Club 80-90 Forums

My front wipers (86 Caravelle) are pretty much useless, not that they've been required for some months in this weather.

Is there an upgrade? Is it common for these to go slow?

What do you mean by 'useless'? The stock items work pretty well, though you can upgrade by getting the larger blade sets from Brickwerks. If they're not working properly, then there's an issue with the blade, the motor, or the tension in the arm spring. What have you tried so far?

Nothing wrong with the original wipers. Usually, it is the wiper spindles are seizing slowing them down.
Remove the wiper arms the plastic cap then the circlip from the end of the spindle, you can them push the spindles in enough to relubricate. First use some light 3 in 1 oil, refit the circlip and operate the wipers that will work in and flush out the old grease and crud, might need a couple of goes then relubricate with grease.

By useless I mean slow and ineffective, I checked everything was tight and also replaced the blades.

No joy, still slow. Thought I might need to replace the motors?

Pull the blades off the screen and see how fast the wipers move. If still slow it's the motor, low voltage at the motor or as Bigherb said corrosion in the spindles (most likely)

Cheers Guys,

Will follow your advice, hopefully it's the spindles.

Let us know how you get on.
Mine are slow, I now only have 1 setting out of 2 operational (don't have interment wiper setting).
I only have high speed and that replicating low speed or just below speed, think it's time for motor replacement, though spindles, might have a bit to do with it as well!

My experience of electric motors is once they have an excessive load on them for a period of time (ie partially seized spindles) it tends to knock the guts out of them anyway.

Sorry to gatecrash the thread with different question.
Though, if I was going to have Windscreen motor and spindle replacement, it's dashboard completely out job right?

nesty wrote:Sorry to gatecrash the thread with different question.
Though, if I was going to have Windscreen motor and spindle replacement, it's dashboard completely out job right?

No, they can be replaced from under the dash via the glovebox hole.

bigherb wrote:

nesty wrote:Sorry to gatecrash the thread with different question.
Though, if I was going to have Windscreen motor and spindle replacement, it's dashboard completely out job right?

No, they can be replaced from under the dash via the glovebox hole.

Oh ok thanks, that's good news then. maybe not as much work as I thought!

nesty wrote: Oh ok thanks, that's good news then. maybe not as much work as I thought!

You're not fussed about skin on your knuckles are you?

So, removed both wipers and all the nuts/washers etc and discovered the drivers side fixings had almost rusted together. Cleaned them all up, generous helping of WD40 and left them on high speed (not very high) for a while and gradually things sped up and got back to normal.

Thanks again for all the tips guys, just in time for monsoon season!

fresco3000 wrote:So, removed both wipers and all the nuts/washers etc and discovered the drivers side fixings had almost rusted together. Cleaned them all up, generous helping of WD40 and left them on high speed (not very high) for a while and gradually things sped up and got back to normal.

Thanks again for all the tips guys, just in time for monsoon season!

Nice one. Wouldn't say silicone spray lubricant be better then WD40. I find WD40 leaves a sticky residue after a while?

WD40 did the job breaking down the grime and rust, bit of oil/grease applied after cleaning makes sense. Have never used silicone spray, will check it out.