What's the most common fault why the rear wiper stops working.

checked fuse all fine 

Check the fuses again. 

I'd checked and swapped fused even though none were blown. After reading past threads about problem on here came to the conclusion it was the motor that had gone so replaced it with a new one. Having done so the new motor wouldn't work either. Tested the old one and that was working so enquired to the location of the relay only to be told to check the fuses again, now around the 4th time of doing so only the wiper to start working again on removing and reinserting the same fuse.

Not the best electrics on these cars and the key to fuse layout is often incorrect so check all the fuses. 

 

6 minutes ago, Taximan1978 said:

What's the most common fault why the rear wiper stops working.

checked fuse all fine 

When mine started to fail I found that pushing on the shaft (i.e. bottom of the wiper arm) caused it to work again. Later it started to make a grinding noise when working so I put some oil on the shaft seal. Finally it stopped altogether and I had it replaced. Since then I found this on Honest John:-

" 1-5-2013: Seems that the problem with the rear wiper motors is the carbon brushes which are too tight in their holders. It is just a DIY job requiring a nailfile and pins. Carefully remove the brushes and slightly file down the edges so that when placed back in the holder (using pins to hold brushes in place) they move easily within the holder. When satisfied remove the pins and replace wiper motor. If successful it is far cheaper than a new wiper motor."

This makes sense as the brush spring pressure reduces as the length of the brush reduces with wear.

Thanks 

I was under the impression they fail mainly due to a seal in the motor failing and letting washer fluid into the motor however the sticky brushes seem to fit with how mine is failing. 

 

Mine works on occasion and it seems to be slow at wiping and if the window isn't fully wet it will stop mid wipe. 

 

Will take it out and investigate this weekend. 

2 minutes ago, RichieXR2 said:

 

Will take it out and investigate this weekend. 

 

 

Please let us know what you find.

15 hours ago, RichieXR2 said:

I was under the impression they fail mainly due to a seal in the motor failing and letting washer fluid into the motor however the sticky brushes seem to fit with how mine is failing. 

 

Mine works on occasion and it seems to be slow at wiping and if the window isn't fully wet it will stop mid wipe. 

 

Will take it out and investigate this weekend. 

I have had exactly the same problem...approx. 8 months ago I took the motor apart and greased it all up and it worked fine until about 3 weeks ago when it started doing the same again, however when I stripped it down this time, there was some horrible brown water in there and when I refitted it, it made some horrible grating noises and then stopped working almost straight away. I couldn't get a replacement from Andrew Pages or Europarts so reluctantly ended up getting a new one from the stealers for £84. Problem solved.

On 1/24/2017 at 14:56, phillip said:

I have had exactly the same problem...approx. 8 months ago I took the motor apart and greased it all up and it worked fine until about 3 weeks ago when it started doing the same again, however when I stripped it down this time, there was some horrible brown water in there and when I refitted it, it made some horrible grating noises and then stopped working almost straight away. I couldn't get a replacement from Andrew Pages or Europarts so reluctantly ended up getting a new one from the stealers for £84. Problem solved.

I also did the same thing a week ago. Stripped the motor and had to use a lot of brute force (Hammer) to get the axle out of the plastic. When i finally got it out it was all full with very tightly packed dirt that got the wiper completely stuck. After cleaning the axle and plastic and greasing it the motor seems to work as new.

 

 

I'll have to look into this...

Mine stops mid-wipe and nothing will get it shifting... but then later, it'll start wiping again of its own accord, whether I have the control arm set to on or off!!

That's how mine started then stopped altogether, replaced the motor but still wouldn't work. Reinserting the fuses yet again got it working so I put it down to crap electrics as I also had the windows open on there own whilst it was parked up on the drive. I wouldn't be surprised it it was corrosion on some connectors with the condensation that it suffered too. The car is gone now so not my problem anymore. 

OK, I've really done something, now...!!!

 

Both the front and rear wipers seem to be operating of their own accord, or not depending on how they're feeling at the time.
Doesn't matter which position I move the arm to, off, on, forward, back, intermittent, normal, fast, momentary, or even what I set the auto-sensor to (if that even works - I haven't had any rain yet).
The front wipers do change speeds when I set them to, but they continue to wipe on a perfectly dry screen, randomly.
I've switched the engine off and on several times, with the arm in various positions, but it#'s just gone screwy as heck...

 

Hmm...have you tried the hard re-set...ie disconnect the battery for half an hour ???

On 28/01/2017 at 10:50, phillip said:

Hmm...have you tried the hard re-set...ie disconnect the battery for half an hour ???

 

Not yet.

While I am fine losing MPG history and whatever else, I assume that will require me to enter the radio code, or something? That would worry me as this was 2nd hand and didn't include the 'radio card'...

 

1 hour ago, Ttaskmaster said:

 

Not yet.

While I am fine losing MPG history and whatever else, I assume that will require me to enter the radio code, or something? That would worry me as this was 2nd hand and didn't include the 'radio card'...

 

 

The code is stored in the car electronics so as long as it is the original factory fitted radio, you won't have a problem. I would turn off the radio though before reconnecting the battery. A radio card is no longer supplied as it is not needed.

Oh. Interesting... I'd just seen a few Octy mkI owners (possibly here or elsewhere) mention the code, is all.

Just switched off, or actually unplugged, would you say?

Philip recommended disconnecting the battery for a while.

The early mk1 had a radio code card but my end of model 2003 car was like the mk2 with no code card.

I just changed the motor for the new owner of the Octavia I had. Mines also did the same as others mentioned above, stop mid wipe, grinding and do on. Once the new one was on and working, I striped down the motor to find no logical reason as to why it stopped working. The metal mushroom head of the metal shaft for the washer fluid was corroded and the cause of the blocking washer jets but no water inside the motor. All cogs and linkages inside moved freely, brushes weren't stuck and could freely move on their tension springs. I'm at a loss as to why the motor stopped operating.