Defender wiper sweep

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cee-b

Member
Posts
11
Hi, I know that wiper problems have often been raised, but this one has got me baffled.

My 05 reg 90 Td5 wipers usually work as advertised; the sweep is as it should be.

However, intermittently and for varying periods of time, the wipers over-sweep at both ends. The drivers' side wiper runs on to the windscreen rubber and both wipers hit the bottom of the screen with a loud thump.

No work has been done recently on the wipers, so there is no logical reason.

Any ideas what is going on please?
 
cee-b said:
Hi, I know that wiper problems have often been raised, but this one has got me baffled.

My 05 reg 90 Td5 wipers usually work as advertised; the sweep is as it should be.

However, intermittently and for varying periods of time, the wipers over-sweep at both ends. The drivers' side wiper runs on to the windscreen rubber and both wipers hit the bottom of the screen with a loud thump.

No work has been done recently on the wipers, so there is no logical reason.

Any ideas what is going on please?
Click to expand...

Are the wipers coming loose on their pivots at the bottom of the wiper arm ?
 
Turboman said:
Are the wipers coming loose on their pivots at the bottom of the wiper arm ?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure where you mean Turboman? Are you asking if the individual wipers are loose?

If so, then the answer is no. The fault causes both wipers to extend their sweep simultaneously by the same amount and then both return to the correct sweep.
 
The splined adaptors fit on a 'D' shaped section wiper box spindle, held on with a screw/bolt.
That screw/bolt located on the flat of the D spindle. This wears slightly or the screw/bolt works slightly loose and causes your issues.
The bolt/screws on mine were knacked and seized and wouldn't tighten up.
I removed the screw/bolts and retapped them to the next size up and used stainless steel caphead bolts to locate them.
Never had the problems you have got since.
I think the original thread is BSF or something? Not sure but metric works fine.
It doesn't take much slack at all between the D flat and screw/bolt to cause issues- mine are perfect now.
 
cee-b said:
I'm not sure where you mean Turboman? Are you asking if the individual wipers are loose?

If so, then the answer is no. The fault causes both wipers to extend their sweep simultaneously by the same amount and then both return to the correct sweep.
Click to expand...

Exactly that ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^, are the wiper arms loose on the steel rods at the bottom, which stick out of the linkage through the bulkhead.
It is quite common, seen it several times. Hold the wiper arms in your hand, and give them a good wiggle.
 
Flossie said:
The splined adaptors fit on a 'D' shaped section wiper box spindle, held on with a screw/bolt.
That screw/bolt located on the flat of the D spindle. This wears slightly or the screw/bolt works slightly loose and causes your issues.
It doesn't take much slack at all between the D flat and screw/bolt to cause issues- mine are perfect now.
Click to expand...

This all sounds plausible if I were getting a problem in 1 wiper. But, how does wear in the spindle of 1 box cause both wipers to over-run?

And they are not just 'flopping about', it is a good, hard powerful bang into the screen rubbers at both ends of travel. Then it goes, instantly, back to proper operation for a period until it happens again.

Please confirm that this is precisely the symptoms you were getting Flossie??
 
cee-b said:
This all sounds plausible if I were getting a problem in 1 wiper. But, how does wear in the spindle of 1 box cause both wipers to over-run?

And they are not just 'flopping about', it is a good, hard powerful bang into the screen rubbers at both ends of travel. Then it goes, instantly, back to proper operation for a period until it happens again.

Please confirm that this is precisely the symptoms you were getting Flossie??
Click to expand...

They just do. The things are pretty feeble, and can both wear at the same time.
Good wobble with yer hands will confirm.
 
Turboman said:
Exactly that ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^, are the wiper arms loose on the steel rods at the bottom, which stick out of the linkage through the bulkhead.
It is quite common, seen it several times. Hold the wiper arms in your hand, and give them a good wiggle.
Click to expand...

Thanks, no they aren't loose.
 
My guess is wear on the motor unit. I replaced my wiper spindles and drive but kept the original motor, the wipers would at times over sweep with a clunking noise at the end of the sweep.
I fitted a new motor, and the fault was cured. The motor is easy to change. I actually fitted a Britpart one and it has been fine.
Before you replace the motor, check the free play adjustment on the old one, just in case it’s come loose.
 
cee-b said:
This all sounds plausible if I were getting a problem in 1 wiper. But, how does wear in the spindle of 1 box cause both wipers to over-run?

And they are not just 'flopping about', it is a good, hard powerful bang into the screen rubbers at both ends of travel. Then it goes, instantly, back to proper operation for a period until it happens again.

Please confirm that this is precisely the symptoms you were getting Flossie??
Click to expand...
Yes.
I did the repair/mod around 14 yrs ago, I'd say I have to tweak my stainless steel bolts every 5 yrs to remove the minute slack that causes oversweep.
I thought I'd used a cap head bolt but as the pic shows, just an normal stainless steel one.
1516961450259-1520059038.jpg
:)
 
OK thanks, I'm grateful for all the responses.

There is evidently wear somewhere in the system that is causing the problem; I just couldn't/can't figure out where that wear could be in order to produce the symptoms I have.

The wheel boxes are independent and, other than causing jerking or jamming that transmits down the cable to the other box, they can't influence each other. My problem occurs with both wipers simultaneously so (in my mind anyway) that pretty much rules out the wheel boxes?

The same can probably be said for wear on the cable at the point(s) where the wheel boxes are driven from it.

That leaves the motor worm drive, drive gear and the cable connection at the motor end being common to both wipers.

I'll take the dash out and strip & inspect the whole system. While I'm in there, I may as well replace the wheel boxes and cable; they are 13 years old and will wear out sometime anyway.

I might as well replace the motor brushes as well while I've got it stripped to check for wear.

All I need now is some dry weather to get on with the job :wink:
 
lightning said:
My guess is wear on the motor unit. I replaced my wiper spindles and drive but kept the original motor, the wipers would at times over sweep with a clunking noise at the end of the sweep.
I fitted a new motor, and the fault was cured. The motor is easy to change. I actually fitted a Britpart one and it has been fine.
Before you replace the motor, check the free play adjustment on the old one, just in case it’s come loose.
Click to expand...
 
cee-b said:
OK thanks, I'm grateful for all the responses.

There is evidently wear somewhere in the system that is causing the problem; I just couldn't/can't figure out where that wear could be in order to produce the symptoms I have.

The wheel boxes are independent and, other than causing jerking or jamming that transmits down the cable to the other box, they can't influence each other. My problem occurs with both wipers simultaneously so (in my mind anyway) that pretty much rules out the wheel boxes?

The same can probably be said for wear on the cable at the point(s) where the wheel boxes are driven from it.

That leaves the motor worm drive, drive gear and the cable connection at the motor end being common to both wipers.

I'll take the dash out and strip & inspect the whole system. While I'm in there, I may as well replace the wheel boxes and cable; they are 13 years old and will wear out sometime anyway.

I might as well replace the motor brushes as well while I've got it stripped to check for wear.

All I need now is some dry weather to get on with the job :wink:
Click to expand...

New wiper motor sounds like a good shout if it is bothering you, and not expensive.

IIRC, most of the job can be done from inside the vehicle.
 
Before shelling out for a new motor, take the cover off and have a look inside to see if the crank pin has any play in it, and whilst you are at it, check that the circlip is still there on the end of the wheel shaft.
By carefully removing the cylinder head, it is possible to replace the gasket and oil seals to hold the doors on. (sorry, someone said that there wasn't enough levity and downright stupidity on LZ anymore! I blame BoB!!)
 
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