Wiper Linkage

[shauneco]

Good thread, Well today I've fixed my seized wiper linkages, Without even looking here first..!!!!

 

I recall a few years a go I replaced the linkages with brand new ones from Ford on my old Galaxy, Was

[lincolnimp63]

First post so hi.

 

Firstly, a huge thank you for everyone's tips and advice on this thread.

 

Our 52 plate Galaxy wipers developed the incomplete sweep symptom about two weeks ago and very quickly deteriorated. Initially I thought this must be another trip to Garage, suspecting a scary bill.

 

Thankfully I took a few minutes on t'internet really just to get an idea of how scary the bill would be. Expecting to find stuff about wiper motors failing or something equally terminal.

 

Soooooo pleased I looked as I found this thread and although I wished I had read it completely to pick up ALL the great tips, I have nevertheless now managed to refurbish the scabby pivots (over about 15 Hours). Not the most impressive time but I was hampered by rain and a tendency to want to clean everything I touched and those hard to reach areas as I went along and took a few photo's along the way for good measure.

 

Things that went well

1. Saved mega bucks by avoiding the Garage.

2. Now I know how to fix it should similar occur again.

3. Pollen filter changed (soooo much easier whilst everything out of the way).

 

Things that didn't go so well

1. Didn't read whole thread until I'd finished

2. Because of 1. I failed to photograph position of "Parked" mechanism, Doh!!

3. Although I understood the need to allow motor to Park, I didn't realise the "Parked" position was soooo far to the left when facing the front of engine bay so reset arms three times in what I thought was the optimum position/angle for leverage. Eventually I decided the wiper motor knew best and the rest is history. This stubborness on my part could have cost me but for the fact I, dare I say it, forgot to tighten the offside wiper arm nut so when I turned the ignition the motor parked with only loosly throwing the drivers wiper arm over the engine bay, oooops!

4. Although I cleaned pivots well in hindsight I might have been a little more robust where chrome had been lost and perhaps used more than just rags to clean out the inside of sleeves. That being said, they do now work dare I say like new and I have resolved that I will revisit this job at the first sign of sluggishness.

5. One of the shims (drivers side) was very distorted and I felt it created too much tension when I fitted C clip so only fitted one. Hoping this wasn't a mistake.

 

 

 

 

Lessons learnt

1. Have camera at ready from start and photograph more than you think you need just in case.

2. Try to do it in the dry!

3. Have pollen filter on the shelf before starting job!

4. I decided on Universal grease (wheel bearing stuff) after initially putting on copper slip before changing my mind. My rationale for this, and let me say firstly I am not an engineer, was that I felt that copperslip was intended as antiseize on components with generally none or only very small movements, traditionally Caliper pins came to my mind. So as in this country we spend long periods behind the wheel in rain I figured these pins are spinning backwards and forwards for quite some time and given that wheel bearings do well on the bearing grease decided it would be the way to go. Time will tell of course!!

5. Take care not to drop anything in bay.

6. Silicone spray on the rubber seal below scuttle helps with refitting.

7. Remove top of airfilter and intake hose using mulgrips to squeeze huge sprung pipe clips.

8. Remove two bolts securing coolant header to gain movement and a little space.

9. Don't try to refurbish mechanism on the lounge floor......., only joking!!

 

 

Good luck to all those that have yet to embark on this job. Its well worth the time unless you have big bucks to spare as I imagine garages everywhere would understandably fit you a new mechanism which as others have found is over

[lincolnimp63]

Before I go just remembered something thats puzzling me.

 

Generally all good now but noticed a particular characteristic which I don't recall seeing before.

 

When ignition is turned on the wipers lift slightly from the Parked position.:o Have only just completed overhaul so this may be a result of the extra freedom the mechanism has now but wondering if this is normal behaviour for Mk 2 tdi. ;)

 

The only way I get the arms to return to fully parked is to switch on wipers then turn them off. They then fully park.

 

However, if ignition is turned off and then on again they lift slightly and so on and so on??? :o

 

Anyone else have this on their Galaxy?

[lincolnimp63]

Pic of dodgy pin

 

Dodgy sleeve

 

Mechanism hopefully in the correct park position

[lincolnimp63]

Just to prove it here it is all back together but would just like reassurance about the ignition on wiper small lift from park thing if anyone has any ideas would be most grateful.

Cheers

 

[suzuki91]

mine lift slghtly as well on ignition.

[lincolnimp63]

Thanks Susuki, Just wanted some reassurance I hadn't introduced another problem along the way.

 

I'm suspecting they were too stiff before to bother moving before so when they stop I'll presume its time to get the tools out again! lol :angry2:

[cbrpaul]

just in the proces of doing my wipers, the passengers was basically siezed !!

 

Just waiting for a new o ring that was damaged by corrosion !!!

 

 

thx again

 

:-)

[Galaxy Marc]

Well, over Christmas, the wipers on my Alhambra started to slow down such that they were slow even on high speed. When I looked at the wiper frame, it was flexing when the wipers were on, indicating that the spindles were siezing - the driver's side was the worst.

 

What I did was as follows:

 

1) Remove the wiper arms using a 16mm socket.

2) Remove the circlip and washer from the top of each spindle.

3) Start the engine and switch the wipers on to high speed.

4) Squirt WD40 onto the spindles.

5) Screw the wiper arm nuts back on a few turns.

6) Press down on the nuts with a 16mm socket - with WD40 and firm pressure the spindles should start to move down.

7) You will then notice that as the taper moves down into the frame, it forms a sort of reservoir for the WD40.

8) As the lower end of the spindle becomes visible, sqirt some WD 40 onto it.

9) Using a pair of pliers on the nut, pull the spindle back up again.

10) Once it starts to become easier to slide the spindles up and down, start to use engine oil instead of WD40 - this is a much better lubricant than WD40. You will also notice that the frame will have stopped flexing by this time.

11) Eventually, the spindles will start to fall under their own weight.

12) Turn off the wipers and the engine.

13) Replace the washers and circlips.

14) Wipe away all excess oil and dirt.

15) Replace wiper arms, adjust and tighten nuts to 34Nm.

 

Job done, and no need to remove the whole wiper unit.

 

Hope this helps others with similar problems.

 

My wipers slowed to a halt today and after searching on here this method is what I used. Seems to have done the trick for now as the driver's side of the linkage is no longer running hot.

 

Obviously not as good as complete removal and dismantling of the linkage but will see how long this fix lasts.

[Haplo]

Hi,

 

My problem was that the drivers side wiper was not covering the whole section of the screen, the last 2 inches were not being covered. Thanks to these excellent instructions from Tim, I got the wipers working in a couple of hours(bit of a novice mechanic, 20 minutes was spend trying to find the 16mm nut from a cavity behind the front headlamps). The instructions make more sense once you start doing the job. Thanks again Tim..

 

Well, over Christmas, the wipers on my Alhambra started to slow down such that they were slow even on high speed. When I looked at the wiper frame, it was flexing when the wipers were on, indicating that the spindles were siezing - the driver's side was the worst.

 

What I did was as follows:

 

1) Remove the wiper arms using a 16mm socket.

2) Remove the circlip and washer from the top of each spindle.

3) Start the engine and switch the wipers on to high speed.

4) Squirt WD40 onto the spindles.

5) Screw the wiper arm nuts back on a few turns.

6) Press down on the nuts with a 16mm socket - with WD40 and firm pressure the spindles should start to move down.

7) You will then notice that as the taper moves down into the frame, it forms a sort of reservoir for the WD40.

8) As the lower end of the spindle becomes visible, sqirt some WD 40 onto it.

9) Using a pair of pliers on the nut, pull the spindle back up again.

10) Once it starts to become easier to slide the spindles up and down, start to use engine oil instead of WD40 - this is a much better lubricant than WD40. You will also notice that the frame will have stopped flexing by this time.

11) Eventually, the spindles will start to fall under their own weight.

12) Turn off the wipers and the engine.

13) Replace the washers and circlips.

14) Wipe away all excess oil and dirt.

15) Replace wiper arms, adjust and tighten nuts to 34Nm.

 

Job done, and no need to remove the whole wiper unit.

 

Hope this helps others with similar problems.

[Adrian]

Well, over Christmas, the wipers on my Alhambra started to slow down such that they were slow even on high speed. When I looked at the wiper frame, it was flexing when the wipers were on, indicating that the spindles were siezing - the driver's side was the worst.

 

What I did was as follows:

 

1) Remove the wiper arms using a 16mm socket.

2) Remove the circlip and washer from the top of each spindle.

3) Start the engine and switch the wipers on to high speed.

4) Squirt WD40 onto the spindles.

5) Screw the wiper arm nuts back on a few turns.

6) Press down on the nuts with a 16mm socket - with WD40 and firm pressure the spindles should start to move down.

7) You will then notice that as the taper moves down into the frame, it forms a sort of reservoir for the WD40.

8) As the lower end of the spindle becomes visible, sqirt some WD 40 onto it.

9) Using a pair of pliers on the nut, pull the spindle back up again.

10) Once it starts to become easier to slide the spindles up and down, start to use engine oil instead of WD40 - this is a much better lubricant than WD40. You will also notice that the frame will have stopped flexing by this time.

11) Eventually, the spindles will start to fall under their own weight.

12) Turn off the wipers and the engine.

13) Replace the washers and circlips.

14) Wipe away all excess oil and dirt.

15) Replace wiper arms, adjust and tighten nuts to 34Nm.

 

Job done, and no need to remove the whole wiper unit.

 

Hope this helps others with similar problems.

 

 

Just joined the forum today as had this problem with my 04 galaxy, being currently out of work I was horrified at the thought of

[leightonwoody]

i got a 2000 mk2 galaxy and noticed my wipers were slowing down and then just stopped half way up the screen, i completed the wiper movement by hand to return them to park position, so i removed the spindles greased them up and and refitted everything, but didnt change anything both spindles were turning easily by hand before reasembally so i thought it might be the motor which i bought today fitted and walla for about 1 minute then they started slowing down again and stopping unless the screen was wet,

1, when i pulled the spindles out i noticed that patches of the crome had come away leaving dark brown patches but still i greased and put back together

2. if the wipers are up off the screen the wipers move as they should but when they are on the screen its like the motor needs more power to keep them going up the screen

Could there be another problem like a relay that i could investigate or should i redo the linkages and maybe replace them

leighton

[Saif Rehman]

Redo the linkages again. I had the same problem only a few months back. Umpteen independent garages said that it couldn't be done and that i should either buy new linkages and motor or source a good second-hand one. When i said that the motor was fine as it could be heard working then they backtracked. Anyway, me and my mate stripped the linkages, regreased with copper slip and refitted it. Working perfect now until the grease will no doubt get washed out again with all this rain.

[alan_131]

Just a thought but (and I've never had to strip wipers so I'm just speculating) is it possible - might the pivots be moving a little up or down under load and binding - might be worth just leaning on one (with care to avoid damage to you or the car) to see if it alters. Also lifting one wiper to see if both sides equally affected. Maybe also try the "drill small hole and inject more grease" approach?

[SilverBeast]

When I did mine there was a massive build up of (WARNING:- technical term coming up) "crud" inside where the shafts run. I believe there are two bushes inside each "tube", one at the top and one at the bottom. It looked like one tube on both of mine with the gap between the two filled. I scraped all this out and the used some fine emery/sandpaper rolled into a tube with the abrasive on the outside. If you rotate this carefully in the one direction it will try and expand the tube and clean up the "bearing" faces. Be careful you dont turn too hard as it will bind and collapse the emery tube. Rotate the other way will also work once it has been expanded, then eventually it will contract the tube so it can be easily withdrawn. You just want to clean up the surface and not wear it away so take care. I stuffed as much grease as I could between the bearings before inserting the spindles again and checking they rotate freely. Be sure to refit/replace the rubber 'O' rings when you reassemble, particulalry the ones on the wiper arm end or water will still more easily be able to run down and cause the problem to recurr. One of mine is damaged and I didn't have any spares to hand so expect I will need to do them again at some point.

[leightonwoody]

right everything is greased up and moving freely, but the wiper are still having trouble going up and down the screen and eventually stop, its as if the motor just hasnt got enough power to do it, but when the screen is wet the wiper work fine until it dries and they keep going when wiper is off the screen

[alan_131]

How long does it run on a dry screen? Do they run at normal speed when the screen is wet? Must be working a fair bit harder when the screen is dry. ..

[leightonwoody]

it runs normal when the screen is wet but it wont make 1 complete swipe when its dry