[Vwdiesel] Intermittent wiper failure

[Erik Lane]

One more possibility with the same symptoms that I've
seen a couple times is a cracked gear. I've had that
large plastic gear get a crack in it and then the
teeth bind at that point and it stops. A little push
and it will continue on. I couldn't think of a good
fix for that so I got one out of a wrecking yard. The
motor itself was still good, and with a new gear would
work just like new.

Can be hard to see the crack unless you turn off the
ignition when the wiper is at the binding point and
then disassemble. It wasn't hard to do, and was cheap.
I think the replacement motor was from some other type
VW cause it wouldn't quite plug right in so I stole
the gear and it's been working well for over a year
now. And I live in Oregon, where wipers get quite a
bit of use!! :)

Good luck!
Erik
--- Sandy Cameron <scameron at compmore.net> wrote:

> At 07:39 AM 26/10/04 -0400, you wrote:
> >Thanks for the quick reply.  I assumed that it
> might be, but I have always
> >been perplexed that often the intermittent would
> take half a stroke and
> >then stop entirely.
> 
> If the wiper won't return to zero after an
> intermittent initiation, ther is
> one more test to prove the trouble.
> 
> As we often do, we initiate a single wipe by pushing
> the lever up until the
> motor just starts, then quickly release, allowing
> the "return to park"
> mechanisim to do the rest of the wipe.
> 
> If it quits before returning, the problem is in the
> plastic gearbox on the
> end of the motor.
> Inside, besides the worm and pinion gear, is the
> "return to park" (RTP) switch.
> 
> It is made up of a small contact blade that touches
> a brass ring/disk/track
> that is a complete circle, except for a small gap
> where the blade will no
> longer contact it, located at the park position.
> 
> Over the years, the guanno used for grease dries
> out, and the blade wears
> away, and eventually stops contacting the track.
> Result? motor stops
> anywhere in it's travel to try to park.
> 
> This does NOT happen in either of the 2 continuous
> wipe positions, as the
> RTPS is not in circuit then.
> 
> It is repairable.
> 
> Remove the wiper arms, remove the assembly form the
> car. (It's tricky
> getting it out, but they got it in, didn't they?)
> 
> Open the gearbox carefully so parts dont fly out.
> clean with brake cleaner or WD40, identify the
> contact that runs on the
> brass track, and bend it slightly so it exerts more
> pressure on the track.
> 
> Apply fresh grease and close up.
> 
> Lay it on the airbox and plug it in, then try it. If
> it still is
> intermittent, do the obove again, and study it
> carefully to be sure you did
> the right things..
> 
> I did one 3 years agoon a 90 A2, and it's still fine
> today.
> 
> Because it's been 3 years, and I'm 70, I don't
> remember the screw-by-screw,
> dismantle process, but it works.
> 
> If you can't get it working, it means a new gearhead
> assembly, and if old,
> from a junkyard, perhaps a repeat of the problem
> 
> It CAN be repaired.
> 
> Sandy
> 
>  
> 
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> 



		
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