Car has been standing for while and when I started it I noticed the wipers moved just a little and stopped. Bad motor or rust? What's the usual problem? I could move them in the interval they moved but no further.

Well known issue. most likely it's a faulty linkage http://www.skodaparts.com/product/octavia-wiper-linkage-1998-2004-31268

 

Next thing, wiper motor... 

 

Extreme depression - it is so unhappy you ignored it for so long

Could be worse.. mine came on one dry cold day heading to work and wouldnt turn off...

Had to keep spraying washer fluid on to reduce the dragging, or the motor was going to die. It was so cold id to stop twice along the way (in 20miles) to chip all the built up ice off the wiper arms...

Bit of a search here when i got to work, pulled the fuse for the rear washer... sorted

Stayed like that for about 2 1/2 yrs until i traded her in. Probably still got the fuse pulled

When I put the lever to on, I can help them along with some force applied. They won't budge when turned off. I helped them along for several passes hoping they loosen up, but to chance. I guess it a sticky linkage.

I took mine out and cleaned em up and worked great for about 2 weeks. picked unit up at breakers for 20euro...all good since then. careful removing the scuttle panel specially in this cold weather,often break easily. I used a bendy butter knife and gently pried it away from windscreen. ive heard some folks have cracked their windscreens doing this aswel. Just take your time and its handy. good time to clean all the crud and leaves out from behind their too and change the pollen filter if you want

Thanks. Ordered a new linkage from Germany, left hand drive. The scuttle panel is a nightmare. Did not get it off when I changed the pollen filter last year.

Hi, had exactly the same with mine, the car had been standing so long with previous owner, and they just got so slow until they stopped.

So I took the whole mechanism out, the scuttle is really fiddly, and stripped it down, the shaft the arms connect to had completely seized, and I had to use heat to get them apart.

I cleaned up the sleve and shafts with wet and dry and Wd40, re packed it with grease and vasseline, that was 3 yrs ago. Took about an hour.

Same, but used copperslip to lube everything. Works fine, going on a year now...!