Have had odd problems before, but it's now driving me mad! The other day, in heavy rain, it worked for about half an hour, then stopped. Even turning the engine off failed to re-boot it. Next day it was normal. Today it worked for a few minutes then stopped. Parked outside a shop for about 10 mins, but it wouldn't start again.

Any thoughts or experience, please?

Could it be that water has affected the boot switch causing the car the think the boot is open and therefore stopping the wiper?

Have the same issue on mine (also 1.9 4x4).

 

Seems to be worse if I forget to switch the front wipers off when I turn the car off. But the handbook does say you shouldn't leave it on the sensor setting and I have wondered if it confuses the car at times if it's left set.

John999Boy, thanks for the idea, but this seems to happen when the boot is not opened...

Polar, must admit that I am a bit lazy about things like turning wipers off, particularly recently. Must try and get into the habit!!

If it's inop try popping your car in reverse with the wipers on, this should force it to wipe and possibly help diagnose problem.

It may be a rusting shaft/bush/motor causing friction, does it seem slow to wipe?

If it does, a strip/clean/grease of the motor gearbox is in order.

You may be able to help it by just raising the blade from the glass (to prevent wear), switching it on and giving the oscillating shaft a good scoosh of WD-40 or similar. Ensure it gets a good scoosh and allow it to work for a few minutes repeating the application to allow the fluid to penetrate the workings as best as possible.

You may even have to give it a hand manually if it's not going to move but don't use force as it may not be a mechanical fault, rather an electrical.

Have you read this http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/261408-rear-wiper-motor-failed-again-changes-to-new-motors/ thread?

Liger1956, Yes, and just re-read it. seems to be taking more of the hatch and a different fault. Will just try the suggestion of making sure that I turn the front wipers right of and see if the computers don't get in a twist!