Disco 2 Rear window wiper motor overhaul how to?

Does anyone have a paint-by-numbers guide for how to service / overhaul the rear window wiper motor? I stripped the door back and pulled the motor to check power and it's got a permanent 12v (reads about 14v) and a switched live that cuts in briefly when the relay connects on the intermittent cycle. But the motor doesn't run and the wiper doesn't turn.

I want to take it apart and see if I can breath some life back into it. But, unsure of how to do it without spilling it's guts all over the floor in a tangled mess...of course this may not happen. But, I'd rather know beforehand that is not going to implode on me.

Any other tips on how to service it? Not my strong suit this and the bits I read may as well be in morse code...

Am I just better off getting an eBay special?

It's probably just the output shaft seized in the housing - this is quite common. Soak it in plus-gas for a while.

It's easy enough to take the whole thing to bits (in fact I found it harder taking the thing off the back door). You'll probably also find the grease in the gearbox has all dried up. Clean it up, lubricate appropriately and it'll be fine.

There's plenty info on the www. Don't bother if your like that, just replace with another working one but then is simples to get a seized one working again as the above post.

Muchas gracias mi amigo!

I took the plastic snap on cover off and it just looks like crumbled chocolate in there - looks like rust or is that likely to be the grease?

I don't have plus-gas, but I should have shares in WD40...I could bathe the car in the amount I have...will that work well enough?

And, will regular grease be OK to go back in there after I clean it out?

If it is seized, WD to clean it and get it operational, them a splash of oil on the shaft then repack with grease.. Job done

Thanks. Should I be able turn the shaft by hand or does it need to be plugged back in?

I presume this is the bit to soak, or should I remove the torx screws to the motor itself and have a poke around in there with WD40 and re-grease? I've only got Castrol HT grease, I assume that will be ok.

Well, I finally worked out that the spindle was seized. I took the motor out and could turn it manually. But, the screw gear would not turn the main gear at all. I haven't been able to work out how to remove the spindle or the gears to clean them either, so rather than frustrate myself any more, I'm just going to order a new one.

If anyone with more ability than me wants this one to see if they can bring it back to life, as long as you cover postage, it's yours.

The output shaft seizes into the plastic casing as it swells up with rust.

If you turn it over and gently drill into the plastic body about halfway along the shaft, you can get oil to wick through if you drill just a little bit into the shaft to give you clearance in the plastic.

I had a seized one but I put a spare motor on and recovered the seized one over a period of time. You can use the moulding ribs to make an oil reservoir if you choose the right spot to drill, I used a 4mm drill. Filled the area with WD-40 first oil and then some engine oil.

Peter

Thanks Peter, I'd never have thought of that. If there are no takers for this one, I'll give that a go and then I may just have a spare!

Incidentally, a 30 day warranted used one was only £30 including postage from a breaker. I'll be making sure that's packed with grease before I install.

Excellent photo by the way, very clear.