E30 Zone

Hello,

I've been working on getting my headlight cleaning system working and have dismantled and cleaned up both motors & tested them with a bench supply, cleaned electrical connections to the washer bottle mounted controller, tried replacing the K10 relay but not sure what to test next

I've used the forum search but though I found lots of short posts I haven't found a comprehensive post on what I should try next to troubleshoot this.

A pointer to some troubleshooting on this would be great to get,

Thx in advance,
Sharknose

I'm sorry that I have no advice to give, but I'm asking a related question of my own. I've got the headlight wiper motor units and a spare 12V car battery. Which wire should go to which terminal to test the motors?
Cheers
Morat

Morat wrote:I'm sorry that I have no advice to give, but I'm asking a related question of my own. I've got the headlight wiper motor units and a spare 12V car battery. Which wire should go to which terminal to test the motors?
Cheers
Morat

Brown to negative, Red to positive - should run continuously.
Black to positive - should run until park position.
Fourth terminal on one motor is for washer motor.

Sharknose3 wrote:Hello,

I've been working on getting my headlight cleaning system working and have dismantled and cleaned up both motors & tested them with a bench supply, cleaned electrical connections to the washer bottle mounted controller, tried replacing the K10 relay but not sure what to test next

I've used the forum search but though I found lots of short posts I haven't found a comprehensive post on what I should try next to troubleshoot this.

A pointer to some troubleshooting on this would be great to get,

Thx in advance,
Sharknose

If the motors are working properly, the only other part involved is the unit on the side of the washer bottle, apart from connections, of course, although there are none that are notoriously unreliable.
You realise that they only work every fifth or sixth time that the screen washers are used with the lights on?

Brian,

After I finished cleaning, testing and refitting the motors I didn't realize the fun was just starting

I am aware that the wipers should only come on ~ every 5th time the stalk is pulled back with the lights on. Found that in the owners manual.

I removed the unit on the side of the bottle, cleaned the main connection contacts with solvent contact cleaner - they were pretty green.

I also broke the seal and opened the unit and all looked ok with the circuit inside.
Can I meter it through somehow to test whether it works and that it is getting what it needs from the wiring?

Would a water blockage in the pipework (e.g. a one way valve blocked) in any way cause the wiper motors not to work?

If they won't work dry, what would be a good approach to testing the pump, valve and functionality and generally rule out blockages?

Thanks a lot,
Sharknose

The headlamp washer pump is controlled entirely by a cam operated switch inside one of the headlamp motors, so they won't work unless the wipers work.
Module on the washer bottle:
Brown (31) = earth
Grey/white (58) = 12V+ from lights
Purple/black (15) = 12V+ with first position of ignition switch.
Brown/black (85) = 12v+ normal, goes 0V with windscreen washers
Purple/black (53a) = 12V+ to headlamp wiper motors (black wire)
Black/yellow (53) = 12V+ to headlamp motors (red wire). Start wipe sequence.

Brian,

The wipers are both working now on every 5th time with the lights on. After scraping the contacts on the washer bottle unit the motors came to life. Just shows that electrical contact solvent cleaner can only do so much - sometimes you need to scrape the contacts clean.

Do you know in which motor the cam operated switch should be - left hand side or right hand side ? (signified by L & R on the motor back covers I expect.)

From the motion of my right hand headlight wiper, it looks like it is a Left hand moror - it wipes in the exact same direction as the Left hand motor though R is marked on the motor housing back cover. Obviously someone else has been at these before.
I suppose it could be that the mechanism triggering the water pumping is not in the motor and that's why I don't have water.

Thanks a lot for your great help on this !
Sharknose

Right hand has 4 contacts, the Left-hand one only 3.

320iSE wrote:Right hand has 4 contacts, the Left-hand one only 3.

This is correct, or should be! Are you saying both your motors have only three pin connectors?