I have read all the threads about failure of the rear wiper motor where it just stops or goes slow but not about symptoms before failure. My rear wiper still works as it should with no sign of slowing down but it has developed a loud sqeak.

It sounds like metal grating on metal with no grease. Possible sign of impending failure?

I have a warranty on the car which runs out in two weeks. Apart from any diagnosis on the squeak, does anyone have any experience of getting non failed parts replaced by an independent warranty company?

Car has done 54,000 miles and is 2012 1.6L TDI Elegance Estate.

Lift the wiper arm away from the glass to rule out blade noise.

A good scoosh of WD-40 or similar into the shaft may be all it needs to fix a dry bush.

I'm not stalking you Micmac!!!! But my 07 Octy vrs had similar prob.squirted a load of wd40 let it get to work and hey presto ,one working as normal rear wiper. So try that option first pick pilot.

Took a look and found there is a rubber seal around the shaft that extends up inside the cap so could not squirt WD40 on the shaft. I tried to pull off the cap and got to the point where I felt any more force would cause damage.

There is a new thread above that asks a similar question about removing the cap on a hatchback to replace the washer jet. The reply shows the cap being hinged on one side in the referenced drawing. Mine is an estate with the washer at the top of the screen so my question is whether the cap is hinged on one side like the hatchback or is a straight pull up for which I could use a puller tool?

Anyone done this on an estate?

Lifting the plastic cap does nothing but allow access to the wiper arm retaining nut.

From the comfort of indoors I seem to recall the plastic cover slides outward then hinges upwards.

Just spray lube onto the shaft/seal as best you can and it will find its way in as the shaft rotates.

Edited 4 March, 201610 yr by MicMac

Mine has got a bit of a squeak going on, but I have up to now always assumed it was the wiper rubber.  I might give the shaft a bit of a squirt later, and clean the glass and blade as best as I can to see if that helps....

Mine has got a bit of a squeak going on, but I have up to now always assumed it was the wiper rubber.  I might give the shaft a bit of a squirt later, and clean the glass and blade as best as I can to see if that helps....

I thought the same so I held the wiper away from the screen and the noise was reduced. I then applied side pressure to the arm while it was running (and away from the screen) and the noise was back.

It is much louder inside the car and wondering if the brushes are worn away and the noise is the brush springs rubbing on the commutator.

@pikpilot

Considering the rear wiper motor runs intermittently and gets little use compared to the fronts it's unlikely to be worn motor brushes, which are graphite.

It's just a dry shaft/bush, use it or lose it and give it a scoosh of WD-40 or similar every now and again as you would ignition/door/bonnet/boot lock etc.

Updates:

Firstly I managed to get the cap off and I can now see how it is held on by two barbs.

To get it to pull up without resorting to brute force, from the wiper end of the cap pull the side skirts away (as you look at when parked this means from the top and bottom) and the plastic will bend just enough to release the catches and the cap will spring up. Once off you can see how it is held and why a straight pull needs such a lot of force.

 

Secondly, I sprayed the short length of shaft around the seal with GT85. Repeated this every time the wiper gave an intermittent wipe for about 10 wipes. The result is good - not a total cure yet but much quieter. Will repeat in a few days.

 

The reason I used GT85 rather than WD40 is that it has a penetrating oil content and also ptfe. So this should help to get the lubricant down the shaft and should reduce the friction long-term.

 

Those of you who said it was a dry shaft were right. Many thanks.