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Car Forum / MINI / January 2004Wipers are on regardless !!!
The slightest turn of the ignition key.... and the wipers are running ! I have an H reg Mayfair, the wiper motor is pretty old and the actuation lever and linkage is pretty worn but they did generally work as expected, albeit weakly and having to park them manually. But now they won't stop whatever. I have looked for a short on the steering column lever but it all seems as clean as a whistle. If I move the lever up 2 positions the blades move faster as expected. I suspected that the single wipe mechanism (push the lever down once momentarily) probably holds charge for the duration of a single wipe - perhaps if this is shorted then it is constantly doing a single wipe so to speak. If my theory happens to be correct, where do I find the component (A capacitor I presume) that is supposed to be holding the charge? Thanks for any help. Hi, Your problem is almost certainly in the auto park switch. This is a white plastic connector on the side of the wiper motor. It acts as a connector for the wiring and as a parking switch. Change this and your problem should vanish. keith > The slightest turn of the ignition key.... and the wipers are running > But now they won't stop whatever. I have looked for a short on the > steering column lever but it all seems as clean as a whistle. If I [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > component (A capacitor I presume) that is supposed to be holding the > charge? The "single wipe" function merely turns on the wiper for a moment. The wiper park mechanism then takes over, keeping the wiper moving until it reaches the park position - no sophisticated stuff like capacitors anywhere! If the Park switch is not making contact at the park position then the wipers will keep on going until the park switch stops them, which it never does. Another very common Mini problem too .... I once had a working park switch but the lump of plastic had fallen off of the rotating wheel underneath - there was nothing to press it!! ;) The Muffin Man > > The slightest turn of the ignition key.... and the wipers are running > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > wipers will keep on going until the park switch stops them, which it > never does. My Mini behaves similarly and it's got a new park switch. I find using the windscreen washers momentarily helps to make them stop. Taffy > I once had a working park switch but the lump of plastic had fallen off of > the rotating wheel underneath - there was nothing to press it!! [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > wipers will keep on going until the park switch stops them, which it > > never does. Thanks for all the suggestions. The Molex connector at the back looks pretty old and raggedy. I presume it connects to the park switch which again I assume is not visible because it is pushed into the padding on the bulkhead. I cannot get the two cross head screws undone at present and I am continuing to look for my impact driver. I am assuming that when I get the unit off I will find the white box that you are all describing and then I presume that the twirly bit inside will no longer be making contact. For the past 9 months the wipers have been very underpowered, they struggle to move at all when the windscreen is dry, (but up until now I have managed to manually park them) so all in all I think the best plan will be to replace the motor with one from a scrapper. Either way I have to get the old one off! Damn impact driver..... I put it just there, JUST THERE I tell you ! > For the past 9 months the wipers have been very underpowered, they > struggle to move at all when the windscreen is dry, (but up until now [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Damn impact driver..... I put it just there, JUST THERE I tell you ! Careful with used wiper motors. The park switch failure is very common on later cars where all the electrical items on the bulkhead suffer with corrosion. It's that sponge sound insulation you mention that holds moisture. You may find your used motor has a dodgy park switch too!  SignatureRgds Steve steve@dsnclassics.co.uk www.dsnclassics.co.uk > I cannot get the two cross head screws undone at present and I am > continuing to look for my impact driver. I am assuming that when I get [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > struggle to move at all when the windscreen is dry, (but up until now > I have managed to manually park them) Mine used to blow the fuse if it was operated when the windscreen was dry. When you do eventually get the wiper motor out, take 1/2 hour or so to open up the gear box and remove all the ear wax you find in it. Replace that with new grease (LM/Axle grease is fine) and grease the spiral rack well when you put it back together. You'll be surprised how well the motor works after that. Now it wipes as fast when dry as when wet. > so all in all I think the best > plan will be to replace the motor with one from a scrapper. Either way > I have to get the old one off! Not necessarily a good idea. The ear wax in a scrappy's motor is likely to be almost solid. > Damn impact driver..... I put it just there, JUST THERE I tell you ! Gah, drill the beggars out }8-) Cheers, Si. |
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