Low Windshield Washer Fluid Warning

Twitch · 12-16-2005, 02:08 PM

Has anyone had their light go off? It seems to go off when there is still 1/3 of the tank full. Mine went off and I was only able to put about 4 litres in there when capacity is 6 litres.

Pretender · 12-16-2005, 08:11 PM

whatever, just fill the fluid and the damn light will go away. Big deal.

govtec · 12-18-2005, 11:18 PM

i managed to get almost a gallon of fluid in there! with this low of fluid my lights didn't come on.

poldim · 12-19-2005, 04:03 AM

Got the light, whent to Advanced Auto and bought a gallon of RainX brand defrosting fluid. The tank took the entire gallon no problems. I didnt notice any light problems.

Twitch · 12-19-2005, 10:50 AM

That's about right then. I put in over a gallon (4 litres) and before that the light would come on only sometimes on hills.

Broken1 · 12-19-2005, 02:13 PM

when my fill washer fluid light came on, it felt like the car took a huge amount of fluid. No complaints my side

Yobyot · 12-19-2005, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by govtec

i managed to get almost a gallon of fluid in there! with this low of fluid my lights didn't come on.

This is exactly what happened to me this last weekend. I've been hoarding the "factory fill" and when I decided to top it off, the system swallowed a US gallon of fluid. I was astonished the light hadn't gone off.

poldim · 12-19-2005, 10:59 PM

I was surprised, but then I figured they had to design a huge tank because when ever I use my washer fluid with the lights on, the high pressure headlight washers kick in and take two seperate sprays. So you figure two sprays for 2 headlights plus the windshield. The factory gallon lasted me 3 months, ~3200 miles.

unyi3lding · 10-12-2010, 12:16 PM

Has anyone noticed a really short interval between fills?? My low level light went off about two weeks ago, and I added a whole gallon of washer fluid. For some reason my warning just came up again this morning...?

I really hope it isn't a leak or something

cb1111 · 10-12-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unyi3lding

Has anyone noticed a really short interval between fills?? My low level light went off about two weeks ago, and I added a whole gallon of washer fluid. For some reason my warning just came up again this morning...?

I really hope it isn't a leak or something

How often have you used the washer? With the lights on?

shoptb · 11-02-2010, 10:52 AM

I'm actually having the same issue....the windshield washer fluid reservoir is completely full and the warning light still won't go away.

F32Fleet · 11-02-2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pretender

whatever, just fill the fluid and the damn light will go away. Big deal.

No kidding. WTF people.

shoptb · 11-17-2010, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socom

No kidding. WTF people.

I don't think that these people are stupid....the damn reservoir is full, and the light's still on.

PiZauL · 11-17-2010, 09:08 AM

You need to go to the dealer and register the new washer fluid, same procedure as getting a battery. That will dim the light.

(jk, how ridiculous would that be..)

NDNchief · 11-23-2010, 01:11 PM

No doubt it will hold a lot of fluid. Filled it up & no light prob here.

cedchung · 02-27-2011, 09:44 AM

I started getting this problem today.

Filled the washer reservoir completely and the light still won't go off! Is this a common problem?

G.Petrov · 02-28-2011, 12:03 PM

Same goes for me... Is it possible that there is some leak ?

cedchung · 02-28-2011, 01:01 PM

Mine went away after a few hours..

Boltzz · 04-02-2011, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G.Petrov

Same goes for me... Is it possible that there is some leak ?

My light came on about 3 months after completely filling it myself, and I used the spray *maybe* once. I had the dealership fill it up for me during a normal maintenance, and within 3 months the light is back on, after *zero* spray use. I have never noticed any signs of a leak from under my car, but am starting to think it is definitely leaking somewhere..

lonewolf · 05-10-2012, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unyi3lding

Has anyone noticed a really short interval between fills?? My low level light went off about two weeks ago, and I added a whole gallon of washer fluid. For some reason my warning just came up again this morning...?

I really hope it isn't a leak or something

Did anyone get any answers on this.
I just picked up a 2009 BMW 328 and I see the same thing.
I top off the fluid every two weeks because of the low level light kicking on. I only spray the washer fluid maybe 2-3 times during those two weeks. No leaks anywhere that I can see.
Is it normal to go through that much fluid? Or is it the head light washers that kick on and I just dont see how often they spray?
Exactly when do the head light washers spray?

Tom K. · 05-10-2012, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonewolf

Did anyone get any answers on this.
I just picked up a 2009 BMW 328 and I see the same thing.
I top off the fluid every two weeks because of the low level light kicking on. I only spray the washer fluid maybe 2-3 times during those two weeks. No leaks anywhere that I can see.
Is it normal to go through that much fluid? Or is it the head light washers that kick on and I just dont see how often they spray?
Exactly when do the head light washers spray?

From the manual:

"When the vehicle lighting system is switched
on, the headlamps are cleaned at regular and

appropriate intervals."

In real life it seems to be about every 4 or 5 times the windshield is washed.

It sounds like you have a leak as my E91 with rear washer and headlight washers needs to be refilled only about every 5,000 miles or so.

Tom

F32Fleet · 05-10-2012, 10:49 AM

People either have a leak or sticking sensor. Try distilled water only. It may dissolve crud.

12-16-2005, 02:08 PM	#1
Twitch Enlisted Member 6 Rep 43 Posts Drives: 2015 M235i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Richmond, B.C., Canada iTrader: (0)	Low Windshield Washer Fluid Warning Has anyone had their light go off? It seems to go off when there is still 1/3 of the tank full. Mine went off and I was only able to put about 4 litres in there when capacity is 6 litres.
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12-16-2005, 08:11 PM	#2
Pretender Colonel 150 Rep 2,419 Posts Drives: 06 330i, 07 328i, 16 X1, >17M2 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 06 330i [0.00]	whatever, just fill the fluid and the damn light will go away. Big deal.
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12-18-2005, 11:18 PM	#3
govtec Brigadier General 39 Rep 647 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA iTrader: (7)	i managed to get almost a gallon of fluid in there! with this low of fluid my lights didn't come on.
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12-19-2005, 04:03 AM	#4
poldim Vroom Vrrooooom 300 Rep 3,146 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i Sedan [0.00] 2003 GSX-R 600 [0.00]	Got the light, whent to Advanced Auto and bought a gallon of RainX brand defrosting fluid. The tank took the entire gallon no problems. I didnt notice any light problems. __________________ -Dmitriy 06' BMW 330i & 03' Suzuki GSX-R600 SG \| Beige Dakota \| Poplar \|\| iDrive w/MP3 \| PP \| SP \| CWP \| PDC \| Comfort \| Shades \|\| 40% Tint \| Black Line Tail Lights \| Hardwired V1
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12-19-2005, 10:50 AM	#5
Twitch Enlisted Member 6 Rep 43 Posts Drives: 2015 M235i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Richmond, B.C., Canada iTrader: (0)	That's about right then. I put in over a gallon (4 litres) and before that the light would come on only sometimes on hills.
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12-19-2005, 02:13 PM	#6
Broken1 Addict 203 Rep 2,074 Posts Drives: 2024 X5 40i M-Sport Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	when my fill washer fluid light came on, it felt like the car took a huge amount of fluid. No complaints my side
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12-19-2005, 10:59 PM	#8
poldim Vroom Vrrooooom 300 Rep 3,146 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i Sedan [0.00] 2003 GSX-R 600 [0.00]	I was surprised, but then I figured they had to design a huge tank because when ever I use my washer fluid with the lights on, the high pressure headlight washers kick in and take two seperate sprays. So you figure two sprays for 2 headlights plus the windshield. The factory gallon lasted me 3 months, ~3200 miles. __________________ -Dmitriy 06' BMW 330i & 03' Suzuki GSX-R600 SG \| Beige Dakota \| Poplar \|\| iDrive w/MP3 \| PP \| SP \| CWP \| PDC \| Comfort \| Shades \|\| 40% Tint \| Black Line Tail Lights \| Hardwired V1
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10-12-2010, 12:16 PM	#9
unyi3lding enthusiast 2 Rep 57 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Has anyone noticed a really short interval between fills?? My low level light went off about two weeks ago, and I added a whole gallon of washer fluid. For some reason my warning just came up again this morning...? I really hope it isn't a leak or something
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11-02-2010, 10:52 AM	#11
shoptb Major 176 Rep 1,063 Posts Drives: '19 G01 X3 m40i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Denver Area iTrader: (0)	I'm actually having the same issue....the windshield washer fluid reservoir is completely full and the warning light still won't go away.
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11-17-2010, 09:08 AM	#14
PiZauL I6 + TT = FTW 78 Rep 845 Posts Drives: AW F80 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Baltimore, MD iTrader: (2)	You need to go to the dealer and register the new washer fluid, same procedure as getting a battery. That will dim the light. (jk, how ridiculous would that be..)
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11-23-2010, 01:11 PM	#15
NDNchief New Member 4 Rep 11 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Alpine Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Nashville iTrader: (0)	No doubt it will hold a lot of fluid. Filled it up & no light prob here.
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02-27-2011, 09:44 AM	#16
cedchung Lieutenant 64 Rep 407 Posts Drives: 2011 F25, 2014 F30 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mauritius iTrader: (1)	I started getting this problem today. Filled the washer reservoir completely and the light still won't go off! Is this a common problem? __________________
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02-28-2011, 12:03 PM	#17
G.Petrov Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: BMW E90 320d 163hp Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sofia, Bulgaria iTrader: (0)	Same goes for me... Is it possible that there is some leak ?
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02-28-2011, 01:01 PM	#18
cedchung Lieutenant 64 Rep 407 Posts Drives: 2011 F25, 2014 F30 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mauritius iTrader: (1)	Mine went away after a few hours.. __________________
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05-10-2012, 10:49 AM	#22
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3566 Rep 10,346 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	People either have a leak or sticking sensor. Try distilled water only. It may dissolve crud.
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