Please Help - 1 of my wipers has gone AWOL

[DrewB]

Good Morning Forumgoers,

I had a slight issue with my wipers yesterday. The passenger side wiper while at the limit of its travel (vertical position) failed, while the drivers side wiper carried on regardless, then struck the failed NS wiper, broke off with a bang and flew onto the pavement

I pulled over - something's wrong

The remaining NS wiper is loose and floppy like a broken crabs leg.

Any ideas?

I guess that I can fix this myself on the driveway

 

[BTB 500]

Sounds like part of the linkage to the NS wiper has either broken or come undone. No idea about a CLA but normally you can see/access the linkages from under the bonnet - you may need to remove the odd cover/tray/duct etc. though. Did you manage to reattach the OS wiper?

We hit a pigeon at speed in the Vito once and that knocked off the OS wiper blade assembly. No way to stop and look for it, it started raining later and I had to tie a cloth round the end of the wiper arm to stop it scraping on the windscreen. It wasn't very effective as a wiper though

 

[DrewB]

I didn't manage to reattach the OS wiper. I walked back and picked it up of the pavement in Ironbridge, good job it didn't hit anyone. The plastic bracket from the blade that fits to the arm hook had vanished. I had to drive back with no wipers

I'll have a look under the bonnet when I get back from work later today.

 

[BTB 500]

Good luck!

 

[Smiley]

Once you get access to have a look at how it works it should be obvious what has broken - it is a simple set of mechanical components linking the motor to the two spindles that drive the arms. Check that the arms are tight on the spindles as well.

 

[DrewB]

Once you get access to have a look at how it works it should be obvious what has broken - it is a simple set of mechanical components linking the motor to the two spindles that drive the arms. Check that the arms are tight on the spindles as well.

Smiley,

You're correct The nut had come loose on the middle of the 3 spindles, leaving the NS wiper only connected to the non drive spindle, and in the vertical Mercedes DTM position

 

[Smiley]

Some numpty has been working on the car

 

[DrewB]

All done now

and the added bonus that all the associated plastic panels had a good long over due clean

 

[Smiley]

Good work