S3 Washer Fluid Warning Persists Despite Full Tank

Had similar issues on my 2003 Audi A4 1.8T. The dashboard light kept showing low wiper fluid despite regular top-ups. After inspection, it turned out there were multiple issues: 1. Main leak in the windshield washer reservoir near the bottom seam 2. Cracked supply line to the spray jets 3. Clogged filter in the reservoir Not a serious repair but definitely annoying since the system kept losing fluid. The spray jets worked intermittently before completely failing. The mechanic replaced the entire washer fluid reservoir, supply lines, and filter. Also cleaned the spray jets which were partially blocked with mineral deposits. Common issue with these older Audi models, the plastic reservoir becomes brittle over time and develops hairline cracks. The dashboard light trigger is usually accurate, just pointing to a real fluid loss rather than a sensor problem. Worth checking the reservoir area while the engine is running and spraying. Look for wet spots underneath or along the supply lines. If you see fluid accumulating anywhere, you likely have the same issue.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My fluid leak turned out to be quite similar with a cracked windshield washer reservoir. The warning light was definitely not lying in my case too. Pretty relieved it was just the reservoir and not something more complex with the wiper system electronics. Did you remember roughly how much the repair cost in your case? Also wondering if the issue ever came back or if its been running fine since the fix? Im weighing if I should just do the whole system rather than trying to patch the reservoir.

The repair was pretty straightforward, cost me 25 Euro for parts and labor. Since fixing the low wiper fluid warning and replacing the reservoir six months ago, everything has worked perfectly. No more puddles under the car or constant dashboard light warnings. Would definitely recommend replacing rather than patching. The windshield washer system has been running smoothly with no leaks or issues since the repair. The mechanic topped up the fluid level as part of the service, and the spray pattern is actually much better now than before. A full system replacement might seem like overkill, but given how the plastic degrades on these older models, patching could just be a temporary fix. The washer fluid would likely start leaking again as other parts of the reservoir continue to weaken over time.

Thanks for the input. After getting it checked out, I went ahead with replacing the entire windshield washer system. Cost me 350 Euro total including parts and labor. Found a different shop that specializes in Audi repairs, much better experience than my previous mechanic. The fluid level stays constant now and the warning light finally stopped coming on. They actually found a second crack developing on the other side of the reservoir, so glad I went for the full replacement instead of trying to patch it. Took about 2 hours for them to do the work. They also cleaned out the spray jets while they were at it, which made a huge difference in how the wipers perform. System is working perfectly now, no more leaks or dashboard warnings. Definitely worth fixing properly rather than taking shortcuts. Lesson learned about preventive maintenance on these older models.