front wipers stuck

[rosie]

I used my front wipers for the first time in a couple of months the other day. They went really slowly and then completely stopped. Initially I was able to nudge them along for a few wipes by switching them on and off repeatedly, but they are now stuck fast in the middle of the windscreen.
I've just ordered a new relay from ebay in the hope that it's a cheap fix.
Assuming that doesn't fix it, I thought they might have seized through lack of use. I thought about stripping them down and reassembling them - but the Haynes manual says they need to be in parked position to do this.
Any advice please?

[Nate]

Can't remember offhand, but I'd have thought that with the rain tray off, you'd be able to undo the nut in the centre of the motor to detach it from the linkage. Probably loose a bit of skin doing it though.

If you can get it off, try working the wipers again. This will tell you if it's motor or linkage. If it is the linkage, I have a good one in the shed going spare

[mark1gls]

If they have stuck check the fuse as well. When my motor stared to fail and the wipers stopped half way through a wipe I could push them along and they would finish there wipe so they was back in the park position.

[rosie]

Thanks guys.
I've tried a new relay and a new fuse but no joy. They won't move at all now so doesn't look like I'll be able to return them to the parked position.
Is it possible to strip them down if they're not parked? Is it just a question of marking their position on the windscreen so that I can reassemble them to the same position? Or will the position they're currently in prevent me from being able to take them apart?

Also, if I strip them down should I lubricate them with something? I've got some copper grease hanging around, also GT-85 spray and 3-in-1. Will any of those do the job?

Thanks! :)

[ianaudia4]

Sounds like the motor has given up the ghost, if it has no amount of stripping down and lubricating will get them to work.
It is really easy to change, stick a wanted ad on here or scour the scrappys in your local area.

The part number is 251 955 119, that is just for a motor.

[rosie]

Thanks Ian. I thought it didn't look too tricky to replace the motor - I'm just not sure whether the wipers need to be in a different position to do it. I'm too broke to buy a new motor at the moment anyway so I reckon I'm going to try and take it apart first just on the off-chance that it works. I think I had the same problem 2 or 3 years ago during the summer and my mechanic fixed it while he was doing another job, which is why I think it might not be the motor.
Thanks for the part number, that's really helpful.

[mark1gls]

I got a wiper motor and wiring plug from a Mk3 Golf in a scrap yard, I then fitted some spade connectors to the end of the wiring and plugged the new cable into my existing wiper motor plug. Don't worry if the wipers are not in the parked position as when you take the motor off put the wipers in the park position and as long as the motor is in the park position and when you bolt them together they should work just pull the wiper arm up off the screen the first time you try it incase they go the wrong way, you can then adjust them by moving where they fit onto the wiper motor spine.

Link to my post
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=15007

[rosie]

Thanks Mark, gonna start shopping round for a new motor now. If only it would stop raining so that I didn't need wipers to drive to the scrapyard!

[mark1gls]

You can buy a new one with a 2 year guarantee for £30 delivered to your door if that's easier than finding one in a scrap yard?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-POLO-GOLF- ... 27bf37cccb

But as Nate said undo the nut which holds to motor spine to the wiper mechanism and check the arms move freely, also have a look at the wiper relay, it's the one with 19 on it, does it click when you operate the wipes?
If you do find a mk3 golf in a scrap yard have a look at the fuse box and see if a relay is there with 99 on it, it's a wiper relay with a programmable intermittent wipe so you can change the time between wipes and it just plugs into your fuse box instead of relay 19, it's a great upgrade if you do use the car all year round.

[rosie]

Thanks Mark, I've asked a few people today on the forum if they have the motor for sale but if there's no joy then I'll get the one you suggest. I bought a new 19 relay but it didn't help. I'll double check tomorrow whether it's clicking.
Very intrigued by the 99 relay upgrade. How does the programming work?

[rosie]

I checked it out on youtube. Amazing! I want one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLvl370BBUk

[rosie]

Bought a new motor, and then when trying to fit it today found that the problem is with the linkage. The spindle in the centre of the car seems to be completely seized. Lots of WD40 and hitting it with hammers hasn't helped so I guess a new linkage is in order.
Nate - I am pm-ing you and hoping you still have a spare.

It looks as though the blower motor is in the way of removing and refitting the linkage. Has anyone struggled with that, or does it manoeuvre in and out ok without having to remove the blower motor? (I really don't want to do that!) Mark - can you advice on that please? There's no mention of that problem in your wiper thread so I'm hoping it doesn't impede it.

[bengould]

You can get the linkage out without removing the blower motor. I replaced my blower motor a while ago and couldn't get it out with the wiper mech in place. Also I may have a spare 99 relay lying around somewhere if you want one. Or if you go to your local scrappy a lot of mk3 golf aged vw/seat's have them fitted as standard. They also fit quite nicely in your pocket if your buying other items while your there. .

Ben

[rosie]

Cheers Ben,
I managed to get the linkage out of the car today pretty easily. Then thought I'd remove the seized spindle from the housing, clean it up, regrease it and refit.
Instead my husband and I have been hitting the spindle with a hammer for 3 hours, during which time it has only moved 4mm through the housing, and the housing rivets have started to give, so we've now resigned ourselves to buying a new linkage. Grrrr.

In case anyone else is tackling this task https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Mlvf09k6s is how you clean them up apparently.
and part 2 of this thread also shows you how to do it. http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=198712

Looks fairly straightforward once the spindle is removed. I guess mine are too far gone to get the spindle out, though there's a tip how to do it with a blow torch in that second link. So frustrating when you can see how to mend it but can't get to it.

Thanks for the relay offer :) I'm too broke for anything other than new linkage at the moment, but I'm keeping it in mind for next payday.