wipers won't work

[emmott]

the wipers on my s type have stopped working and are stuck straight up the screen ? I have checked all the fuses and relays and swapped them about but I have had no joy ? what are the chances of the motor being faulty ? or could it be another problem ? thanks boys .

[Old Peter]

Welcome to the Club, Adrian.

 

You have checked the obvious things, and I assume the wiper speed settings.

 

Your conclusion seems accurate, as I can't think of anything else.

 

Regards,

 

Peter.

[pezzzer]

Hi Adrian,

Funny you should say, mine packed in two weeks ago, stuck straight up the windscreen much to the amusement of the local Audi and BMW brigade.

 

I took it down to AWJ on Sutherland Road in Longton, SOT and one of the mechanics took a look at it and after checking everything that you have Adrian, deduced it was either the motor or the actuator.

 

Also rather than mucking about stripping the assembly down they replaced the whole thing with one off a bi turbo diesel, so I'm assuming there is a fair amount of standardisation with the assembly.

And they sorted it within a day. £126

[Old Peter]

Most bits of cars are made by the same manufacturers.  

 

I was a bit involved in the Automotive industry with my job and found that there are quite a few companies make engine and ancillary parts for all the big manufacturers.

 

Peter.

[pezzzer]

Very true Peter, I had a Ford Probe 24V some years back and come to have the rear drop links changed, only to listen to the remark from the bloke on the sales counter that they were the same ones that were fitted to a Nissan Micra!!

[Old Peter]

Hi Kevin,

 

I know companies in the West Midlands who will make anything for any car you name.  There is one drop forge still knocking out con rods for the Hillman Hunter.  They still make them in Argentina or somewhere like that.

 

Peter.

[emmott]

just out of interest my wipers were stuck up the windscreen , I got a mechanic mate to look at them and he deduced that they were in fact seized up !  very interesting to note that the wiper motor has a thermal overload on it which trips when the wipers seize , so no fuse will blow , it does however cause the battery to drain even when the ignition is off as the wiper thermal overload re-connects and tries again to get the wipers to work, it will do this till the battery is completely flat , just trying to get the wipers in the park position ! so a bit of wd 40 and a bit of gentle freeing and we were away ! the cause we deduced was never using the car in the rain for 2 years ? so make sure you pack the wiper gaiters with plenty of grease and you won't have a problem , thanks for all the comments ......

[Old Peter]

Very useful piece of information, Adrian.

 I usually use the screen wash a couple  of times a week so that could also stop the wipers seizing.