Page 1 of 1

Wipers

PostPosted: Fri Oct 11, 2019 4:03 pm
by Geoff Butcher
My wipers have become rather sluggish. Likely to need a new motor or is there another possible cause? Doesn't look too easy to get it out... :cry:

Re: Wipers

PostPosted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 1:34 pm
by Hans Efde
Could be friction in the system. That said it's a sort of black art. Mine have never worked as they should be. Disconnected the rods from the motor, felt okay with manual input.. Put a new motor in, result still the same. grrrr.

Re: Wipers

PostPosted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 7:20 pm
by ACourtney
The linkage has several pivot points that could create friction, but I would look at the wiper drive spindles first as they are most likely to suffer ingress of moisture and gunge up. I would start by taking the wipers off and trying to get some penetrating fluid into the spindles. If that helps the wipers to run faster then I would call that a temporary fix as they will probably gunge up again soon.

If that doesn't help then I would look at the motor. There are also several reasons why the motor can lose torque, so really you need to take the assembly out. This can be done on the Mk3 by removing the bulkhead cover to access the motor and linkage assembly. It then becomes a bit of a fiddle to get it out, but it should be possible.

Re: Wipers

PostPosted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 9:10 pm
by Geoff Butcher
Thanks. - Alistair, do you know if new motors are available? I had a quick google with no luck...

Re: Wipers

PostPosted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 9:53 am
by ACourtney
It's not something that I have had to look into, but Rimmers don't list them and the Metro wiper motor is very different from the Mini wiper motor so that isn't a source. Having said that, the motor units themselves tend to be generic items with different drive boxes for each application. If your motor still has its manufacturers label on it then it may be possible to track down a replacement.

Re: Wipers

PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 8:01 pm
by ACourtney
Hi Geoff,
I was working on Desmond's car today so took a quick snap of what you see when the wiper motor cover is removed.

Image20191023_140115 by Alistair Courtney, on Flickr

The assembly is held by the two spindles and usually by the bolt that can be seen just below the opening (I say usually as I have come across cars where there is no bolt on the lower bracket). Freeing it up is therefore quite easy, but getting out can be a struggle due to the number of wires, washer jet tubes and vent ducts that clutter up this area.

It is also feasible to just remove the motor through this hole (Just about)

Re: Wipers

PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 8:47 pm
by Geoff Butcher
Thanks, Alastair. There certainly seems to be a surprising number of wires in there...Do you think it will help to remove the instrument binnacle?

Re: Wipers

PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:40 am
by ACourtney
I think that depends on how easy it is to remove the binnacle from your car. I have come across cars where you just need to reach up and undo four wing nuts and it all comes away in one and others where you end up spending a couple of hours removing things like underdash speakers before you can get to the instruments.

Re: Wipers

PostPosted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 10:52 pm
by Geoff Butcher
I took the mechanism out through the intrument binnacle hole - can't believe it will come out via the inspection cover. Anyway it now turns out that the replacement has a different plug connector and different colour wires. otherwise visually identical. Oh joy...