My Octavia's front wipers seem to have given up, in that they will move
only slowly, and sometimes stop in the middle of the screen.
Before I dismantle it to check it out, is it worthwhile getting a new
wiper motor in advance?
I have previously changed the relay due to another fault, so it looks
like it is probably a faulty motor.
Ta
Alan.

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A.Lee wrote:
> My Octavia's front wipers seem to have given up, in that they will
> move only slowly, and sometimes stop in the middle of the screen.
> Before I dismantle it to check it out, is it worthwhile getting a new
> wiper motor in advance?
> I have previously changed the relay due to another fault, so it looks
> like it is probably a faulty motor.
> Ta
> Alan.

mostly slow wipers are because the mechanism is stiff rather than the motor. 
take off a link or two (if it has links ) and see if the actual swivel where 
the wiper attaches is movable freely.  if it is a rack system then it is 
more difficult.  generally if the motor is at fault it will just stop.

Saw a first for me anyway today:

A motorbike pulled over at the kerb , rider in waterproofs with some 
sort of logo, no police markings or blue lights...
but the indicators were flashing right left right left etc..

never seen ANY vehicles with alternating indicators as warning lights, 
police have alternating blues but not indicators.

So what the hell was that about - seems a stupid system if a warning - 
he's pulling out, no he isn't etc.


down the road, but maybe unconnected was a land rover with trailer 
marked up as 'Environmental Services'

On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:06:48 -0000, Paul  wrote:

> Saw a first for me anyway today:
>
> A motorbike pulled over at the kerb , rider in waterproofs with some  
> sort of logo, no police markings or blue lights...
> but the indicators were flashing right left right left etc..
>
> never seen ANY vehicles with alternating indicators as warning lights,  
> police have alternating blues but not indicators.
>
> So what the hell was that about - seems a stupid system if a warning -  
> he's pulling out, no he isn't etc.
>
>
> down the road, but maybe unconnected was a land rover with trailer  
> marked up as 'Environmental Services'

It's a hazard warning, the same as a rotating beacon.

Duncan Wood wrote:
> On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:06:48 -0000, Paul  wrote:
> 
>> Saw a first for me anyway today:
>>
>> A motorbike pulled over at the kerb , rider in waterproofs with some 
>> sort of logo, no police markings or blue lights...
>> but the indicators were flashing right left right left etc..
>>
>> never seen ANY vehicles with alternating indicators as warning lights, 
>> police have alternating blues but not indicators.
>>
>> So what the hell was that about - seems a stupid system if a warning - 
>> he's pulling out, no he isn't etc.
>>
>>
>> down the road, but maybe unconnected was a land rover with trailer 
>> marked up as 'Environmental Services'
> 
> It's a hazard warning, the same as a rotating beacon.

standard on any motorbike?

On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:09:05 -0000, Paul  wrote:

> Duncan Wood wrote:
>> On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:06:48 -0000, Paul   
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Saw a first for me anyway today:
>>>
>>> A motorbike pulled over at the kerb , rider in waterproofs with some  
>>> sort of logo, no police markings or blue lights...
>>> but the indicators were flashing right left right left etc..
>>>
>>> never seen ANY vehicles with alternating indicators as warning lights,  
>>> police have alternating blues but not indicators.
>>>
>>> So what the hell was that about - seems a stupid system if a warning -  
>>> he's pulling out, no he isn't etc.
>>>
>>>
>>> down the road, but maybe unconnected was a land rover with trailer  
>>> marked up as 'Environmental Services'
>>  It's a hazard warning, the same as a rotating beacon.
>
> standard on any motorbike?


No.

Paul wrote:
> Saw a first for me anyway today:
>
> A motorbike pulled over at the kerb , rider in waterproofs with some
> sort of logo, no police markings or blue lights...
> but the indicators were flashing right left right left etc..
>
> never seen ANY vehicles with alternating indicators as warning lights,
> police have alternating blues but not indicators.
>
> So what the hell was that about - seems a stupid system if a warning -
> he's pulling out, no he isn't etc.
>
>
> down the road, but maybe unconnected was a land rover with trailer
> marked up as 'Environmental Services'

I suspect it was police and they were pulling cars over to check exhaust 
emmisions.

Tim

On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:29:55 -0000, Tim  
 wrote:

> Paul wrote:
>> Saw a first for me anyway today:
>>
>> A motorbike pulled over at the kerb , rider in waterproofs with some
>> sort of logo, no police markings or blue lights...
>> but the indicators were flashing right left right left etc..
>>
>> never seen ANY vehicles with alternating indicators as warning lights,
>> police have alternating blues but not indicators.
>>
>> So what the hell was that about - seems a stupid system if a warning -
>> he's pulling out, no he isn't etc.
>>
>>
>> down the road, but maybe unconnected was a land rover with trailer
>> marked up as 'Environmental Services'
>
> I suspect it was police and they were pulling cars over to check exhaust  
> emmisions.
>
> Tim

Plod has blue flashing light.


-- 
Duncan Wood

Duncan Wood wrote:
> On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:09:05 -0000, Paul  wrote:
> 
>> Duncan Wood wrote:
>>> On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:06:48 -0000, Paul  
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Saw a first for me anyway today:
>>>>
>>>> A motorbike pulled over at the kerb , rider in waterproofs with some 
>>>> sort of logo, no police markings or blue lights...
>>>> but the indicators were flashing right left right left etc..
>>>>
>>>> never seen ANY vehicles with alternating indicators as warning 
>>>> lights, police have alternating blues but not indicators.
>>>>
>>>> So what the hell was that about - seems a stupid system if a warning 
>>>> - he's pulling out, no he isn't etc.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> down the road, but maybe unconnected was a land rover with trailer 
>>>> marked up as 'Environmental Services'
>>>  It's a hazard warning, the same as a rotating beacon.
>>
>> standard on any motorbike?
> 
> 
> No.


Ah, was beginning to think I'd missed something ;-)

On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:02:06 -0000, Paul   
wrote:

> Duncan Wood wrote:
>> On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:09:05 -0000, Paul   
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Duncan Wood wrote:
>>>> On Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:06:48 -0000, Paul   
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Saw a first for me anyway today:
>>>>>
>>>>> A motorbike pulled over at the kerb , rider in waterproofs with some  
>>>>> sort of logo, no police markings or blue lights...
>>>>> but the indicators were flashing right left right left etc..
>>>>>
>>>>> never seen ANY vehicles with alternating indicators as warning  
>>>>> lights, police have alternating blues but not indicators.
>>>>>
>>>>> So what the hell was that about - seems a stupid system if a warning  
>>>>> - he's pulling out, no he isn't etc.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> down the road, but maybe unconnected was a land rover with trailer  
>>>>> marked up as 'Environmental Services'
>>>>  It's a hazard warning, the same as a rotating beacon.
>>>
>>> standard on any motorbike?
>>   No.
>

>
> Ah, was beginning to think I'd missed something ;-)

Well that should have been, in my limited experience,no, but alternate  
flashing is a "site vehicle" option, it's not AFAIK any form of "road  
legal" option.


-- 
Duncan Wood

Chris Bartram  wrote:

> Mrcheerful wrote:
> > A.Lee wrote:
> >> My Octavia's front wipers seem to have given up, in that they will
> >> move only slowly, and sometimes stop in the middle of the screen.
> >> Before I dismantle it to check it out, is it worthwhile getting a new
> >> wiper motor in advance?

> > mostly slow wipers are because the mechanism is stiff rather than the motor.

> You're on the right lines. It's the mechanism. Usually the wiper 
> spindles seize. Common on Golf IV and A3.
> You can strip and grease the mechanism, or buy a new one- they're not
> expensive.

Thanks to both, I've saved the £40 cost of a new motor. 
For anyone else encountering this problem on a VAG car,here is the fix.
Take off wipers, remove bulkhead rubber trim, then remove the plastic
trim pieces between screen and bulkhead. These were stiff.It didnt help
that I thought they slid backwards, they dont, they lift up.
The wiper mechanism is easily accessible then, held by 3 bolts.
There are 3 pivot shafts, 1 attached to the motor, 2 at either end of
the mechanism.2 of these were nearly seized solid, the other was just a
bit tight. the mechanism ones are easily remove with a few knocks once
the circlip is off. the one in the motor is under a rivetted cover. The
rivets are easily drilled out, then on re-assembly, a few 15mm wood
screws were a good fit.
It seems they seize as the grease has ran out, or water has got in.
Either way, all the shafts need a clean up with a file, then a thorough
clean of the bush, then liberally grease both, check they move smoothly,
and reassemble.
Refit the mechanism, then run the wipers without the blades on. The
motor will stop at the correct place, then you can refit the blades.
2 hours start to finish, mainly due to a really stuck shaft on the
motor.
Ta
Alan.
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To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

Mrcheerful wrote:
> A.Lee wrote:
>> My Octavia's front wipers seem to have given up, in that they will
>> move only slowly, and sometimes stop in the middle of the screen.
>> Before I dismantle it to check it out, is it worthwhile getting a new
>> wiper motor in advance?
>> I have previously changed the relay due to another fault, so it looks
>> like it is probably a faulty motor.
>> Ta
>> Alan.
> 
> mostly slow wipers are because the mechanism is stiff rather than the motor. 
> take off a link or two (if it has links ) and see if the actual swivel where 
> the wiper attaches is movable freely.  if it is a rack system then it is 
> more difficult.  generally if the motor is at fault it will just stop. 
> 
> 
You're on the right lines. It's the mechanism. Usually the wiper 
spindles seize. Common on Golf IV and A3.

You can strip and grease the mechanism, or buy a new one- they're not 
expensive.