Got in my car today and the wipers won't work. They don't work on any setting. When I pull the stalk back the washer jets still spray but blades don't move. I removed the motor about 6 months ago and cleaned the contacts etc which stopped them from juddering on intermittent. What's the most likely part to have failed? Relay, motor etc?.
Thanks
Failed windscreen wipers
Moderator: martauto
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Sanchez
- Married to the E30 Zone
- Posts: 7578
- Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Sunny Scotland
Wiki says.....
Wipers Not Working
Before jumping to conclusions about a failed motor, it's important to do some tests.
Pull K10 relay in the Fuse Box, and with a piece of wire, apply 12V+ from the battery, preferably via a fuse, to pins 53 and 53b, one at a time, and with another bit of wire, connect pin F1 to earth. This should make the wipers work at normal speed and fast speed, depending on whether you are linking 53 or 53b. If it only works on the fast speed, then the motor is probably dud (normal speed brush stuck or worn out), or there is a problem with its plug and socket. If it works on both speeds the problem is most likely the switch. Check by replacing the wiper relay, and earthing the black/red wire at the switch plug/socket. If the switch works, then open up the relay and look for cracked solder joints
If you go on a scrapyard search for a motor, then check for wear in the spindle. The RH drive E30 has the spindle positioned where it collects a lot of water and dirt, and wears badly.
On a couple of occasions E30 motors have been replaced with ones from either an Audi or VW, which are identical apart from the connector (so get the plug and a few inches of wire as well).
Wipers Not Working
Before jumping to conclusions about a failed motor, it's important to do some tests.
Pull K10 relay in the Fuse Box, and with a piece of wire, apply 12V+ from the battery, preferably via a fuse, to pins 53 and 53b, one at a time, and with another bit of wire, connect pin F1 to earth. This should make the wipers work at normal speed and fast speed, depending on whether you are linking 53 or 53b. If it only works on the fast speed, then the motor is probably dud (normal speed brush stuck or worn out), or there is a problem with its plug and socket. If it works on both speeds the problem is most likely the switch. Check by replacing the wiper relay, and earthing the black/red wire at the switch plug/socket. If the switch works, then open up the relay and look for cracked solder joints
If you go on a scrapyard search for a motor, then check for wear in the spindle. The RH drive E30 has the spindle positioned where it collects a lot of water and dirt, and wears badly.
On a couple of occasions E30 motors have been replaced with ones from either an Audi or VW, which are identical apart from the connector (so get the plug and a few inches of wire as well).
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Did you push the plug in properly on the motor? Won't be a fuse problem if the washers work, and operating the washers should work the wipers independently of the column switch.
Take the cover off of the fusebox and check that the wiper control module hasn't worked loose, and that no errant fuses have slid under it.
If this does nothing, either take the cover off of the module, refit it, and press the relays inside one at a time and see if anything happens, or remove the module, apply 12 volts + to pin 53B or 53 of the socket and earth pin F1 or F2 of the socket.
Try all four combinations - one should run the wipers at normal speed and one should run it at the faster speed.
All the above assumes that it not just the linkage arm that's come loose on the motor, and it is actually running as it should.
Take the cover off of the fusebox and check that the wiper control module hasn't worked loose, and that no errant fuses have slid under it.
If this does nothing, either take the cover off of the module, refit it, and press the relays inside one at a time and see if anything happens, or remove the module, apply 12 volts + to pin 53B or 53 of the socket and earth pin F1 or F2 of the socket.
Try all four combinations - one should run the wipers at normal speed and one should run it at the faster speed.
All the above assumes that it not just the linkage arm that's come loose on the motor, and it is actually running as it should.
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
diable wrote:It could be the stalk at fault.
Not if the washer's work. Washer input to the control module triggers the wipers.
How do I tell which one is 53 or 53b etc? The surface under the relays doesn't have any marking on it that I can see and all I can find in the wiki is this:http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Fuse_Box
Which doesn't say what's what either in the respect.
Thanks
Which doesn't say what's what either in the respect.
Thanks
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
If you made the connections correctly, then the motor should run. It would be very unusual for the motor to show no signs of life at all though, if it's getting power.kitch wrote:Found it under the relay. What an idiot. Tried the connections and nothing happened. Doesn't even sound like the motor is trying to work and the connections to the motor seem fine. So I'm guessing its a duff motor?
The E30 motor can be dismantled easily enough to check the brushes. Unscrew the two hex headed bolts at the gearbox end of the motor, and pull carefully apart.