Window wipers with a mind of their own

[Cjonaldo]

Any advice on window wipers that just seem to do whatever they want? I press for the wipers to go once for example, and they will just keep going. Sometimes they don’t set back down right. Sometimes they will stop in the middle of the window and i then have to turn the engine off and back on again to get them moving again. Bit dangerous when it’s pouring with rain and you have to pull over cos your wipers are stuck! This is on a 54 plate z4. Thanks!

 

[kis]

Maybe give this one a go? Could be a problem because of grease build up? Worth a go before you go down the replacement route?

 

[Cjonaldo]

Amazing thanks - looks like people have had a lot of success from this. Will give it a go on Friday!

 

[MalNCH]

I programmed out the automatic rain sensors so intermittent was manual when I had a similar problem, stopped all the grief of wipers doing what they wanted.

 

[noiseboy72]

99% this is a build up of grease in the motor.

Just make sure you thoroughly clean the grease out and use some de-greaser on the wiper and contact surface. Not a difficult job and takes about an hour. Worst part in normally getting the wiper arms off. Spray the nuts with WD40 the evening before and let it penetrate overnight.

 

[parabolica]

The other 1% is the relay going bad; I cleaned the grease out of mine but the problem persisted. I then replaced the relay found behind the fusebox in the glovebox area and problem solved. Cracked the old relay open and it was full of rust/soot.

 

[buzyg]

99% this is a build up of grease in the motor.

Just make sure you thoroughly clean the grease out and use some de-greaser on the wiper and contact surface. Not a difficult job and takes about an hour. Worst part in normally getting the wiper arms off. Spray the nuts with WD40 the evening before and let it penetrate overnight.

Yup another who had those symptoms and it was a grease build up. Sorted in a few hours.