Windscreen wipers stopping in the middle

pudzey101

I have a 01 opel astra 1.7 diesel and the windscreen wipers keep stopping anywhere on the windscreen they want, instead of stopping at the bottom. Anyone got any ideas how to fix it or do I have to go to a mechanic ?? I am guessing its not a big job?
Thanks
David

TJJP

Could be one of three things: First a relay (it controls the speed and switches the motor from forward to back), Second loose nuts (the arms or the connection to the wiper motor has came loose, you need to reposition the wipers to bottom and tighten the nuts), Thirdly the motor itself (it has a stop start switch internally on the rotation that usually stops the blades at bottom when it gets a signal to stop from the relay. Relay says ‘stop’ and motor keeps rotating until the switch is ‘clicked’ to off) or it’s contacts or brushes = new motor.

I’d start with the nuts, on the wiper arms first, then at the mount to the motor. Then the wiper control arm (underneath that moves both wiper arms on the screen maybe it’s loose?). Have a look through each option and see what you find.

See here too: http://reviews.ebay.ie/VAUXHALL-OPEL-ASTRA-MK4-ZAFIRA-WIPERS_W0QQugidZ10000000018899629

Bruthal

TJJP wrote: »

Could be one of three things: First a relay (it controls the speed and switches the motor from forward to back)

The relay doesnt reverse the wiper motors i dont think, the motor keeps going the same way throughout, driven by a worm gear, using linkages or a cam setup for the backward and forward movement

The wiper switch brings on the relay, and this relay starts the motor. Once the motor starts, it closes wiper parking contacts internally in the motor unit which keep the wiper motor going through a complete cycle even of the wiper switch was just briefly switched on and back off by the driver.

So even if the relay was faulty, once the wiper motor starts a cycle, it would be expected to complete it once the wiper motor park contacts are working properly. Maybe a relay problem could cause it though, depending on how its wired in an astra setup. .

If the wiper switch is off when the wiper motor completes a cycle, the wipers will stop as the parking contacts open. If its still on, the wipers will continously run, except in intermittent which uses a timer setup to switch the relay on and off in timed cycles.

Second loose nuts (the arms or the connection to the wiper motor has came loose, you need to reposition the wipers to bottom and tighten the nuts), Thirdly the motor itself (it has a stop start switch internally on the rotation that usually stops the blades at bottom when it gets a signal to stop from the relay. Relay says ‘stop’ and motor keeps rotating until the switch is ‘clicked’ to off) or it’s contacts or brushes = new motor.

I’d start with the nuts, on the wiper arms first, then at the mount to the motor. Then the wiper control arm (underneath that moves both wiper arms on the screen maybe it’s loose?). Have a look through each option and see what you find.

See here too: http://reviews.ebay.ie/VAUXHALL-OPEL-ASTRA-MK4-ZAFIRA-WIPERS_W0QQugidZ10000000018899629

So it could be the motors brushes possibly, or a connection problem, or more likely a problem with the wiper motor internal parking contacts. Loose nuts at the wiper arms themselves would seem unlikely as only one wiper would then stop most likely.


pudzey101, do the wipers run properly when switched on, but stop where ever they are when the wiper switch is turned off? If so, its a problem with the parking contacts in the motor unit probably.

Or do they randomly stop while the wiper switch is still on?

TJJP

robbie7730 wrote: »

wipers

True all that. I can't say much for Astras (only worked on a ’98 estate) but my old E39 BMW had a dual relay (forwards/backwards but let’s not go there) and much relaying of relays and switches and arms later I had to get a new motor. Let's agree there could be a number of causes, most likely the motor, but it would be a lot to pay for a loose nut! Good luck op in any event, easiest option is pay a garage, but the learning experience is good if you can sort it yourself, and it's not too hard to do.

Tigger

It's the park sensor on the motor ring traynors or Dempseys to get a second hand one . Costs about 25 And you can swap them in about 20 minutes.

Bruthal

TJJP wrote: »

True all that. I can't say much for Astras (only worked on a ’98 estate) but my old E39 BMW had a dual relay (forwards/backwards but let’s not go there) and much relaying of relays and switches and arms later I had to get a new motor. Let's agree there could be a number of causes, most likely the motor, but it would be a lot to pay for a loose nut! Good luck op in any event, easiest option is pay a garage, but the learning experience is good if you can sort it yourself, and it's not too hard to do.

Yea i was as much curious about it myself as anything else, i think a problem relay can in fact cause it alright like you suggest.

Its not clear if the wipers are stopping at random while running, or just stop where they are when the OP turns them off, in which case it could be them park contacts.

Tigger

It's a common issue with the wiper motors in astras and vectras from 96-02 the park sensor starts acting up and the wipers start parking at random places you can drill out the spot welds and re Neil the motor and rivet it back together but I'd just get a replacement trainers will have loads of then for peanuts

pudzey101

robbie7730 wrote: »

The relay doesnt reverse the wiper motors i dont think, the motor keeps going the same way throughout, driven by a worm gear, using linkages or a cam setup for the backward and forward movement

The wiper switch brings on the relay, and this relay starts the motor. Once the motor starts, it closes wiper parking contacts internally in the motor unit which keep the wiper motor going through a complete cycle even of the wiper switch was just briefly switched on and back off by the driver.

So even if the relay was faulty, once the wiper motor starts a cycle, it would be expected to complete it once the wiper motor park contacts are working properly. Maybe a relay problem could cause it though, depending on how its wired in an astra setup. .

If the wiper switch is off when the wiper motor completes a cycle, the wipers will stop as the parking contacts open. If its still on, the wipers will continously run, except in intermittent which uses a timer setup to switch the relay on and off in timed cycles.




So it could be the motors brushes possibly, or a connection problem, or more likely a problem with the wiper motor internal parking contacts. Loose nuts at the wiper arms themselves would seem unlikely as only one wiper would then stop most likely.


pudzey101, do the wipers run properly when switched on, but stop where ever they are when the wiper switch is turned off? If so, its a problem with the parking contacts in the motor unit probably.

Or do they randomly stop while the wiper switch is still on?

hey they stop at random when you switch them off !! what is this?

langdang

Tigger wrote: »

It's a common issue with the wiper motors in astras and vectras from 96-02

I knew it was gonna be an astra the minute I saw the title. Saw 3 of them in the one day a few months back with the wipers stuck in the middle of the screen. Good to know what the issue is now.

Bruthal

pudzey101 wrote: »

hey they stop at random when you switch them off !! what is this?

Its them wiper motor park contacts gone so.

pudzey101

robbie7730 wrote: »

Its them wiper motor park contacts gone so.

ahh dose:( any idea how much these cost?

Bruthal

pudzey101 wrote: »

ahh dose:( any idea how much these cost?

Post #5 from tigger says that. Never had to but one myself so far.

Steo M

I just started having a problem with my intermittent wiper on my 01 Astra was wondering what it could be. Just started happening all of a sudden yesterday, yet the other two wiper speeds are working fine.
What could be wrong, it starts moving then sticks in the middle of the screen and I have to flick the stalk again to get them back down. Would I fail the NCT for this as I have it soon? Thanks for any replies.

biko

Please don't be dragging up old threads.
I've created a fresh one for you here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057043437