Audi A1 Washer Fluid Sensor Shows Empty When Full

Having experienced this exact issue with my 2018 Audi A3 1.4 TFSI, I can share what it turned out to be. The warning light stayed on despite a full tank of wiper fluid, similar to your situation. The problem wasnt the washer fluid level sensor itself. The wiring harness connecting the sensor to the control unit had corroded due to constant exposure to washer fluid that had leaked through a damaged grommet. This created a false low fluid reading on the dashboard light. In my case, the windshield washer pump was still working fine. The fix required replacing the wiring harness and the grommet. This is a relatively common issue in the washer system of this platform and not a major mechanical concern. Before heading to a shop, check if you can actually hear the pump running when pressing the washer stalk. If you hear nothing, the pump might be the issue. If you hear the pump but no fluid comes out, its likely a blockage or the mentioned wiring problem. While this repair requires some disassembly to access the components, its not considered a serious mechanical issue and doesnt affect the cars core systems.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the wiring harness issue. Had exactly the same problem on my Audi A1 last winter. The windshield washer warning light kept showing low fluid level despite having a full tank. Did your mechanic need any special tools for the repair? Also wondering about the final cost, would be helpful to know what to expect if I need to get this fixed again. And has everything been working properly since the repair? The wiper system has been a bit inconsistent lately, sometimes working and sometimes not, which makes me think it could be the same wiring problem you described.

Good news, after getting this fixed at the shop last month, my washer system has been working perfectly. The warning light for low washer fluid finally disappeared after they replaced the faulty wiring harness. The repair was straightforward and only cost 25 Euro, which included topping up the wiper fluid level. The mechanic mentioned they mainly needed standard tools, nothing specialized for this job. The spray jets are now working consistently, and the sensor correctly detects the fluid level. Your symptoms of intermittent operation definitely sound similar to what I experienced. The inconsistent behavior is typical when the wiring connection to the washer motor starts failing. Getting it fixed early prevents any potential damage to other parts of the wiper system. Its actually a pretty common repair on these models. Since the fix, I havent had any warning lights or issues with the washer system functioning.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. Just got back from the mechanic and wanted to share how it went. Turned out you were right about the wiring harness. The mechanic found corrosion where the washer fluid had leaked through. They replaced both the harness and the worn grommet. The total repair came to 35 Euro and took about an hour. The windshield washer system is working perfectly now, both the spray jets and the sensor are functioning as they should. The dashboard warning light finally cleared up too. Much cheaper than I feared and definitely worth fixing before winter. The mechanic showed me the corroded parts and explained that this is something they see fairly often on these models. At least now I know what to look out for if it happens again.