Rear wiper 'pausing' mid sweep

[BigJakk]

Hello Folks,

 

Rear wiper on my VRS hatch is intermittently 'pausing' mid sweep for a second or two, before then completing the remainder of the sweep and returning to the parked position.

 

I've only had the car three weeks and found the issue a few days after bringing it home - I've changed the wiper blade as the old one was a bit mangled and i thought it may be catching, but no.

 

Doesn't do it on every time but say every third or fourth sweep of the wiper.

 

I'm guessing this is the wiper motor starting to die off but just wanted to check before sourcing a replacement as they're not particularly cheap!

 

Cheers

[kd02]

Mine was doing this then it eventually stopped working.

I removed it and took off the plastic cover to find it full of rust and gunge.

I cleaned it all up with WD40, freed the seized parts, regreased it and fitted it back on the car, works an absolute treat, took about an hour.

There are vids on you tube on how to remove the motor and if I can do it then anyone can

[BigJakk]

Nice to see someone else from Stockton on here!

 

Yeah, that's what the issue will be - the washer fluid is coming out with a slight rust tinge to it. I've seen the same thing on Audi's in particular - its why so many of them drive around with the rear wiper pointing to twelve o'clock. It seems a bit of a naff design.

 

I've still got approved used warranty cover on the car, so was just gonna leave it to that, but Derek Slack over at the 'Boro cant get it booked in until May to look at it!

 

I was tossing up just getting a new one from TPS and just replacing it myself, but the one at Portrack doesn't serve non-trade anymore and by the looks of it the motor isn't that cheap of a part.

 

I might look at refurbing it myself then, out of interest what did you use for re-greasing it and whereabouts? I'm guessing white grease or similar around the spindle and on the 'rotor'?

 

Cheers 

[kd02]

The only grease I had to hand was copper slip, maybe not the best thing to use but it works.

A friend of mine is a retired fitter but still does a couple of days at Wards in the Boro, he suggested petroleum jelly,aka, Vaseline, apparently all grease has water in it and breaks down eventually whereas Vaseline doesn't.

If it moved, I greased it, the spindle was well seized but soon had it loosened with WD40, I also greased the worm gear.

 

If you see me out and about in town, give me a blast on the horn, 

 

[RoddersUK]

Had to do the same.

I have bought another unit, for when this one goes wrong again.

 

[BigJakk]

Will keep my eyes peeled for you KD 🧐

 

Rodders, out of interest whereabouts did you source a replacement unit from and roughly how much are they? I've seen all sorts on ebay ranging from 40 quid up to about 200.

 

My issue is very much an intermittent issue at the moment and I did baulk a bit when the dealership said if they cant find an issue, or they do but it isn't covered by warranty then its £140 quid for the "diagnosis" alone -- pfffffft!

 

I don't have much faith in dealerships - I've got a good few weeks before the appointment but if it doesn't deteriorate any further and become more of a persistent problem before then I might just source a replacement myself as I don't trust th4e dealer to say they couldn't find anything wrong when they looked at it and biff me for the 'diagnostic' charge.

 

 

[RoddersUK]

£77 from autodoc.

[BigJakk]

Cheers -- hadn't even thought to look on there 👍

[RoddersUK]

be careful on autodoc, just gone to fit mine and it doesn't have the washer fluid connection.

 

Now I need to se if I can send it back!

[kd02]

After I thought i'd fixed mine , it lasted about three days before it stuck again so off with the motor again cleaned it up and it only lasted half a sweep of the screen.

I'm going to get one off e bay, I did this for my mk2 vrs and that one was still working when I sold the car two years later.

At least I know how to change it. 

[BigJakk]

22 hours ago, RoddersUK said:

be careful on autodoc, just gone to fit mine and it doesn't have the washer fluid connection.

 

Now I need to se if I can send it back!

 

Appreciate the heads up -- im definitely gonna replace it one way or another, I've read a few bits from people now who've 'refurbed' them but it hasn't lasted long as per KD's post.

 

Hopefully I can just get it done under Warranty next month - im hoping it deteriorates and becomes a more persistent fault by then, as we all know what dealers are like with their "diagnosis" of faults -- if its intermittent, they'll claim they cant find anything wrong and ill get stung for it.

 

Hope you get sorted out with Autodoc 🤞

[RoddersUK]

Autodoc said they'd take it back, so all boxed up and ready to send.

 

Mines lasted quite a while, I gave it another clean out, as I had it off, better than before too!

Had more fluid in there, I think some was washer fluid, so I sealed the shaft in from the inside as well, with some silicone.

I also have some nice silicone super lube now, so spammed it up with that all inside.

[gm73]

I need to remove my rear wiper so I can operate on the motor but it just won’t come off. 
 

Any tips to remove it?

[RoddersUK]

Ideally you need a puller, I'd be nervous using any shock tactics near the glass.

[gm73]

1 hour ago, RoddersUK said:

Ideally you need a puller, I'd be nervous using any shock tactics near the glass.

I’ve ordered a puller tool from screwfix. I’ll collect it tomorrow.  

[BigJakk]

One of the many mods I did on my MKI VRS (loved that car) was to fit R32 Aero Wiper arms.

 

As above, I wouldn't be hitting anything with a mallet/hammer or using spanners or screwdrivers as levers given the proximity to the windscreen, especially the rear wiper spindle. Penetrating fluid (proper stuff, not WD-40) applied copiously and left to sit overnight is your friend.

 

In that case I had to use a wiper puller to get the old arms off, the one I used was from Laser tools and had "claws" that gripped the backside of the wiper.

 

https://www.lasertools.co.uk/Product/4751/Wiper-Arm-Puller

 

It was crap - It ended up gouging and making a bit of a mess of the metal of the wiper arms - wasn't a concern to me at the time as they were being replaced, but if I were putting them back onto the car I would have been narked,

Based on that experience, I would suggest trying to get a tool that has a flat duckbill/crowsfoot design - similar to a ball joint separator - to spread the pressure on the wiper arm. I would also suggest trying to get something between the tool and the wiper arm (bit of card or a microfibre or something) to protect the wiper arm.

 

Not so much for this case, as it seems the wiper spindle is integrated into the motor, but another tip I've seen for taking wipers on and off is to reattach the nut so that it sits just proud on the spindle, so that the thread on the spindle doesn't get mushroomed by and force applied to it during removal.

 

Best of luck 👍

[Phoenixboy]

On 26/03/2024 at 21:40, BigJakk said:

Nice to see someone else from Stockton on here!

 

Yeah, that's what the issue will be - the washer fluid is coming out with a slight rust tinge to it. I've seen the same thing on Audi's in particular - its why so many of them drive around with the rear wiper pointing to twelve o'clock. It seems a bit of a naff design.

 

I've still got approved used warranty cover on the car, so was just gonna leave it to that, but Derek Slack over at the 'Boro cant get it booked in until May to look at it!

 

I was tossing up just getting a new one from TPS and just replacing it myself, but the one at Portrack doesn't serve non-trade anymore and by the looks of it the motor isn't that cheap of a part.

 

I might look at refurbing it myself then, out of interest what did you use for re-greasing it and whereabouts? I'm guessing white grease or similar around the spindle and on the 'rotor'?

 

Cheers 

I had mine replaced under the approved warranty with my last mk3, I took mine over to the main dealer in Darlo, better service than slacks & I waited whilst they replaced it. Obviously they had to diagnose it first, then order the motor in. If I didn't have the warranty I'd have replaced it myself or cleaned is as shown. I also had the rear hatch lid button replaced by them, again under extended warranty. Although that would have been extremely easy to change myself & they cost very little on ebay, but if I have the warranty, the item is covered, I might as well use it. Seems to be a common issue with the mk3's. 

I also have the approved extended warranty on my current wagon, not used it as yet, but I'm also tempted to take out skodas all in service plan when this runs out, mainly just to cover the main components, my dsg box & engine. I wouldn't let them tough my brakes at dealer prices. 

Agree about not much faith in main dealers, slacks wanted £400 to replace my rear discs & pads, I did it for £70, inc sourcing my own parts (pads & discs). They were OEM, but not VW, obviously. 

Edited 2 April by Phoenixboy

[BigJakk]

I did consider giving the dealers at Monte Darlo a ring, just to see if they could get it done a bit quicker, might give them a buzz.

 

I agree with the Warranty sentiment - I usually like having a crack at stuff myself - but when the warranty is technically included as part of the purchase price of the car, seems daft not to use it

 

I generally have nothing to do with main dealers - I've got a back street fella does servicing stuff, while Vasstech are pretty good locally for any specialist jobs - although they are quite keen at "finding issues" when you take it in for other things and did quote me £400 for front discs and pads only on my last one which I had a good chuckle at.

 

 

Edited 2 April by BigJakk

[kd02]

Well, it's started working again but it is going to be replaced when I start work again next week ( been off since November), service is due and tax and insurance is due at the end of May so the wiper motor is way down the list at the moment.