Hi guys,

Over the last couple of days my wipers seem to freeze midscreen and run very slowly. Is this a common problem and is it expensive to fix?

Thanks

Wiper linkage is rusted up. Common fault.

Either buy a new one or take apart the existing one and clean.

yeah id say linkage is gone with you mentioning that they seem slow also, I had this happen to mine, cost about £115.

It seemed slow, then next couple of days it was fine again! Now slow again!

100% wiper linkage if you are carefull and remove linkage from car you can get the circlips off the spindles and clean and regrease, very common indeed or treat yourself to a new linkage

Is that an easy job?

:cool:Its fairly easy first you have to take off the plastic caps on the wiper pivots remove the 13mm nuts underneath ( note where the wipers park on the screen) the shafts are a tight fit sometimes, then you pull up the plastic scuttle across the front of the screen as it goes into a groove just below the screen,the wiper motor and linkage is then exposed, unplug the motor remove the torx screws (3 off) and remove the linkage, there are some circlips on the wiper shafts remove these and clean and lubricatethe shafts with fresh grease and replace everything ( dont fit the wiper arms untill you have run the motor and its gone into the park position ) then replace the arms in the original positions. cheers - Stuart.

Anyone have any pics I can see?

Username mbames may have posted some.

I just bought a new linkage and changed them over. Thanks guys for all your help.

I have some pictures of my linkage, but only after I had cleaned them up.

http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskoda/20061220_wiper_linkage/001.jpg

http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskoda/20061220_wiper_linkage/002.jpg

I cleaned mine up about 3 years ago and packed them out with plenty of grease and since then they have been perfect. I think the key thing is that as soon as they start to go slow or judder is to deal with it. When mine failed I wasn't aware of this problem, and I was between Salisbury and Porton Down in the pouring rain. Limped to a lay-by and had to wait 2 hours for a low-loader (Britannia Rescue) to take me back to my parents in Somerset (my garage in Dorset was out of action at the time), fixed them that night, and then drove up to Yorkshire the next day.

Hi,

Thanks for the help. I bought a new linkage and installed it myself - works fine now

Thanks:thumbup:

Ive recently experienced the windscreen wipers going slower and slower on my 2003 Octavia, on investigation I found it to be the passenger side wiper drive seizing up. I'm not that practically minded but decided to have a go myself. It proved to be very easy. First remove the wipers using a 13mm socket. remove the plastic cover. I pulled the edge up nearest the wing and and then the rest just came out very easily, then pull the windscreen washer connection off. remove the whole linkage by removing the three screws, you can then ease the whole unit out disconecting the motor plug. On removal there are three further screws to remove from the motor and 2 ball joins on the drive arm to lever off. the linkage can then be removed from the motor by easeing it off the the central drive withour removing the central nut, Reasembley is the opposite. The new linkage cost £50 from main dealers and far easier than trying to remove the seized part.