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Rear wiper has a mind of its own!

8.9K views 17 replies 10 participants last post by  Cass  
#1 ·
Hi all, back again lol.
So as the subject suggests, my rear wiper blade seems to do as it pleases as and when it wants.
Coming on on its own, stopping in the middle lol.
I have a cracked boot lid tail light lens which Iv just ordered a replacement for (it’s been like that a few years oops!), however when I open the boot water does drip down.
Just wondering maybe the water ingress could be the problem as this issue only seems to arise in winter.


For now though I’m thinking of removing the fuse!

Thanks for any help x
 
#3 ·
I would suspect that the wiring loom may be cracked and systems are backfeeding feed wires across the cracked loom

The light should be grand, provided it's not half full of water ;)

It's also possible that it could be a motor, but they usually just stop working wherever on the screen that the motors will to live departs o_O
 
#4 ·
I haven’t tried anything yet!
There is no damp at all inside anywhere of the car…
I was going to just replace the lens and see if over time (to help any wet/damp that may be around to dry up) and see if it miraculously fixes it 🤞🏻 lol.
It is only cracked, no gaps except the crack obviously, but it’s enough to let some water in. Currently I look like a dumb blonde who doesn’t check her mirrors and hasn’t noticed her rear wiper is on 😆
How can I check the loom?
And where can I get a battery check done? I know of Kwik Fit only… I wouldn’t be surprised if I need a new one knowing there around £400, I don’t do cheap repairs (not out or choice 😕)
 
#5 ·
I haven’t tried anything yet!
There is no damp at all inside anywhere of the car…
I was going to just replace the lens and see if over time (to help any wet/damp that may be around to dry up) and see if it miraculously fixes it 🤞🏻 lol.
It is only cracked, no gaps except the crack obviously, but it’s enough to let some water in. Currently I look like a dumb blonde who doesn’t check her mirrors and hasn’t noticed her rear wiper is on 😆
How can I check the loom?
And where can I get a battery check done? I know of Kwik Fit only… I wouldn’t be surprised if I need a new one knowing there around £400, I don’t do cheap repairs (not out or choice 😕)
VW will do a health check on your car for about £65, im having one done on mine as I am typing this message. They check a bunch of stuff, including the health of the battery (I asked if this was checked when I dropped mine in this morning).
 
#7 ·
The rear windscreen washer fluid is delivered to the jet through the motor spindle and can leak into the motor electrics over time. May or may not be your problem but something else to check.
 
#10 ·
Thanks everyone, I’ll do some more investing st the weekend!
I’m not sure it would be the battery as this problem has been around for a couple of years now and only seems to rear its ugly head in the winter months.
In summer it works absolutely fine which makes me think it’s something to do with the cracked lens on the boot lid causing some water ingress 😣
I’ll be changing that at the weekend!
I’ll let you know if I have any new findings!
 
#12 ·
Hi again. So my wiper has died! In the erect position 😖 how can I move it manually back down?
I have taken the plastic covering off and there’s the washer jet nozzle and a nut…
Should I loosen this nut and it will let me manually move the wiper?
On another note, the washer fluid is still working, so could this be a fuse that’s blown? Or are they both on the same fuse?
Thankya x
 
#13 · (Edited)
I definitely would not move the blade arm otherwise if the wiper motor starts working it may damage the blade, the arm and the paintwork as it tries to wipe on the wrong arc.
 
#16 ·
Could be the fuse or the self parking switch contacts on the motor. I’d check the fuse and, if ok, check for power supply at ghe motor connector. If that’s ok then I’d take the motor off and check the parking switch contacts and brushes. I’m assuming the motor has an old fashioned parking switch but don’t actually know.

Should be easy enough to replace if it’s popped. They normally have a nut on the arm spindle and may have additional mounting bolt(s) to the tailgate behind the trim panel which needs to be removed
 
#17 ·
@Lynette205 did you ever get this resolved? Oddly enough mine decided it was going to come on as I was reversing this evening and now won't switch off! Away to scan for codes after supper and see what that throws up. Hopefully not the loom and just water ingress at the motor...🤞
 
#18 ·
OP hasn’t been on this site for the past 4 months so you might have to wait further for a response 🤔
 
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