Wiper issues - need your brains (resolved)

[Worcester_spoon]

Hi all

Took car of out of winter hibernation this week and discovered an issue with the wipers.

Read a bunch of posts on here, and reckon it’s one of two things, but would welcome thoughts from you experts.

Symptoms: when wipers start (rain sensor, me moving the stalk, using the washer jets) the wipers won’t stop. The only way I can get the, to stop is to turn the ignition off.

Possible causes? I think I’ve ruled out faulty motor as everything seems to be moving fine, so think it’s either a) GM5 fault (I haven’t scanned for codes yet) or b) a fault with the rain sensor. On the latter, I did splice into the switch live power to this a few years ago to power a dash cam, so wondering if this might have developed a fault?

Not sure which of these it might be, or if it could be something else, so crowd sourcing

Thanks
Stu

 

[bigwinn]

I think that’s your gm5 matey- I’m sure I had the same issue on a previous car…

 

[Worcester_spoon]

I think that’s your gm5 matey- I’m sure I had the same issue on a previous car…

Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Did wonder if it could be a stuck relay, but that’s probably wishful thinking.

Any thoughts on repair vs replace for the GM5?

 

[bigwinn]

Have you got someone local who can lend you one to check?

Otherwise I think the guy on eBay repairs them or returns for free if no repair (Huddersfield I think)

I’ve got relays in the shed to do my first repair… when mine goes wobbly

 

[enuff_zed]

Just did one recently that had exactly those symptoms and swapping the wiper assembly fixed it. Then I cleaned up the old one and that worked fine as well.
The inside of the motor was coated in old dirty grease so I can only assume it was blocking the auto stop part of the contacts.

 

[Worcester_spoon]

Won’t hurt trying giving the assembly a clean I guess. Was it a difficult job?

 

[enuff_zed]

Won’t hurt trying giving the assembly a clean I guess. Was it a difficult job?

Worst part is removing the scuttle panel without breaking the clips

 

[Worcester_spoon]

So I messaged a GM5 repair guy and he replied with “If that’s the only issue its 95% NOT the GM5, I would look at other items & or wiring in the car.”

I’ve not noticed any other symptoms.

Before I start to unenviable job of pulling the motor out to clean it, anything else worth considering/checking? I’m going to remove the spliced power feed to the dash cam just in case that’s causing an issue (like corroded wires).

 

[enuff_zed]

So I messaged a GM5 repair guy and he replied with “If that’s the only issue its 95% NOT the GM5, I would look at other items & or wiring in the car.”

I’ve not noticed any other symptoms.

Before I start to unenviable job of pulling the motor out to clean it, anything else worth considering/checking? I’m going to remove the spliced power feed to the dash cam just in case that’s causing an issue (like corroded wires).

From what I found recently I’d be heading straight to that wiper motor.

 

[colb]

Most likely to be grease migration over the contact plate on the rear side of the wiper motor interfering with the off contact. Take the wiper blades and arms off and remove the plastic scuttle to reveal the wiper motor, remove the whole unit 2 x bolts and 1 x plastic clip. Lift it out and take the back plate of the motor off 6 x bolts to reveal the contact plate. Clean off all grease from the contact plate and then refit the plate and reinstall the unit. Best to mark the rest position of the wiper blades on the windscreen with some tape so you put them back in the right position.
Once all back together test the operation.

 

[enuff_zed]

[ref]Worcester_spoon[/ref], did you resolve this?

 

[Worcester_spoon]

Not yet. Been away with work, s9 will look at it next week. Hoping its easy!

Gong to start by checking the splice I took to power the dash cam (and pray it’s that simple!), then pull the wiper motor and cleans it as suggested.

 

[Worcester_spoon]

Thanks all.

Stripped, cleaned, working again

Love the knowledge on this forum!

 

[enuff_zed]

Thanks all.

Stripped, cleaned, working again

Love the knowledge on this forum!

Excellent!
And thank you for finishing the thread off.