Wiper linkage

[Dickie Dastardly]

Has anyone ever had any issues with their wiper linkage? the linkage on my MK1 Tuscan disconnected itself on the drivers side while at Le Mans last week; the best way to describe it was the ball joint connected to the o/s crank slipped out of the connecting rod (which seems to be a hollow tube). I managed to reconnect it without having to remove the scuttle panel but it will need looked at further for peace of mind.

Is the removal of the scuttle panel straight forward? I could see underneath it what looked like some cap screws holding it in place.

Cheers

Richard

[Dickie Dastardly]

m3coupe said:

Mine did that once, the two connecting 'bars' for want of a better work came apart making the wipers just flail about. I pushed them back together as you did and never had a problem again with it. I couldn't see any clips or anything to hold them in place and it looked like there was some sort of sealant or similar on the bars to hold in place. Not sure if that was a previous owner or from the factory though.

Thanks that does sound very similar as I also could see no sign of any clip.
It had been very hot and I'd been stuck in traffic for circa two hours, perhaps the under bonnet heat played a part.

[Dickie Dastardly]

R7EBO said:

Yep, as with every other possible issue with these cars, I have indeed had this happen to me. Problem is there is nothing to hold it in - I even bought a full new set and it still did it. The only way I could really get over it was to stick a very short screw through the side of the rod and into the plastic cup stem. Never had an issue since!

The scuttle panel is easy enough to remove, take the wiper arms completely off via the allen key bolts and then remove the locknuts. Think there's a screw at each end as well, but that's about it!

Thanks for that, very helpful. I might remove the scuttle panel for a better look but by the sounds of it its nothing too serious.

[Dickie Dastardly]

One saving grace was I converted my bonnet a few weeks ago (having had the kit lying in my garage since last year), was a god send as I was able to check under the scuttle panel at the side of the road then work on the car in the campsite without having to lift the bonnet off.

Every cloud and all that.....