[L16YD L]

Hi,

I bought my car last weekend and the rear wiper is not working. I have checked the fuses, taken off the rear panel and nothing seems wrong. Is it an earthing issue or has the unit gone completely?

 

[gildersol]

Just in case, the fuses are no. 15 and 45. Otherwise it could be a faulty switch or module. Y
However, it's also worth checking where the wires run into the boot. You have to pull back the rubber and check for damage to the wires.
If you check the wiring and find no problems we can help you test if you have a multimeter.

 

[Ronnie]

Have you checked for power at the wiper motor plug when the wiper is turned on?

And checked for power at the fuses?

 

[Diablo944]

You are going to hate me for this post. According my travelling auto electrician (mine as he is the guy I always call for major wiring issues after meeting him at a dealers where he was working on a car some time ago), the largest amount of failures of any one component in the compact range requiring his attention is the rear wiper motor. He had done many in his time.
The water supply for the washer on the rear runs through the motor itself. It's a [email protected] design. The fitments through the motor are prone to leakage, and with nowhere to go, the water stays in the motor.
Water and electric motors don't mix.
For those with a bit of mechanical ability, stripping the motor and greasing it, along with drilling a drain hole for any potential leak appear to be the advised options for avoiding the failure.
Ringing around scrap yards for spares prior to finding out this information showed a dearth of rear wiper motors on the second hand market. I am kind of thankful for that in as much as the replacement could well have the possibility of early failure.
I bought my current compact knowing the motor on mine wasn't working. The dealers I bought itfrom had to pay for the rectification. The 200 pound plus bill for the motor didn't cheer them up much as the deal had already been signed and sealed.
Unfortunately for them, the replacement motor didn't cure the fault. It tookan auto electrician (the same guy who fitted the replacement motor) another hour to find the wiring fault the motor had caused. It wasn't a fuse, he had to chase the wiring after identifying it to rectify the problem.
The motor itself (the original) had seized solid and whoever owned the car had done nothing about it. As a result, instead of blowing the fuse aswould be expected, the motor put its load on the wiring.

It didn't matter to me as the fault was cleared while I sat and watched, so I knew it had been repaired properly.

good luck on the repair, here's hoping it is just a fuse.

 

[L16YD L]

OK, so its not a fuse and from Diablo944 says, it looks like a new motor and possibly some fault finding.......great!!!

Diablo944: can you remember where abouts on the loom did the sparky fine the fault with the wiring?

Also, is there a way i could salvage the motor?

 

[L16YD L]

Just in case, the fuses are no. 15 and 45. Otherwise it could be a faulty switch or module. Y
However, it's also worth checking where the wires run into the boot. You have to pull back the rubber and check for damage to the wires.
If you check the wiring and find no problems we can help you test if you have a multimeter.

Any chance of getting the pic in a bigger format?

Cheers

 

[L16YD L]

Have you checked for power at the wiper motor plug when the wiper is turned on?

And checked for power at the fuses?

No, will try a meter on it tomorrow and see if i can get an output.

 

[Diablo944]

re the wire.... He initially thought it was one of the wires in the hatch, he reckoned he had had one go similar with the same seized motor issue in that area, if memory serves it was a black wire he was chasing in there. But it turned out to be ok in the hatch/boot area, he then spent the rest of his time under the passenger side dash with the fuses, so the fault in this case was around the fusebox area. Whatever he did under trhere cured it, but he was there a good 15 minutes before he came back to the rear of the car. Wiper worked the moment he connected it up after that. I know that isnt as helpful as you would like, but he was confident of the fault being in one of the 2 places mentioned, and thankfully found it. I hate to think how much the bill was that he presented to the dealer.

As to salvaging the motor? You could try stripping it yourself and giving it a damned good clean out. If its water damage you will know as soon as you open it up. Providing it hasn't seized you might have a chance of saving it. But all you can do is try. I would have a large tin of WD40 to hand though.

 

[L16YD L]

Cheers for that, going to have a go at it now and see how i get on.

 

[L16YD L]

Well i took it out and the motor is fine but the cog and the workings are all messed up so, in the bin it goes and Fleebay for a new one. Here some pics of the motors inside:

Nice:frown

 

[Ronnie]

Well i took it out and the motor is fine but the cog and the workings are all messed up so, in the bin it goes and Fleebay for a new one. Here some pics of the motors inside:

Nice:frown

Dam! the usual mess in there :frown

Feel free to upload the pictures to here if you need to clear your photobucket account at any time

http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f71/how-to-post-pictures-and-add-signatures-or-t2682/

 

[Sh0x]

Hi mate how did you get to the wiper? The boot door has a big trim is it hard to get off (assuming its behind there)

Mine has packed in and was thinking to take a look, guessing its the motor as mentioned alot its meant to be a common fault with the compact

 

[Diablo944]

it is a very common fault on the compact. when you do look into it, dont buy a second hand unit. Well, not unless you are willing to gamble on the replacement not being in the same condition inside