Jammed wiper mechanism

In the autumn-winter period, wipers are the main device, without which driving is impossible.

Summer is a period when wipers are practically not used or are used sporadically. While

After a few months of non-use, you may find that the wiper mechanism is making a lot of noise, or worse, moving the wiper arm does not move the wiper blade.

The wiper mechanism consists of an electric motor, a gear train and a linkage system that drives the wiper arms and brushes. This system rarely lends itself breakdowns, and if it breaks, it practically does not make it possible to continue moving. Worth a look before the season. Faults appear much more often at the rear wiper, because some drivers use it very rarely, and also because the mechanism at the rear of the car has much more severe operating conditions.

The diagnosis is very simple. If, after turning on the wipers, you hear a metallic noise and a “rumble” near the windshield, then the engine bearings are to blame. In most cases, the manufacturer did not provide for the replacement of the bearings themselves, but of the entire set (gear motor) at once. Fortunately, the bearings are standard, so you can buy the right part in any store, and there are no problems with replacing them.

 

If the wipers operate slowly after turning on and do not return to their original position after turning off, this may be caused by sticking pins in the linkages. If the movement is accompanied by a squeak, you can be sure that they are erased. In order to fix it, it is necessary to remove the entire mechanism, and then carefully separate the interacting elements, since the cases are often made of fragile plastic or aluminum and all elements must be thoroughly lubricated. A jammed mechanism can damage the motor, gears, or other system components. The engine and the whole mechanism are located under the shaft and in some cars the disassembly of this element is very simple (one screwdriver is enough), while in others it is quite difficult. Then, in order not to damage the glazing, appropriate knowledge is needed.

Rear wipers often fail, as many drivers use them occasionally, even in winter. In the rear wiper, for example, a VW Golf III, the pin that moves the wiper arm is stuck. The resistance is so great that the metal screw destroys the plastic teeth of the wheel. The wheel itself is not a spare part and, unfortunately, you have to change the entire mechanism, which costs a lot of money. But with a little patience, you can rebuild the wheel and save a lot of money. When repairing this mechanism, the seals should also be replaced. Otherwise, the repair will not be fruitless.

The best way to keep this system up and running is to use it often.

Wipers are very easy to damage in winter. If we leave the wiper lever on in the evening, then in the morning we will definitely forget about it. Frozen wiper blades can damage the motor when the ignition is turned on.

Also, if you have automatic wipers, do not leave the lever in the auto position, as in some models this function is activated automatically after the ignition is turned on.

Before the winter season, it is worth replacing the fluid in the washer reservoir with winter fluid. If the summer freezes, then the washer pump may fail.