Nowadays you won’t surprise anyone with the presence of wipers. But if they are absent or malfunctioning, serious problems arise. Especially when it's raining or snowing outside.
Wipers can operate in several modes. It depends on the car itself and its functionality. Switching is carried out using the steering column lever. The driver can independently select the mode and speed, or set automatic operation associated with a rain sensor and more.
One of the modes is intermittent. Most often this is the first mode on the steering column switch. Its essence is that the brushes move from side to side, stopping for 2-3 seconds. This is one of the most popular modes.
But often car owners have to deal with situations where the wipers do not work. To be more precise, the desired mode does not work.
Why windshield wipers don't work
Some of the most common problems associated with the operation of the windshield wiper mechanism include:
- fuse blown;
- break in the electrical circuit (oxidation of contacts, disconnection of connectors, broken wires);
- relay failure;
- control unit switch malfunction;
- brush wear or short circuit (break) in the motor windings;
- jamming of drive levers (trapezoid);
- wear of the drive splines.
When to change windshield wipers
The following problems will tell you that it’s time to buy and install new windshield wipers:
- streaks remain on the glass, which is caused by a damaged windshield wiper arm;
- the window looks cloudy during cleaning, which is due to wear on the wiper blade;
- the unit does not rub well and does not remove all the water during heavy rain;
- The windshield wiper squeaks or bounces on the glass, which is caused by contamination or a faulty wiper connector;
- there is visible damage to the rubber - peeling, etc.;
- The connector is damaged and is unable to properly support the wiper (the connectors are made of plastic and may be damaged by an untrained user during installation).
Rear wiper does not work
VAZ-2114 is equipped with a rear window wiper. Unfortunately, it sometimes fails too. Fortunately, there are no fuses or relays here. The rear windshield wiper mechanism consists of an electric motor with a gearbox and a leash with a brush. It is turned on by switching the handle away from you (horizontally).
Diagnosis of the rear wiper is also carried out by measuring the voltage at the engine connector. If it does, you will have to either repair or buy a new electric motor.
Motor
On most modern cars, the wiper motor is protected by special protection against overheating. That is, if out of habit you turn on the wipers with the windshield covered with snow, then voltage simply will not be supplied to the motor if it is unable to turn the blades. On domestic cars, the wiper motor is usually made with such a reserve of power that it seems that it could well replace the starter. In any case, it’s worth getting out of the car and listening to see if the motor works when you turn on the wipers. If there are no sounds, then time and dampness have probably ruined the motor itself. But if the sound of operation is present, and the brushes do not move, then perhaps the problem is a frozen trapezium of the wipers.
Control unit malfunction
A sign of a malfunction of the control unit is the lack of response of the windshield wiper mechanism when the fuse, electric motor and all wiring are known to be good.
More about Nissan: How the MegaDisk Megafon service works on a mobile device
Often it fails not due to mechanical failure, but due to oxidation of the contacts. To identify possible causes, the unit will have to be disassembled, inspected and, if necessary, the contact elements cleaned.
If this does not help, the unit should be replaced.
Malfunctions of windshield wipers (wipers)
As you know, the working mechanism of the wipers was initially designed for a long service life. And breakdowns occur in parts, for the most part, due to the human factor - that is, improper operation.
Most often, wipers deteriorate in winter, when they freeze to the windshield, and the driver, being inattentive, turns on the glass cleaning mechanism. The load on wipers that are frozen turns out to be detrimental to the mechanism. And at the same time, both the motor itself and various mechanical parts can fail.
Since above we looked mainly at wipers of VAZ models, we will continue to do this using their example. So, on the “eight”, “nine”, “trinashka”, that is, hatchbacks, in addition to the main front wiper, a rear washer is also installed. But on the “99”, “tag” and other sedans it is not there.
Front windshield wipers have several operating modes: work with a pause (the same intermittent mode), work at low speed, work at high speed. In addition, there are two more modes: 3-fold cleansing and cleansing simultaneously with washer. As for the rear wiper, it has only one mode: in conjunction with the washer.
So, it is customary to distinguish between 6 main types of wiper malfunctions: they do not clean the glass well, they do not work after turning on one of the modes, broken blades, etc. More details can be found in the table below.
| Fault name | What to do 1 | What to do 2 | What to do 3 |
| Complete inoperability of the system (not a single mode works normally, you can’t hear the electric motor rotating) | Check the presence of 12 V voltage at terminal number 6, in the windshield wiper connector, as well as ground 4. It is also recommended to check all power circuits (fuses 4 and 5, switch, mounting block, ignition switch, etc. | Check how the mode switch itself functions (presence of 12 V control voltage at terminals 1 and 2 of the windshield wiper connector when switching modes). | Check the operation of the motor (removal and disassembly will be required). |
| Intermittent mode does not work (everything else works) | The main reason is a non-working relay. Replace and check how the new relay functions | It is possible that the reason is the mode switch. It is checked by replacing it with a known good one. | |
| The wiper blades do not stop in the down position, but stop anywhere (they can extend beyond the windshield) | The limit switch in the motor is broken or burnt out (it is impossible to replace, only the entire electric motor, although in some cases it is possible to fix and repair). | The position of the wipers is incorrectly adjusted (set them in the right place). | The drive shaft of the brush mechanism began to fail (disassemble and replace the failed parts). |
| The noise of the motor is heard, but the brushes do not move (the brushes stay in one place) | The drive shaft of the windshield wiper mechanism has worked (the splines are licked). It is necessary to replace or adjust the splined part of the electric motor. | The nut securing the mechanism rod to the electric motor shaft has become loose (tighten the nut thoroughly). | |
| The wipers do not work after turning on the windshield washer | Most likely, the steering column mode switch has deteriorated (replace with a known good one). | It is possible that the operation and serviceability of the mounting block has been disrupted (measure the voltage at terminals 9 and 18). | |
| Poor quality of glass cleaning | The wiper blades have lost their elasticity (replace them with new ones). | Oil or other lubricants have come into contact with the glass. For example, it could be oil from the muffler of the car in front, waxing at the car wash, contamination after polishing, and much more. |
Front wiper diagram
Car wipers are an integral attribute of any car, which, as a rule, is remembered only in the event of any precipitation (rain, snow). In poor visibility conditions, wipers clear the car's windshield, providing the driver with the necessary visibility.
In general, the design of automobile windshield wipers ensures that the wipers operate in three modes:
- slow;
- intermittent;
- fast.
The three-speed windshield wiper system is one of the weakest points of any car. This is especially true for domestic cars, in which quite often the wipers do not return to their original position during operation, but stop in the middle of the glass.
Stopping the wipers in the middle of the windshield can infuriate even the calmest driver, as this limits the view. In addition, the wipers, stopping in the middle of the glass during operation, constantly remind you of the presence of a malfunction.
There are a lot of reasons that lead to wipers stopping in the middle of the glass, and most of them can be eliminated independently.
Malfunction of trapezoid and leashes
The trapezoid itself rarely fails, because breaking it would require considerable effort. In most cases, problems with it arise after repairing or replacing the drive arms.
But as for leashes, they often break. The main cause of the malfunction is wear of the splines. The fact is that they are made of aluminum, so even a small force applied in the direction opposite to the movement of the wipers can cause them to “lick off”. In such a situation, there is only one way out - replacement.
Replacing damaged parts
New windshield wiper trapezoid
If the brush springs are damaged or lose elasticity, they will need to be replaced. It is recommended to check how they move in the appropriate holder. If they jam, then worn or existing chips are replaced. In this case, the leads of the new parts are soldered to the corresponding holder.
The collector is cleaned with sandpaper (if there are scratches or other defects on it). If this unit is burnt or worn out, then the gearbox and armature are replaced. Replacement of the gearbox gear is carried out with a similar condition of the teeth. Bent rods are straightened or replaced with new ones. Damaged splines or roller threads require replacement of the rod assembly. All cracked, torn and weak rubber cushions are replaced with new parts.
The procedure for replacing windshield wipers on a “nine” begins with dismantling the main windshield mechanism.
To do this, use a set of screwdrivers and wrenches. Initially, the negative wire of the battery terminal is disconnected. The windshield wiper arms rotate vertically. The nuts are unscrewed and these elements are removed from the rollers.
The next step is to unscrew and remove the levers. If they cannot be removed with light force, then you need to slightly unscrew the nut securing the lever. Using pliers, the last element is moved from the slots. The lever and protective caps on each side can then be removed. The same should be done with the nuts that belong to the upper bracket mount.
Next, the hood of the car is opened and the connector is disconnected from the block. The heating fan is moved to the right (relative to the compartment located in front of the windshield), and the cover is removed from the corresponding unit. After disconnecting the connector, the relays are removed from it. The next step involves removing the lower mounting bolt. Then the holder is pulled out and the wiper rollers are removed from the holes in the body.
Open circuit
If the wiper blades do not work even after replacing the fuse, there may be a problem with the wiring. Check if the contact in the connectors is broken:
- control unit;
- relay;
- electric motor.
If you find traces of oxidation on the connector contacts, clean them with fine emery cloth and treat them with anti-rust liquid (such as WD-40).
Troubleshooting Methods
If the wipers start to stop in the middle of the car's windshield, you must perform the following steps:
- check whether the windshield wipers are correctly installed on the drive splines and the condition of the trapezoid. Particular attention must be paid to the drive crank. If assembly errors are detected, they must be eliminated;
- carefully inspect the drive splines. They can chip, break or wear out, causing the splines to slip and the wipers not returning to their original position. Sometimes the wiper lever may jump out of its place.
Relay failure
Another reason why the windshield wiper does not work may be the relay. First of all, remove it from its seat in the mounting block and insert it back. Often the problem lies in banal oxidation of contacts. If this does not help, we leave it in the mounting block and go to the salon.
The windshield wiper relay is only responsible for its operation in intermittent mode, therefore, it is not involved in fast and very fast modes. Turn on the ignition and move the wiper mode switch knob to the uppermost position. Did the wipers work? We change the relay. By the way, its catalog number for the “fourteenth” is 52.3747 or 525.
More about Nissan: Used Nissan Qashqai I: body, interior, electrical - KOLESA.ru - automobile magazine
The delay is adjusted by moving the mode switching knob from the “On” position. to the second position, in which the windshield wipers operate intermittently. At the same time, they begin to move in normal mode, with a shutter speed of about 4 seconds. Next, the knob is moved to the “Off” position, and the time countdown for the programmable pause begins. The next time you turn on the wipers in intermittent mode, the interval you have maintained will be observed.
Reasons for the wipers to operate when the SZ is turned on
ATTENTION! A completely simple way to reduce fuel consumption has been found! Don't believe me? An auto mechanic with 15 years of experience also didn’t believe it until he tried it. And now he saves 35,000 rubles a year on gasoline!
Whatever solution is chosen, you first need to find the reason for this “behavior” of the wipers. There are several of them. Let's look at the most common ones.
Closure
The first thing any motorist with any level of enlightenment will doubt is the wiring. There must be a short somewhere, he will think. Why does such a malfunction actually occur?
Short-term or long-term operation of the wipers when the ignition is turned on occurs in most cases due to a poor ground connection. To solve the problem, it is recommended to disconnect all points where the wiring comes into contact with ground and clean the terminals from oxidation and deposits. The terminals must then be tightened securely to avoid a recurrence of the situation in the future.
Mode switch
If the windshield wipers do not turn off during zero and intermittent operating modes, but function normally in accelerated mode, then this type of malfunction usually points to the switch. What can be done? Find the relay responsible for the wipers. For example, on some Toyota modifications the relay is installed directly inside the wiper switch. The device is collapsible, you can open it and see what the problem is. As a last resort, replace the relay.
You can completely disable the mode switch and remove it from the circuit. This will help disable the wipers, but after that they will only work in accelerated mode.
Wiper relay
One of the common reasons for the wipers to work. As mentioned above, it is replacing the relay that helps solve the problem in most cases.
Note. A common symptom of a relay related problem. When you turn on the windshield washer for a short time, the wipers make not two strokes, as they should be, but three - the last stroke is superfluous, since the water has already been removed from the glass and the cleaning is carried out dry.
The new relay must match the markings. For example, for the domestic “nine” this option is 526.3747. However, depending on the manufacturer, relay devices may have other markings, but they are quite suitable for replacement. You just need to ask the sellers for a specific car model.
If for some reason the relay does not fit, you can replace the resistor R4 inside the relay. The native one has a nominal value of 130 kOhm, and for stable operation of the wipers it is recommended to set it within 40-70 kOhm. You can buy the part at a radio parts store or ask radio amateurs on the forums in your hometown.
The relay itself is located in a block that car enthusiasts call a “black box”.
And this is a diagram of the “nine” wiper relay
As for the internal design of the wiper relay, it can be different. However, the resistor we need is always connected inside the relay to the fourth leg of the microchip.
Note. The problem with the resistor is solved in a similar way for almost all VAZ models: “tens”, “tags”, Lada Grant and Priora, etc.
You should be aware that in some cases the wiper relay may not be removable. Then the resistor cannot be removed and replaced. You'll have to find a new relay with a classic VAZ design.
Another option is that water got inside the “black box”. Obviously, you need to disassemble the block, but you need to do this at your own peril and risk, since in half the cases everything falls apart during disassembly and you have to replace the mounting block with a new one (costs 3-4 thousand rubles).
The “black box” is disassembled like this:
- Unscrew the six screws of the block (two screws directly inside the platform, the rest on the sides);
- Carefully remove all relays, fuses and jumpers (remember their positions);
- Use a screwdriver to halve the block;
- Clear the oxides in the diagram.
The principle of operation of the mechanism
In order to find the reason why the windshield wiper does not work, you need to understand how its mechanism works. And it works as follows. When we move the windshield wiper control knob to the first position, voltage is supplied to the electric motor through the relay. Thanks to it, the wipers move intermittently, that is, with intervals between strokes.
Windshield wiper drive device
The wipers are driven by a small DC electric motor, which is equipped with a built-in gearbox.
Three brushes are installed in the motor armature, with the help of which three modes of operation of the entire system are provided. In addition, the electrical circuit for controlling the operation of the windshield wipers includes:
- steering column switch for operating modes;
- relay K2 type 524.3747, which includes intermittent operation;
- additional relay;
- limit switch;
- bimetallic fuse;
The bimetallic fuse and limit switch are located in the electric motor gearbox, and all other circuit elements are located in the mounting block installed in the engine compartment of the car. All elements of the electrical circuit diagram are connected to each other using wires and mounting blocks.
Causes of defects
As practice shows, windshield wipers most often do not work in winter, in difficult weather conditions. The structure is regularly exposed to external influences - freezing, icing, and getting wet.
Malfunctions can manifest themselves as several defects. A common problem is that windshield wipers move jerkily. This means that the leash on which the wipers are held has become loose. At high speed, the structure rises upward with a flow of air. The problem may also be the unreliability of the adapter that holds the brush.
You can often see longitudinal stripes on car glass. This problem is caused by cracks in the rubber parts of the wipers. This usually happens when the glass is frozen or covered with dry dirt. You can clean the rubber, but it is better to replace it with a new one - with graphite coating, which prevents freezing.
Driver reviews and advice
Try sprinkling tobacco from a torn cigarette onto your windshield and rubbing it with a non-greasy rag.
The surface of the windshield will become wetted, the droplets that interfere with vision will blur, the layer of water on the windshield will become continuous and will not interfere with vision. Parasite
https://www.bolshoyvopros.ru/profile400546
From personal experience.
Over more than 30 years of operating the car, I also found myself in similar situations. Tobacco really helped, but in not very heavy rain. Among the “brands”, “Prima” and “Belomor-Canal” proved themselves very well at that time; they were vigorous. So you can take it as a joke or follow the advice (this is for non-smokers) to throw a cheaper pack of cigarettes next to the fuses for the wiper drive and windshield washer pump - they will help you get to the service station on the road. Zloy Ya
https://www.bolshoyvopros.ru/profile152720
Driving without wipers is a nightmare, especially if it rains very often.
Although it often happens to me, if the rain is moderate, then at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour the drops themselves roll up the glass and the glass remains clean. In such cases, I even turn off the wipers and drive without them. But this does not always happen. Like this. razor4d
https://www.bolshoyvopros.ru/profile464571/
The only thing that comes to mind is to turn on the heater on the glass to maximum; in light rain it can dry out.
novohudonosen
https://www.bolshoyvopros.ru/profile230576/
If the motor works, but the wipers do not move, then you remove the cap at the base of the wiper drive, tighten the nut there and the wipers work again.
Perhaps there is a slightly different mechanism, for example, a nut on the bottom, but whatever one may say, it is there and it just unscrewed, and it turns out that the axle rotates, but the base of the wiper slips, since there is no strong connection. kolnbrix
https://www.anglocivic.club/forum/index.php?s=9664a79c8559f56e92b1cecc945990d4&showuser=162
Problems with the electric motor
Having checked the wiring and protection elements of the windshield wiper circuit and found no fault, we diagnose the electric motor that drives its mechanism. To do this, it is better to dismantle the engine.
Having done this, turn on the ignition and move the switch knob of the wiper control unit to fast or very fast mode. Using a multimeter, measure the voltage at the motor connector. The device should show the same voltage as the battery. Having made sure that the current reaches the electric motor, but it does not start, we can conclude that the windshield wiper does not work precisely because of a malfunction of the engine.
More about Nissan: Where is Nissan Qashqai 2016 assembled for Russia: where is it produced and manufactured
Most often this happens due to wear of the current-carrying brushes, but sometimes the problem lies in the short circuit of the turns of one of the windings. You can try to repair the electric motor by replacing the brushes or restoring the windings, but it is easier to buy a new one. It costs around a thousand rubles.
We disassemble the turn switch for a VAZ 2107
And although many manufacturers of turn switches claim that this is a completely non-separable design, it can still be disassembled with some effort. Disassembly of devices is necessary when repairing it. It takes place in several stages:
- Using a 3 mm drill, drill out the 2 upper rivets and remove the upper part that is attached to the tube;
- After removing this part we see 2 more rivets that hold the ring;
- Carefully remove the ring from the grooves, then you need to remove additional rings and levers.
How to get rid of a loose wiper blade?
The phenomenon of “shifting” indicates the reason for the destabilization of the wiper operation from a theoretical perspective. What in practice? What are the symptoms of an impending wiper problem?
For example, here is an elementary problem. The car is fresh, the brushes are new, but they clean with gaps in the middle, and even bounce in places. Let's add here several thousand spent on alternative elastic bands. In the end, the result is the same: the quality of cleaning remains at a depressing level, and the money is wasted.
Meanwhile, the solution to this issue is, in principle, possible without the ruble. It is enough to check the angle of contact of the leash to the glass. It's easy to do this:
- Remove the brush.
- Place the leash on the glass.
- Make sure that the contact point between the adapter and the lead is pressed against the glass with the center.
If the eye sees a deviation from the norm, then the geometry is corrected with an ordinary flat-head screwdriver. It is advisable to use a more powerful tool, since the material of the leash is difficult to deform. It is possible that the straightened foot may again take its previous shape. It is for these reasons that it is recommended to repeat the procedure after about a day or two.
Skips in the middle and jumping may also indicate insufficient clamping force. It's quite easy to check. Spray some water, turn on the wipers and lightly press the leash against the glass with your finger. Are the skipping, rattling and squeaking gone? Then the problem is the spring located in the design of the leash.
How to return the spring to its former stiffness? Three methods have been developed for this purpose:
- Replace the spring and leave the leash. The solution is especially relevant for foreign cars with exorbitant prices for original leashes. When a new assembly unit costs about 5,000 rubles, and a spring costs around 100-300 rubles, there is something to think about. Moreover, if the factory parts are preserved in acceptable condition.
- Lengthen one part of the leash. Typically, the design of the wiper holder involves a riveted connection. It can be riveted and one part can be pulled out relative to the other. At this time, the spring will tighten a little and the clamping force will be restored.
- Replace the leash. The simplest solution to the problem. It is widely practiced by owners of VAZs and budget foreign cars from the mass C-class segment.
