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Windscreen wiper motor nearly caught fire.

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:29 am
by Jesus325iTouring
As in title,the missus was out in the car yesterday when I get a phonecall.

Missus: "There is steam pouring out the car and it stinks of burning rubber!!!!!!! Oh and the coolant light has just come on"

Jesus: "F uck shit f uck b ollocks!!!! Be there in ten minutes"

That ten minute drive saw me panicking that the engine has just been cooked,burning smell,steam and coolant lights,however...

When I arrived,armed with 10 litres of Tesco mineral water I discovered the "steam" was in fact smoke,and the burning smell was rubber.The coolant light was just coincidental thank goodness.

Smoke was pouring out the scuttle grill and I discovered the wiper motor had nearly caught fire,it was extremely hot and all the rubber case had melted.

The wipers were not in use at all,nor had they been that day,my question is why or how could this have happened?

Any ideas?

Re: Windscreen wiper motor nearly caught fire.

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:45 am
by whipsey
possible wiring shorting out against the body?

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:02 pm
by Jesus325iTouring
No fella,wiring all appears ok,not melted.

Anyone else any ideas?

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:39 pm
by johnl320
I think there is a live feed to the motor even with the wipers switched off ( to finish the sweep) The mechanism may have got jammed just before the cycle ended so was recieving a feed and not rotating, This could have heated it up to the point of melting. I am now donning a flame suit in preperation for the onslaught of Brian Moore.

john

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:01 pm
by Jesus325iTouring
johnl320 wrote:I think there is a live feed to the motor even with the wipers switched off ( to finish the sweep) The mechanism may have got jammed just before the cycle ended so was recieving a feed and not rotating, This could have heated it up to the point of melting. I am now donning a flame suit in preperation for the onslaught of Brian Moore.

john
Ah,could be that John,the wipers have not rested properly for quite some time,so may be this was the final straw.

Bring on Brian :wink:

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:12 pm
by Simon
I'd go with the motor being jammed too, but then surely the fuse should pop before this happens...

Whichever way, get that motor out, check the wiring over, and get a replacement in there right away!

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 8:29 pm
by johnl320
You can stop the blades and hold them and the fuse doesn't pop. Found that out the hard way. :roll:

john

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:03 pm
by Jesus325iTouring
johnl320 wrote:You can stop the blades and hold them and the fuse doesn't pop. Found that out the hard way. :roll:

john
John........how?............why?.........what were you doing to put the wipers on and hold them :mad: :mad: :mad: ....are you mad?? LOL
Simon wrote:I'd go with the motor being jammed too, but then surely the fuse should pop before this happens...

Whichever way, get that motor out, check the wiring over, and get a replacement in there right away!
Got a new motor on order from Spadge,mines disconnected now............please don't rain....................

I was suprised the fuse didn't pop aswell,better check i've the right one fitted.

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:59 pm
by johnl320
Bonnet open, coat on windscreen, five year old in drivers seat, first thing I notice is a wisp of smoke from you know where :roll:

john

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:32 pm
by Jesus325iTouring
johnl320 wrote:Bonnet open, coat on windscreen, five year old in drivers seat, first thing I notice is a wisp of smoke from you know where :roll:

john
PMSL,kids,gotta love 'em!

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:47 pm
by johnl320
Managed to catch mine before it expired and it lasted for another year, but it bloody stank!

Re:

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:27 pm
by Jesus325iTouring
How did you get it of the scuttle? Looks bloody awkward to get out :cry:

Re:

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:38 pm
by 316eyes
Remove the plastic loom cover thingy just under the bonnet to slide it out, once you've undone all the nuts etc.

Re:

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:50 pm
by Jesus325iTouring
316eyes wrote:Remove the plastic loom cover thingy just under the bonnet to slide it out, once you've undone all the nuts etc.
Ah,I didn't notice this cover thingy.Thanks fella :D

Re:

Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:58 pm
by 316eyes
First time I took one out I didn't notice either.................plenty of scraped knuckles etc :(