13 replies to this topic

[finch661]

i know this is an over done topic (like fuel gauge and dashpot oik) but my wipers are playing up. they have been great, until it started raining yesterday, the wipers went up about half the screen, then stopped. if they are given a helping nudge, they then complete the cycle and park.

i had this trouble about 4-5 months ago, so i stripped down the wheel boxes, re-lubed them and the wiper cable, also the motor. even after that they still didnt work. i fitted a brand new earth to the motor, and they started working correctly.

i checked the earthing cable, and it seems ok!

any clues?

oh i am using the heavy duty 11" wipers from minispares at the mo

Edited by finch661, 02 July 2009 - 08:43 AM.

[bmcecosse]

Brushes ok in the motor ?

[finch661]

couldnt tell you, how could i check?

[finch661]

oh i have read on another topic, that a rusty park switch can cause this problem, is this true?

[jayare]

Unlikely if giving the wipers a shove gets things going again. I have just today taken my wiper rack out to put in one which I had dismantled, cleaned and re-greased due to exactly the same problem. Mine had been in longer than yours (about 5 years) but I would say the culprit is likely to be seized components in the rack,

JR

[finch661]

hmm, like i said, it has been degrease/regreased recently, and it works intermittantly.....

[mrbridger]

My mini was doing the same thing.
The problem may be at the switch end.
There is a copper 'cap' which slides up and down (as you lift and lower the stalk) over 2 or 3 copper contacts within the steering column mounted wiper stalk.
These can wear and/or become fouled.
On my 1980 mini 1000(wiper stalk on the left) I recently took mine apart and reassembled it, using a bit of clear grease on the contacts. this sorted my problem.
It isn't that complicated inside and if you work slowly and note the position of all the 'innards' you won't have any probs.
It's a job that'll cost you nothing just an hour or so of your time.

[finch661]

did you find that your wipers worked on some days then struggled on others (before you fixed it)?

[mrbridger]

I would move the stalk to the first click and sometimes the wipers would stall halfway through a wipe.
To get them moving again it would, more often than not, require a slow (almost grinding) lifting movement of the stalk to the second speed and then back down again.
It was as though the contacts inside the switch assembly weren't quite mating to complete the circuit.
The brass/copper contacts inside the switch are designed to connect by way of a spring loaded mechanism, this helps to combat wear but they won't last forever and can become gunky as (over time) the original grease picks up fine particles of brass/copper and other contaminants. Which can't help.
Its worth a try because i think these stalk switches are stupidly expensive to replace for what they are.

Cheers
Andy

[finch661]

cheers, i may have a look. though i probed the plug (park switch plug) and i am getting the 12V park voltage, and then the 12V voltage for 1st and 2nd speed when the wipers stop halfway up the screen. also the motor gets a wee bit hot. lastly, the wipers park, but not in the right position (about 2-3cm above the usual stop)

could this be the symtoms of a knacked parking switch?

[bmcecosse]

Could be- although that usually shows up as non-stop wipers !

[finch661]

yeah, i have been reading other posts and the same symtoms have pointed to early switch failure, but i dunno

[Teapot]

Huey has been rewired and the park switch has been replaced for good measure but the single-sweep function is still dodgy, so it must be the contacts in the stalk I reckon. Whatever, if you do dismantle the stalk, be careful since sproingy bits can fly out. There's a useful diagram on here somewhere ...

[finch661]

i will have a look, cheers!