Wiper Disaster

This time the front ones!

I was just driving in heavy rain and the driver side wiper started to fail. Getting weaker by the second, while the passenger side was fine. I pulled over to investigate, and after a lift and jiggle it came back to life.... For 5 minutes, then the same happened. Eventually after 4 or 5 stops to jiggle it, I got a bit too aggressive, and pulled the whole rod out with the wiper attached. See pictures below.

Im assuming this is now a full on disaster, and that I'll have to take the whole dash off now to link it back up? Are there any steps anywhere to doing this? Or is this not as bad as I think? It won't go all the way back in now so I reckon I'm screwed.

You need a new wheelbox or to weld the gear back onto the spindle. It's just the top of the dash that needs to come out.

New wheelbox ordered cheers. Let's hope I can fit it.

its pretty easy, i changed both wheelboxes and the motor in an afternoon. its a bit fiddly to get the cable back though, but its not too bad. Take the top panel of the dash off and with a bit of jiggling you can get it out.

Right, old wheelbox is out, new one is half in, but I can't work out how to get the cable to "lock into" the cog teeth? Anyone got some advice on this? What's the trick?

HeywoodFloyd said:

Right, old wheelbox is out, new one is half in, but I can't work out how to get the cable to "lock into" the cog teeth? Anyone got some advice on this? What's the trick?

Click to expand...

push it through whilst someone rotates the spindle,often they just push through both

I got it through, put the plate on to complete the wheelbox, tightened it all up and tested it, and the cog isn't getting enough purchase on the cable still. It just makes a bit of a noise as the cable rubs against the teeth.

Damnit!

Have you clamped the outer sheath to the spindle box unit on both sides?
If you've only clamped on one side the inner will flop around giving the symptoms that you describe!
Don't ask me how I know!!

I yeah both sheaths are held firm in place

What make is your spindle box?
Is it possible to bend the clamps and guide slightly so that you get a better contact with the wheel?

My bearmach wheelboxes lasted a year before one of the gears fell off. I welded it back on. The next time I'm in there will be to fit oem ones.

Britpart. I'll see if it'll bend in a bit in the morning

Wow that was effort. I had to bash it about quite a bit with a hammer, but got there in the end. Working perfectly now, just in time for a 1000 mile round trip this weekend!

Word of warning to anyone that discovers this thread with the same issue... Don't get the britpart version, you have to modify it!

HeywoodFloyd said:

Wow that was effort. I had to bash it about quite a bit with a hammer, but got there in the end. Working perfectly now, just in time for a 1000 mile round trip this weekend!

Word of warning to anyone that discovers this thread with the same issue... Don't get the britpart version, you have to modify it!

Click to expand...

Karls said:

Yeah it looks like I’ll have to do the same. Did you put any lube on the rubber seal?

Click to expand...

"Don't get the britpart version" - LOL you are preaching to the converted here!

"Don'tget thebritpartversion" -
Where have I heard those words before? Oh, I remember, on every new moving part fitting thread