Hi folks,

I was using my windscreen wipers tonight - they've been working fine since I swapped out the motor a couple of months ago. However for some reason the wipers have decided their "home" position is now at the top of the sweep instead of the bottom. If you turn the wipers on, they go down to the bottom - then back up to the top again (???)

Any ideas on how to fix this, I'm guessing turn the wipers on, quickly turn off ignition when they are at the bottom of the screen, then disconnect the battery - leave for a few minutes - then reconnect.

Is this right, how long should I leave the battery off for?

Dont think disconnecting the battery will help......sounds more like the relay to me.

Or has the spindle slipped?

Auto Addict wrote on 20. Aug 2006 at 09:07:

Or has the spindle slipped?

Most likely.

Not sure thats its slipped on spline. I'd say either motor or relay fault.

COuld be wiring to motor - had this on the last writeoff

thanks for the replies. A gold star to those who suggested that the spindle had slipped, indeed it had. I must have not done the securing nut up enough when I swapped out the wiper motor.

I turned on the ignition and ran the wipers, saw that the motor was working fine - turning continuously as expected, on intermittent it was stopping but with the link that connects to the motor gearbox spindle at the 270 degree position. I removed the wipers, undid the nut, pulled up the link and rotated it to the 90 degree position, then refitted the nut and did it up F. tight, then refitted the wipers.

... all is now OK again  8-)

I got one right for a change.

Just to clarify for future ref, it was the motor spindle, and not the wiper spindles that had slipped?

TheBoy wrote on 21. Aug 2006 at 16:03:

Just to clarify for future ref, it was the motor spindle, and not the wiper spindles that had slipped?

That's what I assumed.

TheBoy wrote on 21. Aug 2006 at 16:03:

Just to clarify for future ref, it was the motor spindle, and not the wiper spindles that had slipped?

It happened to my Senator while my wife was driving it in the p***ing rain, fortunately she was nearly home.

TheBoy wrote on 21. Aug 2006 at 16:03:

Just to clarify for future ref, it was the motor spindle, and not the wiper spindles that had slipped?

yes, it was. The wipers were working as they should, each flick of the stalk executed a complete sweep - but it was down and back up again instead of the other way round - the wipers were resting in the fully-up position which doesn't make seeing where you're going easy!

I did think it might have been that, hence why I've now made sure the securing nut has been done up tight!! I think I must not have done it up tight enough when I replaced the original motor.

Always nice when it's a simple fix ... I can do simple!