Wipers intermittant

[Phid]

My wipers work in all speeds except the fastest speed. They do not return to the bottom when switching off.

I have checked the wiper relay and visibly all appears to be ok. I have cleaned the connector plug terminal at the motor. I have taken out the motor, cleaned out all of the old sticky grease, cleaned the contacts and regreased.

No change in the symptoms. I have run the wipers for a while after doing all of this. Does this point to needing a new motor or relay?

Thanks

[Contours]

You would need to put in a known good relay to check really. If they are not resting at the bottom of the screen then you will have to remove the arm from the wiper motor and put back on when the motor spindle is at the rest position. Your motor may be weak anyway and your wiper linkage may be seizing--hard to know. In any event a 30 year old wiper motor will not be in great shape and cleaning and greasing may not be enough and in fairness they are not too expensive for an e30.

[Phid]

I think you might be right about it being worn out. Ref the fast wipe not working, I have confirmed that there is power to the motor on the fast and slow circuits and there is no obvious break in either of the circuits inside the motor. The bushes look worn but still have life in them. However there is damage to the motor itself - see picture- not sure if this will affect the motors power?

[Contours]

A new motor may be in order all right. My wipers were stalling in the middle of the screen and stuttering. A new wiper motor is a transformation when you see how vigorous it is in comparison. This was some years ago and was only €80 at the time for a new motor. Your motor may be tired and may not have much life left in it if the wipe is slow. What is surprising is the fact that these wiper motors actually last as long as they do considering how much is being chucked down on them.

[Phid]

Thought I would just double check and clean all the connections (again). Now the motor only works in fast setting - nothing else. Exactly the reverse of before! Confused

[Contours]

Have you checked the switch contacts?

[Phid]

I haven’t because before I was getting 12v correctly for fast and slow circuits at the terminal. Given what has now happened that might be a good next step. Unless relay is getting confused?

[Phid]

Fixed. Everything working now. It was just the connectors in the terminal block. Coincidence that one circuit worked then the other!