Windshield Wiper Parking

[Richard van der Hoff]

Tom Donohue wrote:
> Same problem on my 1991 200 20V Avant...my info is the problem originates in 
> the wiper motor which must be replaced.  Have a new used one to install, but 
> still have not gotten around to it.  If anyone has any other info, I'd be 
> interested.

Well, I've never actually solved this problem myself, but essentially
the way the park function works is by having some contacts which run
along a track, within the motor assembly. The track has a break at the
'park' point; hence the arrangement is such that the power is maintained
to the motor until the wipers return to the park point, the contacts
reach the break in the track, and the connection is broken. Now, if the
track (or contacts) are dirty, the connection can be broken at the wrong
time, so the wipers park in the wrong place.

So in theory, it might be possible to dismantle the motor assembly,
clean the contacts, and it be good for another 15 years. Or, it might be
impossible to take apart, it might be full of tiny springs waiting to
ping across the workshop, or the contacts might be corroded to crap.

FWIW, the park never worked very reliably on the rear wiper of my '91
coupe. But, being a rear wiper, I could never be bothered to actually go
and fix it.

So there you go. HTH.