VW Lupo Washer System Dead, Warning Light Stays On

Having dealt with a similar washer system issue on my Polo from 2006 (really similar car to yours), I can share my experience. The warning light stayed on even after filling the washer fluid, which pointed to either a faulty level sensor or washer motor. My workshop found that dirt had accumulated in the washer fluid reservoir, causing the sensor to give false readings. They cleaned the sensor and reservoir thoroughly, which solved the issue. The total repair cost was 25€ and took about 30 minutes. However, before assuming its the same problem, it would help to know: What year is your Lupo? Does the warning light flicker or stay constant? Can you hear the washer motor trying to work when activating the spray? Have you checked if the windshield cleaning jets are blocked? These details would help identify if youre dealing with a sensor issue like mine or potentially a failed washer motor. In my case, catching it early prevented more expensive repairs down the line.

Last service done at 52000km. Thanks for the thorough response. The warning light stays constant and doesnt flicker. When pulling the stalk, the washer motor makes no sound at all. The spray jets appear clear, I even tried cleaning them with a pin but still no fluid comes out. Since youre asking about the details, its a 2001 Lupo with 54380km. Checking the wiring might be a good next step, but Im concerned it could be the washer motor itself since theres no sound at all. Not sure if these motors typically fail completely without warning or if theres usually some noise before they die. Would you recommend checking the fuse first before diving deeper into motor replacement?

Thanks for those helpful details. Since youre only at 54380km, a complete washer motor failure is unusual but possible. In my Polo, I actually ran into a similar complete silence issue about a year after the sensor problem I mentioned. First, definitely check the fuse, its a quick and cheap fix if thats the culprit. In my case, the fuse was fine, and it turned out the washer motor had failed. The total silence when activating the spray is typically a telling sign of either a blown fuse or a dead motor. The repair involved replacing the entire washer motor unit, which cost around 85€ for parts and labor. The workshop confirmed the motor had seized up due to age rather than mileage, these parts can deteriorate even with low kilometers. A quick way to test if its the motor: when you pull the stalk, check if you can hear even a faint click from the relay near the washer fluid reservoir. If theres absolutely no sound, it narrows it down to either: Blown fuse, Failed washer motor, Broken wiring between the stalk and motor Given your cars age, id lean toward the washer motor being the likely culprit, especially with that complete silence symptom.

Thanks for the detailed feedback. After checking based on your suggestions, I located and tested the fuse, its working fine. Still no click or any sound when pulling the stalk. Given the complete silence and age of the car, I think youre right about the washer motor being the likely issue. 85€ for a washer motor replacement actually sounds reasonable, especially since the windshield cleaning system is pretty essential for safety. At least now I know what to expect cost-wise and wont get caught off guard at the workshop. Ill get it booked in next week. Really helpful to have confirmation that this silent failure pattern typically points to the motor rather than just blocked spray jets or a wiring issue. Good to know these parts can fail from age despite low kilometers, makes sense since the car is over 20 years old now. Just hoping the warning light will finally go off once the washer motor is replaced. Would you mind if I update this thread after the repair to confirm if that was indeed the problem?