Tdi 90 windscreen wiper problem

Arrived in Skye yesterday evening in my 2013 Defender 90. About 5 miles from our destination with windscreen wipers on they stopped halfway down, with the motor whirring. I switched them off at the stalk and nudged them and they returned to park position and motor switched off.

Switched on and they went to up position, stuck there with motor whirring. Nudged them and they went back down. Now motor won’t switch off regardless of position switched to at the stalk, and wipers just move up and stick, with motor whirring.

There is no physical obstruction. I’m thinking relay switch? Planning on removing fuse to get to nearest repair centre on Monday (hoping it doesn’t rain) anyone encountered this problem or have any ideas? Thanks.

check the negative wire and connections and change the fuse
good luck

I'd check the relay that's attached to the wiper motor and/or the red relay that operates the intermittent wipe, that can be found either in the fuse box or behind the instrument binnacle (which is where I think it is on your model year). If the electrics are all ok then it could be wear on your wheel boxes.

Ok thanks. Either sounds likely - I’m hoping it’s a relay. I don’t think it’s wear as there is no problem with the motor lifting the wipers up - just they then don’t go down again and the motor seems to continue trying to rotate them in the same direction. So essentially the problem seems to be now 1) windscreen wipers are permanently on regardless of stalk position 2) motor is rotating them only in one direction. Does this sound like a relay problem?

Wiper motors are on all the time, the relay on the motor interrupts the signal and gets them to park in the right place, until the switch is operated again. Without seeing the vehicle I would say its the relay on the motor but I had a 90 once that when I operated the intermittent option they would never turn off unless I turned the engine off - it was the red relay on that occasion.

Park switch:

https://www.paddockspares.com/park-switch.html

Relay (check compatibility with your chassis number):

https://www.paddockspares.com/amr2341-wiper-relay-unit.html

Thanks wireman, very helpful!

Hope you get it sorted, let us know what the problem was.

wireman said:

Hope you get it sorted, let us know what the problem was.

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Will do, thanks for your help

Carsick Charles said:

Will do, thanks for your help

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Took the car into Highland Motors in Borve who advised the problem was a worn ‘worm’ - which drives the wipers. Motor was fine. Replacement is straightforward but involves removal of the dash and will take 4 - 5 hours. No garage on Skye is able to do a job of this size by Saturday when we leave but a garage in Mallaig can do it so I’m taking it over on the ferry on Friday. Apparently this is a very common problem. Easy enough to fix yourself - but I don’t have the tools with me. I suspect all that’s required is a few Torq Allen keys and various screwdrivers - but once the dash is removed if I need further tools I’m a bit stuck as it’s 35 miles to the nearest supplier.

Unsure on this but worth a try...
Can you remove the top of the dash where the vents are?
Can you remove the end off the spindle that attached to the wiper?

Undo the 2 x nuts off the wiper box.
Push the spindle through(there may be a retainer on the shaft)
Rotate this so damage is on bottom & re fit.
This may get you home to your spanners

Hicap phill said:

Unsure on this but worth a try...
Can you remove the top of the dash where the vents are?
Can you remove the end off the spindle that attached to the wiper?

Undo the 2 x nuts off the wiper box.
Push the spindle through(there may be a retainer on the shaft)
Rotate this so damage is on bottom & re fit.
This may get you home to your spanners

Click to expand...

Thanks, worth a try

From what the mechanic says its the worm not the wheel boxes. If its the wheel boxes what hicap phill says will work, if it is the worm you could try moving the wheel boxes a bit further back along the worm and use a not worn part

wireman said:

From what the mechanic says its the worm not the wheel boxes. If its the wheel boxes what hicap phill says will work, if it is the worm you could try moving the wheel boxes a bit further back along the worm and use a not worn part

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That’s what the mechanic suggested too, but it would still involve removing the dash which is the time consuming bit.

You can't move the wheel boxes as the arc of the blades will be affected.

Check the wiper arms for damage.
The splines could be worn?

Are both wipers affected?

Keep us up informed of the outcome