Where's my wiper motor and park switch?

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

I've searched, but the info I've found is a bit confusing and contradicts what it says in the Bible.

I've got a '99 450, and my wiper motor is not in the engine bay. The Bible says that it should be "behind the bulkhead in approximately the same position", and accessible via an access hole once you've moved the ECU and wiring out of the way - but I can't see an access hole.

I've also read some threads here that say the newer cars have their wiper motors on the driver's side.

Can someone clear up my confusion?

The reason I'm looking for it is that my wipers have started parking themselves in random positions, which is annoying. They work fine in continuous mode, but when you switch them off or put them into intermittent mode they stop in random positions. I can get them to park in the right place, but only by repeatedly switching them on and off until I get lucky!

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Thursday 5th April 12:48

[big geoff]

The park switch is incorporated in side the motor just clean the contacts my motor is on the N/S under the bonnet

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Thanks Geoff, but it's finding the motor that's the problem. Mine's definitely not under the bonnet.

[big geoff]

http://thumbsnap.com/f/k2PKPMts try this link the motor is by the inlet elbow the motor i would say is not on the off side as not enough room the motor is generaly in parallel with the wiper spindles

Edited by big geoff on Thursday 5th April 11:36

Edited by big geoff on Thursday 5th April 11:40

[Else]

Its under the dash, drivers side, just above the steering column. Its a pig to get to but not impossible.

Andy

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Else said:

Its under the dash, drivers side, just above the steering column. Its a pig to get to but not impossible.

So not at all where The Bible says it should be!

Thanks for the pointer, Andy - I'm pretty sure I've now located the motor itself now. As you say, it's immediately above the steering column and a bh to get to.

I can't see or feel any connectors associated with the motor. I can see a green wire and a brown wire going into the motor body, but that's it. Also, there are three chunky white plastic connectors nearby, close to where the bonnet release cable runs.

I've read in several places that my problem might be solved by cleaning up a connector, which sounds a nice easy fix if I can find the connector!

Is there any future in removing the motor, or will that be opening up a whole world of pain getting things back together?

I wish it were as easy to get to as Big Geoff's picture implies - but I can see why they moved the motor. It does look very exposed in that corner.

[Simon says]

Its not a Lucas motor either and not as troublesome so I have heard

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Any ideas on where the connector is on a later car with motor above the steering column?

[Simon says]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

Any ideas on where the connector is on a later car with motor above the steering column?

Is this any use? http://www.clever-trevor.net/TVR/Parts_details/M12...

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Thanks - that picture probably will help. I'm guessing it's the black plastic connector that I need to find.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

An update on this...

I've just failed my MOT this morning. My steering rack gaiters were unsecured at the outer ends, and more worryingly my brake lights weren't working.

So I dashed back home and looked in the manual to see which fuse the brake lights are on, and lo! They're on the same fuse as the wiper park circuit.

The good news is that my wipers are now parking correctly; the bad news is that I've been driving around with no brake lights for a few months.

So: If your wipers don't park, check whether your brake lights are working. And have a look at fuse number 18 (20A) - that's the one it was on my '99 450.

(And I've put a couple of new cable ties on the ends of the gaiters, which the tester is happy with. MOT certificate now issued!)

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Monday 2nd July 12:50