P5B coupe wipers not working

[bristol406]

I've only had this car a few weeks and haven't needed to use the windscreen wipers until the other day and they didn't work. When I first got the car I'm almost certain that they worked when I was familiarising myself with the controls and switches and trying everything. My question is how do I get to the wiper motor to diagnose the problem ?  I have checked the fuse and that's not the cause.

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Jan 28, 2020 16:28:20 GMT bristol406 said:

I've only had this car a few weeks and haven't needed to use the windscreen wipers until the other day and they didn't work. When I first got the car I'm almost certain that they worked when I was familiarising myself with the controls and switches and trying everything. My question is how do I get to the wiper motor to diagnose the problem ?  I have checked the fuse and that's not the cause.

The problem could be the switch? the gearbox full of hardened grease and seized? armature worn? brushes worn? having repaired "several" it could be a combination of all 4 things.
Be careful in connecting the motor it's amazing how many get burnt out due to being connected incorrectly a 15amp fuse is the Maximum you should fit I say this because I have had armatures where the solder has melted and the sectors are no longer attached!

[bristol406]

Thanks, I will follow your advice. My problm is I don't know how to get to the motor without dismantling everything in sight. I will probably take a look at the switch first.

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Jan 28, 2020 19:12:26 GMT bristol406 said:

Thanks, I will follow your advice. My problm is I don't know how to get to the motor without dismantling everything in sight. I will probably take a look at the switch first.

Remove the screws holding the aluminium cover, then lift out the drive cable to the wipers, loosen the nuts on the motor bracket then slide the bracket off with the motor, it's then a case of removing the wires from the motor.

[bristol406]

I think that I may have a faulty ignition swith or broken connection. With the ignition turned on there is no 12V at the fuse that feeds the wiper motor or the one that feeds the heater motors. I have removed the plastic cover from the ignition switch but can barely see the connections so can't verify anything. I've removed the screws from the cowl over the steering column hoping to remove the cowl to get access to the ignition switch but it looks like that can't be removed with the the steering wheel in place - is that true ?

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Jan 30, 2020 21:12:52 GMT bristol406 said:

I think that I may have a faulty ignition swith or broken connection. With the ignition turned on there is no 12V at the fuse that feeds the wiper motor or the one that feeds the heater motors. I have removed the plastic cover from the ignition switch but can barely see the connections so can't verify anything. I've removed the screws from the cowl over the steering column hoping to remove the cowl to get access to the ignition switch but it looks like that can't be removed with the the steering wheel in place - is that true ?

Hi you will have to remove the steering wheel a couple of grub screws and the centre push will come off them the nut to remove the steering wheel (take the fuse out or it will get noisy) then you will see 4 screws these hold the two cowls.
It sounds like your switch if the radio feed has gone as well?

[bristol406]

Thanks. Got to the switch; it's definitely faulty. I hot wired it from the battery connection to the feed to the fuses and everything worked, wipers and front and rear heater fans. I guess it's off to Wadhams for a replacement. Thanks for all the help.