Wipers And Gem

[bus_boy]

Hi all,

 

Been away from here a while - would like to say that's because i've had no trouble from my Gal.... but that would be a fib!

 

Currently I'm in a tight spot. Started three weeks ago on eve of trip to MOT station when car got t-boned at a junction. Since then It has been in body shop. MOT has now expired, and I still have a busted door lock/cable to fix and the wipers.

 

Wipers > Only work on full speed. Not action on speed one or two (normal speed).

 

Replaced > Had new linkage about 9 months ago (old one had seized). Had new wiper motor about 3 months ago. With the speed failure I had assumed that the motor had finally given out after struggling with old linkage for so long. It did'nt fix problem. Then my mechanic tried a new column switch (ebay job) as well as checking fuses and relays (he pulled the lot!) No dice.

 

This week it went into an auto electrician. He has diagnosed a GEM fault, and says I need to go to a main dealer to get it replaced. I have searched this board, but not really found anyone with the same problem, but there are people who have replaced them. What they did'nt say was whether they had them done at a main dealer, and/or how much parts and labour ran to?

 

Consulting my TIS it says "The GEM controls the wiper interval and the windscreen washer function. In case of failure of the GEM, operation of the windscreen wiper in stages I and II is still possible". Is the a TIS typo, because mine is showing the opposite symptoms?

 

I have also ran my VAG-COM over system, but it doesnt report anything in this area (plenty o others tho).

 

So has anyone got an idea of how much a new GEM is going to set me back?

 

Also, does it sound as if i'm going down the right path here?

 

 

 

Andyb

W reg Mk2 1.9TDi Ford Galaxy

 

Problems so far (3+ years of ownership):

3 accidents / parking sensors bust / aircon pipework bust / MAF and low rev boost issues / Limp home fun / broken door lock cable / failed booster heater / split air filter housing / erratic rear wash wiper / new clutch / new starter motor / front wiper linkage / two sets of drop links / cracked alloy wheel / immobilizer preventing start up sometimes / burt out battery junction box / several flat batteries of late / cracked windshield replaced by AutoGlass (Grrrrr) / yeesh!!

[sean l]

Hi ,this is my first post.

I am having a similar problem, in that my front wipers on MK1 Galaxy have gradually come to a halt.Over the last few weeks they have been working occasionally, until yesterday stopping all together.

I have removed the motor from the linkage and get nothing.

I was quoted

[gregers]

are you sure its the motor thats dead?reason for asking it could be the mechinism that has seized,been posted on here loadsa times and instructions on a fix.

[bus_boy]

Hi Sean,

 

Yours sounds a little more straight-forward and a replacement motor looks like your answer if your current one doesnt work when unplugged from linkage.

 

Whilst you have it all apart it might be worth checking the linkage - they can seize badly, common fault.

 

I dont think earlier cars had their wiper motors controlled via a GEM (can someone correct me?), so in theory you can test it with direct power. You could drive your car down there without the wipers on and test it on site! Weather has been good lately.

 

Just remember to power up and 'park' the wiper motor before you attach it to the linkage (which of course you marked the position of before you took it off!). Good luck getting the blades to park where they are supposed to!

 

Andyb

[sean l]

Thanks for that.

I have put the new(secondhand motor) back onto my linkage and it is working fine on the 3 speeds, but I can't get it too park corectly.

The serial no.on my new motor is differnt to the serial no on my old motor, but the serial no. on the covers of the printed circuit boards are the same.

As you have probably guessed i didn't mark the position of the linkage when i took it off., any tips on where the park position should be, as I have spent a lot of time trying to get it just right, but no success.

Or is it critical that that the motors serial nos. have to be the same.

[bus_boy]

Should'nt think the SN's for the motors will make any difference at all. If it works - it works.

 

As before I'd suggest you disconnect wiper motor from arms, then 'park' the motor by blipping once on the wiper stalk. Then have a peek under someone elses bonnet for resting position of linkage arms. A small amt of adjustment can be made on the wiper arm splines when you refit the blades, but dont rely on this for too much of the correction. It's the poition of the linkage that makes the difference. Perhops someone on here can help with a useful dimension of some sort to get you started? I'd send you something from mine... but my park position is'nt great!

[sean l]

Thanks busboy.

After a lot of cursing and fiddling around with them I have managed to get them to "park" at an acceptable position, whilst not perfect.

Here's waiting for the next fault.

Thanks again.

By the way I managed to get a resistor pack for my fan control, out of the same scrapped Galaxy, and that is now working on all 4 speeds now.It's only been working on speeds 3 and 4 for about 12 months.

This is an invaluable site.