Front wipers (hell, there are no others) on my '99 Octavia TDi have gone on a go-slow. They work, but slowed down to about 1/5th normal speed. Double-speed wipe is no faster than normal speed. Same if screen is dry or wet. Problem manifested itself overnight. Even folding the blades completely away from the windscreen makes no difference.

Car is now undrivable in rain. Cheers Skoda.

Any ideas? Dealership work much better when told what the problem is. My guess is it's some rheostat or other electrical / electronic component failing rather than the wiper motor per-se, but I'm open to suggestions.

When I say it's a '99 Octavia, I mean it's a flake...

Clutch cylinder, brake pipe, potentially lethal ECU power supply relay failure, squeeking wipers, now failing wipers....I don't like to moan...oh sod it, yes I do, but next time I'm going Japanese.

my wipers are fine just a bit squeaky a wd40 job in the morning i think and they rub on the plastic surround ah well the joy of buying Skoda

I have heard of this before as it has been mentioned here.

One possible solution is to re-oil all the linkages, its quiet easy to do once you have got access to the mechanism.

Remove both wiper arms (lift cover, undo nut, wiggle the arm gently and remove).

Remove rubber from leading edge of the scuttle panels.

Gently and I mean gently because they break easily remove these panels.

Grease liberally, then reassemble.

I'm sure I've said this before somewhere else on this site, but Skoda wipers are a bit crappy. My normal speed (fast enough thanks) is about the same as fast speed (to be fair the down stroke os a bit faster on the high speed setting). Is this true for the rest of you out there?

I'm sure I've said this before somewhere else on this site, but Skoda wipers are a bit crappy. My normal speed (fast enough thanks) is about the same as fast speed (to be fair the down stroke os a bit faster on the high speed setting). Is this true for the rest of you out there?

Nope - mines deffo quicker on "High-Speed" on the up and down stroke! :smile-l:

problem is definatley the wiper linkage seizing up get a new one only about

On a related topic, there is about 1/4" of vertical movement on the driver's wiper spindle on my car. Is that amount of play normal, K, or has the circlip come off again - in which case I will presumably need a new linkage too? :(

On a related topic, there is about 1/4" of vertical movement on the driver's wiper spindle on my car. Is that amount of play normal, K[/b'], or has the circlip come off again - in which case I will presumably need a new linkage too? :(

think you may well need a new linkage this time m8.

If you don't fancy buying a new linkage, Awed, follow Manny's instructions - I posted some a while back also. The water runs down the spindles and causes corrosion in the light alloy housing they run in. You just need to take the linkage out (3 Torx screws) and disassemble it by taking the circlips off the top of the spindles. Mine are as good as new after a clean and a liberal greasing.

To others, I don't think the wipers are at all bad, when they're working right. Those with slow wipers may be experiencing the start of the seizure symptoms.

Denis your circlip is probably in the area under the scuttle panel somewhere - lift the panels along the edge under the bonnet seal and I expect you'll find it.

Denis your circlip is probably in the area under the scuttle panel somewhere - lift the panels along the edge under the bonnet seal and I expect you'll find it.

Nick, the circlip has previously come free but was refitted when I had some work done under the scuttle. It proved very difficult to replace at that time, even using brute force, and it seems probable that it has come off again. Hopefully I will be able to get a new linkage fitted under warranty, but if I can't it won't break the bank...

Hmmm, wipers going slow, manifested itself overnight... Nothing to do with the fact that your windscreen is frozen solid is it !

No, windscreen is not at all frozen, not even cold! This started days before current freezing conditions.

Wipers have now totally seized. Fold away from the screen and they just twitch faintly when switched on. Occasionally they summon the energy to slowly make a full sweep, but that is the exception. When touching the screen I get no response at all.

(Battery fine). Thanks for the tips, guys, I'll suggest the dealer takes a look at the linkages and lubrication. Now I've got to arrange a tow to the garage.

What p*sses me off is that I bought Skoda because of the consistently high scores in reliability and customer satisfaction surveys. What a duffer I got.

Yup, it WAS the wiper linkages. Go to the top of the class all those who suggested it, which was everyone.

any prizes for the winning guesses?

Yes, you can choose one of the following :

1) my undying, eternal gratitude and admiration (expires Jan 10th)

2) a signed copy of the garage receipt

3) the knackered linkages, re-formed into an attractive sculpture entitled "Wipe Away The Tears".

Wasn't "Octavia" the name of the ostrich in "The Pipkins"?

Yes' date=' you can choose one of the following :

1) my undying, eternal gratitude and admiration (expires Jan 10th)

2) a signed copy of the garage receipt

3) the knackered linkages, re-formed into an attractive sculpture entitled "Wipe Away The Tears".

Wasn't "Octavia" the name of the ostrich in "The Pipkins"?[/quote']

Yes, it was.

(apologies for old thread dragging up - researching wiper problems :( )

Yes' date=' it was.

(apologies for old thread dragging up - researching wiper problems :( )[/quote']

I had the same problem a couple of years ago, the dealer serviced linkage, then went again they renewed the linkage second time around under warranty luckily. I have now noticed another problem that has happened on a few occasions and that's wiper creep? When travelling mainly on motorways hence speeds of about 70+(well you know) the wipers start creeping slowly up the screen. If I flink the wipers on they reset as normal. This has happened on several occasions. Could it be the direction of the wind? Anyway, I haven't noticed for about 2 weeks now, but I haven't been on a motorway.