Turned on my rear wiper tonight and it went 2 or 3 times then did a couple of sluggish wipes and stopped half way on the return stroke. If I pull the arm away from the glass, it will operate intermittently. It seems as though the motor doesn't have enough grunt when under load which would suggest a bad earth? The washer is working fine and doesn't seem to be leaking inside. The inside of the rear window gets absolutely soaked in condensation but it's done that since I bought the car brand new and I'm assuming it's due to that crappy boot design that lets water in when you open it!

I've read that the fascia panel inside the boot lid is a bitch to refit so I thought I'd ask here before diving in feet first. Where are the electrical connections to this motor?

I think rear wiper motors are a quite well documented weakness on the Octavia.

Might be time for a new one...

I think rear wiper motors are a quite well documented weakness on the Octavia.

Might be time for a new one...

The cars only done 5K miles? :wonder:

Try 22 days / 1500 miles!

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/181632-two-problems-with-my-new-vrs-gutted/page__hl__wiper%20motor

DC motor faults are usually binary - they either work or they don't. I've read something about the earth or a switch or something being in the boot lock??

DC motor faults are usually binary - they either work or they don't. I've read something about the earth or a switch or something being in the boot lock??

Quite a few gradual failures in this thread...

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/181841-rear-wash-wipe-fluid-leak-from-mechanism/page__p__2204572__hl__wiper%20motor__fromsearch__1entry2204572

But yes, the boot lock mechanism is also responsible for several electrical gremlins. A lot of guys have fixed alarm, lights and indicator faults with a quick squirt of WD40 in and around the offending area...

From that thread:

Have now replaced the wiper motor assembly to fix this issue. Not too bad a job. The hardest part was getting the boot trim off - just three nuts holding the motor onto studs on the boot and the central nut on the wiper spindle once I got to the motor itself. On taking the old assembly apart, the problem seems to be leakage from a rubber seal around the bottom of the wiper motor spindle letting wash fluid into the motor housing where it has washed out the grease and done much corroding. I'm a little disappointed with the design - nothing to indicate that the new part won't do the same thing a few years down the line...

Makes more sense now. I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to put the washer and motor in the same assembly without some major sealing and separation. I guess I was wrong. :S

But yes, the boot lock mechanism is also responsible for several electrical gremlins. A lot of guys have fixed alarm, lights and indicator faults with a quick squirt of WD40 in and around the offending area...

I assume this means squirting WD40 into the boot locking mechanism? Top or bottom lock? WD40 is not recommended for squirting into electrical contacts...presumably it's a mechanical rather than electrical problem the locks have? I have proper electrical contact cleaning spray, should I use that OR WD40??

EDIT:

Is this what I'll be wanting? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/REAR-WIPER-MOTOR-SKODA-OCTAVIA-FABIA-SEAT-LEON-NEW-/330512449640?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4cf413c068

Edited 9 January, 201115 yr by birchy

I assume this means squirting WD40 into the boot locking mechanism? Top or bottom lock? WD40 is not recommended for squirting into electrical contacts...presumably it's a mechanical rather than electrical problem the locks have? I have proper electrical contact cleaning spray, should I use that OR WD40??

Sorry, this is where my limited knowledge runs out.

I think it's the bottom lock, there is a little spring loaded plastic cover to stop things falling into it. I think the weak point is under there somewhere!

I'd have used WD40 but from what you say with it being an electrical issue I'd be making things worse :S

I'd have used WD40 but from what you say with it being an electrical issue I'd be making things worse :S

Yes and no...YES if you were squirting WD40 into electrical contacts cos you'd be coating copper with lubricant, thus increasing resistance...NO if you were flushing water away from an area where a switch is positioned. Having said all that, electrical contacts are not normally open to the elements, so water should never get inside them unless the designer had a bad day...