Club 80-90 Forums

any help much appreciated-

the front wipers on my 1986 1.6td westy hi-top have given up. first they slowed, then started making a horrible noise and finally they have died, accompanied by a peculiar growling noise coming from the glove box area, and a smoked fish smell...

i'm guessing that the wiper spindles have seized, burning out the wiper motor, and have a couple of questions before i tackle the repairs...

1. is it possible to remove the wiper motor from the arm driving the wipers without removing the dash?

2. likewise is it possible to get at and lubricate the spindles (if indeed they have seized) from the outside front?

or am i better off biting the bullet, removing the dash and getting at the wiper assembly from the inside?

You answered your own question, You are going to have to bite the bullet:
fairly simple really, dont let peeps put you off that its a difficult job,You will have to drop the steering column only problem there is the sheere bolts but dont be frightend of them cut a slot with a small sharp chisel then hit at angle to unscrew any electrical switches you dissmantle from the dash you want to tag an write what they refer to, most difficult I think is heater controls slider knobs or end pull off, be gentle otherwise will break an damage ends, to remove heater fascia to access heater blower switch wire circular block fitting, at back of facia to opposite corners 2 peg inserts you need to use a podger dowel to gently tap them from the inside of dash outwards towards the cab area if u know what i mean, you will have to disconect pipework these twist an pull off, you can then tie up or support dash with string or what have you? Small screws at dash edge to screen are the ones which hold the dash, Large screws are for wiper motor related + wiper links do pass to back of the heater blower matrix.

Removing the dash is not as difficult as it might seem.
It took me an hour the first time and between fifteen to twenty minutes the second its not that bad.
As previously mentioned the sheer bolts.
These are about £1.50 each from any VW dealer and they can usually have them there by 10am next morning.
I driilled mine out and once they crack,the remaining thread can usually be unscrewed by hand.
Someone did mention a squirt of Plusgas and then Lube after from the outside to free up the spindles.
My wipers are pretty crap too and I was dreading the job until I had to remove the dash to replace a brake servo,so it might just be my next job.
Rob.

many thanks fellas, will get stuck in tomorrow...