RS7 Washer System Failure: Headlight Link Suspected

Had the exact same malfunction on my 2021 RS6. With some experience working on these models, I can say these washer system issues are usually electrical rather than mechanical. After checking for any visible leaks and confirming the fluid level was good, I took it to a workshop. The fault turned out to be a defective cable connection between the washer pump and its relay. The pump itself was fine, but the connection had corroded causing the system to fail completely. Both the windshield and headlight washer systems were affected since they share the same pump circuit. The repair cost was 165 Euro including diagnostics and parts. The fix was fairly straightforward once they identified the precise connection issue. Would help to know: Have you noticed any other electrical issues recently? Does the pump make any sound when you activate the washer? When did you last use the headlight cleaning system successfully? Have you had any recent work done near the washer fluid reservoir? These details would help determine if you are dealing with the same issue I encountered.

Thanks for the detailed response. Last service was done at 40000 KM and everything was working fine until last week. The pump makes no sound at all when activated, which seems to match your experience with the electrical fault. No other electrical issues noticed and no recent work done in that area. The headlight cleaning system was functioning normally until it stopped together with the windshield washer. Since my car is still under warranty and the fault seems electrical in nature, I will schedule a dealer visit to have them diagnose the malfunction properly. Hope its just a connection issue like in your case and not a more complex problem with the xenon headlight cleaning system relay.

Good to hear back from you. Based on what you described, it sounds almost identical to my situation, especially the simultaneous failure of both systems and complete silence from the pump. The lack of pump noise is a classic sign of an electrical fault in these models. Since your vehicle is under warranty, the dealer visit is definitely the right move. When they diagnosed mine, they also found the washer system fault was isolated to the electrical connection and not related to the headlight cleaning components themselves. The simultaneous failure happens because both cleaning systems share common electrical circuits. In my case, the corroded connection was spotted quickly during diagnostics. While your issue could theoretically be different, the symptoms match perfectly with what I experienced. The dealers have specific testing protocols for these washer system faults that should identify the root cause efficiently. Keep in mind they may need to run a complete system check to rule out any other potential issues with the headlight cleaning circuit, but based on the matching symptoms, I expect you will be back up and running with a similar straightforward fix.

Appreciate all the helpful insights. Just got back from the dealer and wanted to share the outcome. You were spot on about the electrical connection being the culprit. They found a faulty wire harness connector near the washer fluid reservoir that was causing both systems to fail. The repair was fully covered under warranty and took about 2 hours to complete. They did a full system check and found no other issues. Both the windshield washer and xenon headlight cleaning system are now working perfectly. No signs of any clog in the hoses or other mechanical problems. They mentioned these electrical faults are fairly common in the washer systems, especially where the wiring is exposed to moisture and temperature changes. For anyone else experiencing similar symptoms, definitely worth checking the electrical connections first before assuming its a bigger problem. Really glad it turned out to be a straightforward fix rather than a complex system failure. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction with your experience.