER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .

See also:
• WHEELHOUSING LINER, FRONT
• TAILGATE TRIM, REMOVING AND INSTALLING
• FOG LIGHTS, REMOVING AND INSTALLING
• FRONT BUMPER, REMOVING, INSTALLING AND ASSEMBLY OVERVIEW
• Wiper blade park position, adjusting
• REAR WINDOW WIPER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING
• ADJUSTING WIPER ARMS
• WINDSHIELD WASHER CONTAINER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING