Wiper problem - Dash removal? Advice needed please....

[Shake me up Judy]

Over the last few days I've noticed that the drivers side wiper is lifting away from the screen towards the end of its travel.

It turns out that it's due to the wiper barrel being loose (the hollow threaded boss that the wiper spindle pokes out from) The black nut to clamp it to the body of the car is loose. The problems is that when I tighten it the whole boss rotates, I'm guessing there is another locknut on the underside of the body panel....

And there the problem lies. It looks like I need to remove the dash to get at it.

Is this really the case? If so how do I remove the dash - any dos and don'ts?

PH to the rescue once again...




>> Edited by Shake me up Judy on Wednesday 25th January 09:56

[andy-w]

You cant get to the underside of the plenum from inside the car!

I might be talking pony but i think you need to remove the plenum to get at this area.
Cant you hold the wiper blade and tighten down the outer nut?

[jonnyb]

This can be a nasty one. On the newer cars there is access to the wiper system through the dash panel. To take the dash off you have to get to the three bolts. Two are accessed through the under side of the pax dash, just where the glove pouch is. undo the two screws on the pouch and it will fold down leaving a hole. The two bolts, one is horizontal and one is vertical, are in line with the center of the glove pouch. The third is where the fun begins. Its on the drivers side accessed underneath. you may need to remove the vent ducting to see it. Its on the left side as you look at it. All three bolts are 8MM I think!

Then the dash can be prized out, you should then be able to see a panel at the very back of the dash allowing access to the wiper system. If not then you have just wasted a mornings work and allot of grazed skin! If there is no panel then the best way to access the wiper system is to cut a hole in the engine bay (Yes, I do mean cut!) I had to do this to gain access to the washer pipes on mine, as they had come away from the T-piece and were spraying the inside of the car!

The bible goes into this in some detail, and also its worth phoning your local dealer and having a chat with them, It was the guys at TMS that recommended going through the engine bay rather than the dash as the bible suggests.

I would recommend being doubly sure that that is where the problem is, as its a pig of a job!

>> Edited by jonnyb on Wednesday 25th January 09:32

[Shake me up Judy]

Arggh.. As I suspected. I've just contacted Offord who recommend the 'cut and shut' method from the engine bay (my words not theirs!)

They estimate that it will cost ~£100 and say that I won't be able to see the repair once they've finished.

Having done a search under 'dash removal' and read some of the horror stories there £100 seems more than reasonable. I'll let you know how I get on.

[the dodger]

jonnyb said:

..... If there is no panel then the best way to access the wiper system is to cut a hole in the engine bay (Yes, I do mean cut!) I had to do this to gain access to the washer pipes on mine, as they had come away from the T-piece and were spraying the inside of the car!

Me too. After taking the dash out (with not too much trouble actually )

I gave mine to Levens to cut up and they made a great job of disguising the holes in the bulkhead.

[zippee]

Shake me up Judy said:

Arggh.. As I suspected. I've just contacted Offord who recommend the 'cut and shut' method from the engine bay (my words not theirs!) They estimate that it will cost ~£100 and say that I won't be able to see the repair once they've finished. Having done a search under 'dash removal' and read some of the horror stories there £100 seems more than reasonable. I'll let you know how I get on.

Offords did mine when my whole spindle rack needed replacing, cost £300 but was a lot more work than yours sounds.
They did a great job and on speaking to the chap that did the work it really doesn't sound easy.

[harrow_chim]

Shake me up Judy said:

and say that I won't be able to see the repair once they've finished.

Shirley you want the hole(s)sealed up again with a removable access panel so that you can get back in there in future if necessary.

Nick

[victormeldrew]

harrow_chim said:

Shake me up Judy said: and say that I won't be able to see the repair once they've finished. Shirley you want the hole(s)sealed up again with a removable access panel so that you can get back in there in future if necessary. Nick

I'd have thought so, an better done from under the dash as well. Once the dash has been off once and fitted back with wingnuts and suitably trimmed bolts its not hard to remove the next time.

Just a thought though - is there any way you can get some purchase on the washer spigot to pull it up against the bodywork? You might be able to get enough friction to tighten the locking nut that way. Or get someone to hold it with some big locking pliers.

[Shake me up Judy]

All done! Thanks for all your replies.


The repair is almost undetectable and concealed behind the bonnet catch assembly, the wipers work so much better now.

The 'hatch' has been resealed with silicone and could be opened up again if necessary.

Another top job from Offords, highly recommended


>> Edited by Shake me up Judy on Sunday 29th January 13:37

[robstvr]

What you could try, is pulling the whole assembly outwards, to pull the internal nut against the inside of the body. This pressure may provide enough friction that when you attempt to tighten it, it grips to begin with, and keeps gripping till tight?