Wipers

[jokeruk]

My wipers have seized up whilst i've been driving. I managed to get home by stopping, putting the wipers on, getting out, physically moving them to wipe the screen and get back in again.

Now, the problem is that before I take the dash out to sort it, is it likely to be the motor, the linkage, or both? I'm erring on the side of caution and might try and get a full set before undertaking (I need to get the dash off to sort the blower motor as well anyway).

Leigh

[Oldiebut goodie]

Mine became tight on the spindles, just remove the arms and get a lot of oil in there, I bet they haven't been lubricated since the van was built! I found that everything else under the dash was free.

[jokeruk]

Yeah, I did try that, but didn't have any joy.

[marlinowner]

The wipers on my old van were struggling to move after standing for a few months, judicious use of a mallet on the spindles made them much freer. But if yours stopped suddenly whilst in use that sounds more like a motor or linkage problem - I assume the fuse is OK, they don't work in either speed or in wash/wipe. Can you hear anything when you switch them on with the engine off?

[marlinowner]

Re reading your post makes it seems that the motor is running but needs a helping hand, so maybe it is the spindles.

[jokeruk]

Well, the motor works. I've been fettling today and managed to get them moving so it does seem like the spindles. Still running very slowly though (and stopping on the downstroke). Think a new linkage may be in order, although I will be fettling again tomorrow I hope.

[Oldiebut goodie]

If you take the circlip off you can push the spindle in a little so that you can get the oil in in copious amounts. To do it properly I prefer graphite grease but you can't use it unless you dismantle it further.

[jokeruk]

Cheers mate - I think perserverance is the order of the day. I flicked them on to see if they'd seized again overnight, and they did a full wipe without stopping. Will fettle some more and get some more oil in there!

[Oldiebut goodie]

If you use Plus-Gas or even carb cleaner first it can help in clearing all the dried grease and rust that seems to like living in there. (It drips it behind the dash somewhere!)