Driver's wiper - b*ll*x!!!!!!

[burriana500]

This morning, little bit icy but nothing severe, found the driver's wiper dead as a door nail - passenger works fine. Any ideas?

It moves freely by hand. Don't suppose it's going to be anything as simple as them having separate fuse circuits and that having blown is it?

Poured boiling water over the mechanism, that had no effect.

Stupid thing is, in this weather, it has rendered the car unuseable - and I need it for the airport tomorrow!!!!!

All thoughts/suggestions gratefully received. it's a '98 525 TDS SE Tourer.

>>> Edited by burriana500 on Wednesday 29th December 10:30

[fergus]

are the two wipers connected to a single motor via a connecting arm, or as you suggest, are there two motors? If you have a multimeter, check to see if any power is getting to the drivers side motor. Either wiring fault or a fuse I'd guess. Could be that if they're joined together, there may be a small pin connecting the mechanism that may have fallen out?

[burriana500]

I'm afraid I have no technical knowledge of the workings at all Fergus - it was 06.30 this morning, cold and dark... and it will be much the same tonight when I get in - may be worth giving the AA a call when I'm nearly home, see if they can sort it out - though I think I'll try the fuse route first.

[fergus]

take the fezza!

may be worth a cheeky peek under the bonnet just to make sure something hasn't jumped off an obvious pivot point, etc?

Not sure if the wiper mechanism will be hidden behind a panel on that car. I'll ask a mate who's got exactly the same car.

[burriana500]

fergus said:

take the fezza!

I had to this morning - don't fancy leaving it at Liverpool airport tomorrow though! And wife's car is at her mum's house 30 miles away, as she flew out on Monday... so i have to try and get a battery put in her spare keys so I may be able to swap BM and Saab tomorrow.... all this cos of one bloody wiper!

[burriana500]

I think i have the solution!

the guys at Auto technic (Blue Bell BMW) in Altrincham reckon the holding nuts have simply unwound as the wiper has stuck to the windscreen.

Hopefully a two minute job with a 13mm spanner :fingers crossed:

[RazMan]

I had exactly the same problem a while back - it was simply the wiper arm mounting nut had come loose and allowed the arm to come off the spline. In my case it bu##ered the spline and I ended up getting a new wiper assembly .... which was expensive and a sod to fit!

btw - there is only one motor connected to the assembly and one fuse

Hope you get it sorted easier than me

>> Edited by RazMan on Wednesday 29th December 17:22

[burriana500]

I'll let you know - fingers crossed

[thong]

Wiper arm nut loose or link rod off should be a simple fix,

Dale.

[fixedwheelnut]

Undo the 13mm nut and remove the wiper arm you will see the splines on the spindle are full of the soft metal from the arm get a sharp needle or spike tool and carefully scrape out each groove so that the spindle can get a good grip when you refit the arm and all should be hunky doree, Oh and always remember to switch off the wipers before you switch off the ignition.

[burriana500]

Yep! I think that's what I need to do. I tightened the loose nut last night and it worked - sorted.

10 mins on the motorway this morning, switched wipers on, and it didn't!

So now all i need to do is find a 13mm socket wrench somewhere at lunchtime before I go to the airport, cos sod's law says that when we get back at 1am in the morning it'll be peeing down with rain!