wipers only working on fast speed
wipers only working on fast speed
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Discussion

magpies

Original Poster:

5,191 posts

205 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
they dont go slow, intermittent or even self park

does any-one know the solution?

glenrobbo

39,416 posts

173 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
Just be thankful they work at all Mick. You've obviously become a softy, spoiled by modern automotive fancy fripperies.

FAST??? confused
Austin's just do slow or very slow.

S1's do not have an intermittant option, and although there is a flick wipe option on the stalk, it's not actually wired up to anything.
However they do park if you switch them off at the exact precise correct moment.
If you like, you can park them vertically in the reduced drag position for trackdays. wink

Edit: You should have two speeds though, have you tried testing the output from the column switch? Or the supplies at the wiper motor? I'm not sure if the 'slow' is accomplished by a resistor in the circuit?

Edited by glenrobbo on Thursday 18th June 13:12

phillpot

17,459 posts

206 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
magpies said:
they don't go slow, intermittent or even self park
Two speeds are achieved (on some motors, not sure about S) by having three motor brushes. Two opposed (180 degrees apart as normal) give one speed and the third brush is at a different angle to give alternative speed.




Park switch ( on the motor) could be faulty?



Don't think intermittent arrived till later S3's?





Edited by phillpot on Thursday 18th June 15:44

greymrj

3,329 posts

227 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
I think we need to start with a definition of 'fast' here. Mine have two different slow settings but no fast. In a severe thunderstorm, when there is plenty of lubication on the screen they might rise to 'moderate', but fast? No setting for that on mine!

Now yours is an S1, and reasonably early, not dissimilar in age to mine. You might well have a crank arm wiper system rather than the cable and gearbox type fitted into most S's. If so be a bit more careful taking it out, and dont put your hands anywhere near when testing! I would be looking to see if there is continuity from the switch first on both positions. The switches are quite good but at 25 years old it might need some TLC!. If you get continuity at both wires then the motor looks like the issue. You might be lucky and get it out and find it just needs cleaning, again it is getting on and the grease inside might be more abrasive than lubricant by now.

If you find a motor fault, and I have to say it is fairly likely, then the motor is NOT interchangeable with the later cars. It is an AC Delco and long obsolete. I had this problem some years ago and it involved a lot of breaker yard searches. It proved quite difficult, the motor is on the opposite side to most cars and not at all easy to find one that would mount and give the right motion characteristics. Then I found a Peugeot 405! Although the 405 has the motor under the scuttle on the right, it could be turned over and mounted upside down on the left. Which proved to be pretty much what TVR did with the Delco motor. It was easy to modify that to fit and to change the wiring around to get the correct action with 2 speeds and parking, I did a thread on it years ago. OK you say, but 405's aren't exactly common anymore. But I am going to guess that it will not have been the only Peugeot with this motor, and there are still a good few 405's in use abroad.

If however the motor itself is reasonably sound (mine wasn't, it was full of rust!*) and wiring has gone then my local man who does starters, alternators etc can also do smaller motors like these. These guys are still around.

I would be interested to know how you get on. I guess I will have more details filed somewhere if needed.

  • left hand wiper spindle is under a lot of strain and TVR didnt get the angles quite right. The spindle doesnt rotate perfectly round the axis and wears or the seal rubber moves, allowing water to seep in. That water runs down the crank arms under the dash...into the motor. It also drips off nicely, precisely onto the heater motor, which also proved to be rusted solid...Fiat Uno small rad motor, but that is another story!

Elfit

573 posts

227 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
It might be an idea to get in contact with adrian@
He can refurbish motors.
I spoke to him a couple of months ago and he was very helpful.

Mine (S2) just works on "very slow" and does need attention ~ once I get the time.

Cheers

Tim

magpies

Original Poster:

5,191 posts

205 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
quotequote all
cheers every-one

I can cope with this 'til later in the year and will investigate then

I do believe it is cable and box though as I had to partially dismantle to paint the shell

when I say 'fast' I do mean the switch position and not the speed of the wipers

Edited by magpies on Thursday 18th June 22:49