How do I gain access to the motor to get it lubricated or replaced 1999 Octavia 19.TDI SLX 105,000 very happy miles.

Hi

Do a search (wiper linkage). Should find plenty of advice.

The linkage has seized. It maybe possible to free up, but I suspect a new one will be needed. To get access you just need to remove both sides of the scuttle panel, and its under there held on by 3 bolts IIRC. The whole thing comes off complete with motor.

I had the same problem on my '99 Octavia about a year ago. The reason was the loose rubber sleeve around the right-hand side wiper arm shaft which should keep water out; it hadn't and the shaft stuck, causing the motor to overheat abd wipers to slow down - this would have probably resulted in motor failure.

Before proceeding, make sure you have plenty of time and patience, good lighting, some (basic) tools and parts/consumables, depending on what you find (see further text for details).

The procedure is as follows:

make sure the wipers are in their off position determined by the control switch;

remove the wiper arm caps using a medium-sized screwdriver;

remove the two nuts using a socket wrench (13mm, I think);

remove the black plastic cover under the windshield (it consists of two halves, start working at the sides of the windshield rubber and proceed toward the center using your fingers only - working in a warm environment helps);

remove the wiper arms using a small bearing remover; if you don't have one at hand (my case), work patiently from all sides - the shaft is conical and splined, it seizes easily; if you can't do it, try some penetrating lubricant, e.g. WD40 and leave it for an hour or so; if you DO have to use a hammer, make sure it's a light plastic or rubber one and proceed VERY carefully;

separate the motor connector, remove the three bolts (10mm wrench) which hold the wiper motor support and linkage assembly;

remove the assembly by lifting and rotating it out of its recess;

put it in a bench vise or similar;

to establish which of the two shafts is stuck, remove first the ball joint from one wiper shaft crank (pry with a screwdriver), check the rotation by hand, than from the other;

the stuck shaft should be first lubricated with WD40 or similar and rotated by hand to free it;

if it doesn't roatete as easily as the other side, disassemble the shaft by removing the circlip and rotating+pulling by hand to the crank side (this takes time and patience, mine was a desperate case and I broke the light-alloy arm in the process, so take it easy);

clean, remove rust, if any, smooth/polish with emery cloth or similar, lubricate with an anti-seize lubricant (I used the high-temp copper-colored stuff, but Molycote is also ok - don't use oil as it will eventually get washed away);

reassemble the shaft and check that it moves as freely as the healthy side;

reconnect the crank joint(s) and proceed in reverse order, but:

pay attention at the rubber sleeves - if available, install a new pair;

before reinstalling the covers and wiper arms, check the system for regular operation - use the wiper control to swithc on and off, do not cut the contact at the key, or the wipers won't return to the original position;

if all is ok, check the following:

check the condition of cab ventilation filter, it might need replacing, and this is the best moment to do it; also check for dry leaves and debris, they collect in the angles behind the firewall and obstruct drainage openings;

install the rubber sleeves and plastic covers;

lubricate the wiper shaft splines using a small amount of the grease you used before (this will help whoever has to do this again, hopefully after you've sold the car), reinstall the arms;

torque the nuts to 20 Nm (if you don't have a torque wrench, don't overtighten, conical surfaces don't need a lot of torque) and recap them.

There's a good DIY manual on Octavia I (unfortunately, in German only, but decently illustrated, i.e. self-explanatory in most cases), by H.R. Etzold, "So wird's gemacht" (=This is how it's done), published by Delius Klasing Verlag, Germany 2002 (www.delius-klasing.de).

That's about it, HTH - let me know.

zzonyx

Wow. Good write up!

Much what I had to do to mine a few months ago.

http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskoda/20061220_wiper_linkage/001.jpg

http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskoda/20061220_wiper_linkage/002.jpg

Many, many thanks - that's tomorrows jobs sorted. I'll just print this all off and follow it with care