Front wipers

clarky81 · 15th January 2022, 07:54

While on the motorway during heavy rain my wipers stopped working. About 90 minutes later, after being towed to safety and checking the fuse (fuse was fine) the wipers started working again and as the rain had stopped I completed my journey.

When home I cleaned up the connector to the motor and sprayed them with contact cleaner and waited for the next period of heavy rain to see if this would work. To date I have not had the opportunity to test them in heavy rain but while driving in constant drizzle the other day on the intermittent setting they stopped working. I tried the next settings up but no luck. Switched them off and then on again and they started working again. There is no noise from the wiper motor.

Where should I be looking to try and resolve this issue?

SD1too · 15th January 2022, 09:08

That's a tricky one to diagnose John.
The wipers are controlled by the BCU. Is there any sign of water ingress from the plenum?
I also vaguely recall a similar problem when damaged wiring was found beneath the underbonnet fusebox.

Simon

clarky81 · 15th January 2022, 10:14

Wiring in the fusebox area looks good Simon. Area around the plenum area did show signs of water, now cleaned. I have the option to get a second hand motor, is it a difficult job to swap the motor?

SD1too · 15th January 2022, 10:50

I don't know John. They're not unreliable and speculative replacement of parts can become expensive, time consuming and demoralising. The secret lies in measurement.

The next time it happens, place your multimeter across the motor connector to establish whether there's 12v there or not.

Have you re-seated the relays?

Simon

clarky81 · 15th January 2022, 12:11

Thanks for the advice Simon. I haven't reseated the relay, I will try that

SD1too · 15th January 2022, 13:39

Note that there are two of them John, R1 and R3 in the underbonnet fuse box.

Simon

clarky81 · 15th January 2022, 14:20

Cheers Simon.

15th January 2022, 16:39

Could the switch be at fault?

clarky81 · 16th January 2022, 15:21

I have changed the motor and linkage, cleaned the connectors with contact cleaner and reseated the relays. will see how it goes. Thanks for the help.

Rich in Vancouver · 19th January 2022, 16:03

This won't solve the problem but could prevent needing another tow if the issue reoccurs. I treat my windscreen with Rain-X and when doing over 50MPH the water clears itself, with drops running up the screen, no wipers needed.

15th January 2022, 07:54	#1
clarky81 Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Banff Posts: 63 Thanks: 27 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Front wipers While on the motorway during heavy rain my wipers stopped working. About 90 minutes later, after being towed to safety and checking the fuse (fuse was fine) the wipers started working again and as the rain had stopped I completed my journey. When home I cleaned up the connector to the motor and sprayed them with contact cleaner and waited for the next period of heavy rain to see if this would work. To date I have not had the opportunity to test them in heavy rain but while driving in constant drizzle the other day on the intermittent setting they stopped working. I tried the next settings up but no luck. Switched them off and then on again and they started working again. There is no noise from the wiper motor. Where should I be looking to try and resolve this issue?

15th January 2022, 09:08	#2
SD1too Doesn't do things by halves Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Former Middlesex Posts: 20,338 Thanks: 1,587 Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts	That's a tricky one to diagnose John. The wipers are controlled by the BCU. Is there any sign of water ingress from the plenum? I also vaguely recall a similar problem when damaged wiring was found beneath the underbonnet fusebox. Simon __________________ "Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce.

15th January 2022, 10:50	#4
SD1too Doesn't do things by halves Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Former Middlesex Posts: 20,338 Thanks: 1,587 Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts	I don't know John. They're not unreliable and speculative replacement of parts can become expensive, time consuming and demoralising. The secret lies in measurement. The next time it happens, place your multimeter across the motor connector to establish whether there's 12v there or not. Have you re-seated the relays? Simon __________________ "Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce.

15th January 2022, 13:39	#6
SD1too Doesn't do things by halves Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Former Middlesex Posts: 20,338 Thanks: 1,587 Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts	Note that there are two of them John, R1 and R3 in the underbonnet fuse box. Simon __________________ "Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce.

19th January 2022, 16:03	#10
Rich in Vancouver Gets stuck in MG ZT-T Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: White Rock, BC on Canada's Pacific Coast Posts: 849 Thanks: 338 Thanked 367 Times in 210 Posts	This won't solve the problem but could prevent needing another tow if the issue reoccurs. I treat my windscreen with Rain-X and when doing over 50MPH the water clears itself, with drops running up the screen, no wipers needed. __________________ ZT-T190, Anthracite, LHD, Left the Line on June 24, 2002, Sold new in Switzerland, spent time in Germany, Imported to Canada in September 2021

15th January 2022, 10:14	#3
clarky81 Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Banff Posts: 63 Thanks: 27 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Wiring in the fusebox area looks good Simon. Area around the plenum area did show signs of water, now cleaned. I have the option to get a second hand motor, is it a difficult job to swap the motor?

15th January 2022, 12:11	#5
clarky81 Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Banff Posts: 63 Thanks: 27 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Thanks for the advice Simon. I haven't reseated the relay, I will try that

15th January 2022, 14:20	#7
clarky81 Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Banff Posts: 63 Thanks: 27 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Cheers Simon.

15th January 2022, 16:39	#8
Bazzateer Guest Posts: n/a	Could the switch be at fault?

16th January 2022, 15:21	#9
clarky81 Regular poster Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Banff Posts: 63 Thanks: 27 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	I have changed the motor and linkage, cleaned the connectors with contact cleaner and reseated the relays. will see how it goes. Thanks for the help.

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