Windscreen Wipers problem

[Mikie]

I am coming to ask the Slim manne for help.

My windscreen wipers died this morning
Turned them on they went all the way up and on the way down pop went the fuse, I replaced the fuse and pop again, so I have a short somewhere.

How do I find the problem?? Going to the Waterberg on Thursday so I need to get this sorted by then. whats the easiest way to find the problem??

[CasKru]

Is there any other devices powered by the same fuse?

[Mikie]

Is there any other devices powered by the same fuse?

Doesn't seem so, the fuse only says "WIP"

[Mud Dog]

I've mentioned it here before ... if the wiper motor labours hard enough it will pop the fuse even if there is no short. Often the wiper bushes become stiff from dirt / corrosion. Remove the wiper arms to expose the shafts and spray them with some penetrating lubricant (Q20 or other). Replace the fuse and try it without the arms connected ... should run if there is no fault with the motor or a short.

[CasKru]

Was going to suggest to also remove the wiper motor and maybe clean it out and grease it again as well

[Mikie]

I've mentioned it here before ... if the wiper motor labours hard enough it will pop the fuse even if there is no short. Often the wiper bushes become stiff from dirt / corrosion. Remove the wiper arms to expose the shafts and spray them with some penetrating lubricant (Q20 or other). Replace the fuse and try it without the arms connected ... should run if there is no fault with the motor or a short.

Geniune?? I would never have thought this. Makes sense though, as they worked perfectly until this mornign, they never seemed to labour though. I would find it strange that a short developed over night without anything being fiddled with, is there a better way to test without going through 5 million fuses? I hate popping them successively, costs money.

Was going to suggest to also remove the wiper motor and maybe clean it out and grease it again as well

Cassie, you got any idea hwo hard that motor is to get out?

[Mikie]

Andre's Post here sounds exactly the same as mine, viewtopic.php?f=3&t=27400" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
looks like this afternoon am removing wiper motor, cleaning and lubing, I hope this isnt difficult, I hate to sukkel

[Mud Dog]

Try my suggestion first.

Not sure about the Vigo, but the motor may be on the engine side of the firewall. Then it's quite easy to remove, but thye motors themselves don't really give hassles ... induction motor, so no brushes and only the field coil that can burn out ... the little "gearboxes" with the worm and ring gear are fairly protected from the elements under the bonnet, so it's not often that they need to be serviced, but if my suggestion fails, that would be the second step to remove the motor and service.

[Mikie]

Try my suggestion first.

Not sure about the Vigo, but the motor may be on the engine side of the firewall. Then it's quite easy to remove, but thye motors themselves don't really give hassles ... induction motor, so no brushes and only the field coil that can burn out ... the little "gearboxes" with the worm and ring gear are fairly protected from the elements under the bonnet, so it's not often that they need to be serviced, but if my suggestion fails, that would be the second step to remove the motor and service.

Thanks Andy. You may just be my hero

[Mud Dog]

Here's holding thumbs! Let us know what happens.

[Mikie]

Will do

[Oubaas]

Indien jy nie regkom nie, koop 'n botteltjie C-thru by Midas, Game, etc. Smeer dit aan die ruit soos aanbeveel. Jy het nie wipers nodig nie, dit laat die water afhardloop van die ruit af. Hoe harder dit reën en hoe vinniger jy ry, hoe beter hardloop die water af. Ek gebruik dit al jare en dis 'n moet vir enige voertuig.

[Jaws]

No suck luck on the Vigo I'm afraid , wiper motor well hidden behind some plastics. Lots of reports of the wiper motor failing on the Vigo.

[Jaws]

[Jaws]

R2500 for the motor from spare shops, R2900 from the stealers

[Mikie]

Seems I am in luck, I removed the blades, then the covers, then removed the 2 bolts and slid the complete motor out.
As recommended I sprayed a decent oil into all moving parts, reconnected the motor to test and it worked, I then put it back in place and replaced all parts, seems to be working now, very strange, could be some old oil and corrosion did make it tight.
If it fails again I will remove it again, clean and lube, thanks for all your help.

[Family_Dog]

Try my suggestion first.
... induction motor, so no brushes and only the field coil that can burn out ...

I posted this earlier today, but my post has gawn!

Andy, are you sure about the above statement? An induction motor works off AC, not DC, unless the DC is converted to AC, but that seems a strange way of doing things. The wiper motor supplies a fairly decent amount of torque and a DC motor with brushes is excellent for supplying this.


-F_D

[Mud Dog]

Try my suggestion first.
... induction motor, so no brushes and only the field coil that can burn out ...

I posted this earlier today, but my post has gawn!

Andy, are you sure about the above statement? An induction motor works off AC, not DC, unless the DC is converted to AC, but that seems a strange way of doing things. The wiper motor supplies a fairly decent amount of torque and a DC motor with brushes is excellent for supplying this.


-F_D

Eric, you're probably right ..... I must be getting confused with an appliance motor that I stripped some time back.


Glad you came right there Mike!

[Family_Dog]

Appliance motors very often are induction motors because they are silent. Think of a standard oscillating fan, no noise, it is an induction motor. Same for a swimming pool pump, air con, fridges, etc. But a vacuum cleaner ain't! It is a high-revving, irritating, noisy motor that uses brushes and a commutator.


-F_D

[Mikie]

This morning they are still working and they also seem to move easier, my suggestion, if you have the time and inclination, pull yours off and lube the parts before it gets stuck, well worth it, now I somme want it to rain

[Jaws]

This morning they are still working and they also seem to move easier, my suggestion, if you have the time and inclination, pull yours off and lube the parts before it gets stuck, well worth it, now I somme want it to rain

Good news !

[Mikie]

This lasted 6 months, popped again this morning, I need to pull it out again and reoil the moving parts again. I think its definitely on its way out

[Mikie]

I fear it may just about have given up now, I have removed it and greased all movable parts, Fuse still popped this morning
Only havent opened up the motor yet, is that doable? Spray some oil in there?

[Sifu-Lux]

You can open up the motor, check the bearings are turning freely, and also the brushes are still okay as well as the commutator. That's really all there is to check in there.
You could also check the windings are still okay with a multimeter by checking the continuity between the appropriate commutator segments.

[Mikie]

You can open up the motor, check the bearings are turning freely, and also the brushes are still okay as well as the commutator. That's really all there is to check in there.
You could also check the windings are still okay with a multimeter by checking the continuity between the appropriate commutator segments.

Thats all getting a little high tech for my level. I can open clean and re oil thats about as much as I can do, they go up halfway and when its time to return, POP goes the fuse, heavy strain it seems, bearings may be dirty.

[JamesC]

You need to open the motor completely. Then I used copperlube - runs like a charm. The ghries they put in there becmes sticky over time and causes the motor to work too hard and pop the fuse.

No need for a new motor - just open, clean and lube with good stuff

[Mikie]

You need to open the motor completely. Then I used copperlube - runs like a charm. The ghries they put in there becmes sticky over time and causes the motor to work too hard and pop the fuse.

No need for a new motor - just open, clean and lube with good stuff

Must it be copperlube? Q20? Bike Chain oil?

[JamesC]

Q20 won't last. Best is copperlube or a high quality ghries

[Stef]

Motorbike chain oil could also work (the off road one), used it in my kart racing days...that stuff handles any conditions, but copper type grease will be better in long run.

[Mikie]

I have good quality Bike chain oil, gonna try that

[Mikie]

Ok its working again, sprayed some dirt bike chain lube in there, its pretty much melted the grease, everything moves again, lets hope for longer this time, I am out of Yellow fuses

[Obelix and Dogmatix]

Seems like it is my turn now!!!

Thanks to all who posted on this post, Will try tomorrow!!

[4x4BEES]

Did you sort it out??

Just a quick question.
How often must one check these wiperblade motors?
How does one service the SFA one?

Mine is not giving trouble, just want to know.

[Mikie]

Oh yes definitely
Still running and working like a charm

[Obelix and Dogmatix]

Seems like it is my turn now!!!

Thanks to all who posted on this post, Will try tomorrow!!

mine works like a charm again as well, so if the first 'service' was required after 7 years hopefully it will be another 7 before the need to strip it out again, (I used a lot of grease)