Now I've read plenty of threads of the rear wiper failing on the hatch because the washer fluid passes right through the centre, but not on the estate.

 

Over the weekend, mine worked one way, but on the return sweep, it dragged very slowly across the screen, and then parked about 2" from where it should sit.

 

I checked the fuse, and that hasn't gone. 

 

It would move with me pushing the blade as it tried to travel, but then parked itself at the bottom of the screen on the opposite side of where it should be parked. IT now won't move anywhere, even with me pushing the blade or lifting it completely clear of the screen.

 

There is no sign of fluid leaking through the gromit into the boot as it's all bone dry.

 

Any suggestions to try before simply replacing the motor?

 

Are there any screws to undo to remove the plastic cover, or does it just pop off with those metal clips holding it in place.?

I think there is a screw near to the rubber grab handle which needs to be removed before you then pull off the trim.

The failures on the hatch rear wiper motors are not all related to water ingress.

 

The motors are simply weak.

 

I'd imagine the motor itself is the same just with different mountings / mechanisms.

mbames is correct, I think it's a torx screw in there which has to come off first. 

 

Then prise around the edges of the estate boot trim until the cover is off. Thankfully the clips are pretty strong and you are unlikely to break those or the holders.

 

Then its further bolts or torx to remove the motor.

 

For me my estate motor (both I've owned in fact) were really dry inside with virtually no grease for lubrication at all!

I opened the motor cover (again torx) and covered the cogs in grease and touch wood it resolved both motors so I've never had to buy a new one.

 

Let me know if you have any questions. I think I still have a post with pictures somewhere.

Edited 11 January, 201610 yr by Plantman

I'll take it apart at the weekend and see if I can get anywhere before buying a new one

As others have said, sounds like the wiper motor. Mine did exactly the same as yours.

The motors on the rear wiper are very weak and they simply fail.

Just get a replacement from euro car parts / GSF / TPS

Got mine from euros for about £70, check to see if they have an online deal first as you can save money by pre ordering it on the internet beforehand.

The estate wipers are simply weak. I have had a replacement on mine already.

 

As far as the boot lid trim goes, one single torx screw behind the rubber strap, then just pull the trim off. Far easier to do on the estate than the hatch!

 

Mike

Oi, get back to bed.    .

 

Ah, you probably are  .

Sounds exactly like what mine has been doing from the beginning: from simply stopping at some point to moving slowly sounding like a dying animal. It did that on an outbound trip tonight; a bit over an hour later it worked again as if nothing ever happened until I got close to home. Made me fear an electric problem, but if it's the motor then I'll just have to add it to the list of things that have proven to as reliable as I thought the car would be (but in a different way: everything that can fail will fail ).

 

 

For me my estate motor (both I've owned in fact) were really dry inside with virtually no grease for lubrication at all!

I opened the motor cover (again torx) and covered the cogs in grease and touch wood it resolved both motors so I've never had to buy a new one.

 

Let me know if you have any questions. I think I still have a post with pictures somewhere.

 

Yeah, I'd appreciate that. I'd have to do this outside in the cold, so being able to walk through the operation will be helpful.

 

Any specific kinds of grease to avoid? I've got a pot of vaseline sitting somewhere, but also non-drying silicone lube of the type used for locks and bike brake cables.

I've added pictures to my post of the cover removed to show you where the clips live and also the insides of the wiper.

 

All really straight forward screws and bolts to undo. No major surprises.

 

For mine I used a white silicone spray grease first to get in to all the small areas like the grub screw and then just packed it (and I mean packed) with a heavy duty moly grease that you'd probably use on ball joints and the like.

 

My second estate wiper motor had even less grease than the one in this picture.

Edited 11 January, 201610 yr by Plantman

Great, thanks.  Seems you left the assembly in place, and maybe simply worked from inside the trunk with the hatch more or less closed?

Yes true - to a point! At this stage I didn't have the luxury of the window wiper arm removal tool, and could I get the rear wiper arm off the spline!? Could I heck!

 

You still have to remove two bolts IIRC because the outer casing is all one unit including the bolt holes. It is only three bolts holding the whole motor to the boot lid anyway.

So for this one I just left it dangling off the wiper arm and greased it up.  I think in the end I wanted it fully off so did invest in the tool.