W124 wiper died

[alloam]

It is bucketing rain up her in Scotland this morning and as I flashed the headlights to let out a bus (obviously a mistake!) the front wiper stopped working...

It stopped parked on the passenger side (wrong side). None of the wiper positions work, pushing in the stalk does not activate wipers or washer jets, and the headlight flash (pulling stalk towards you) is not working.

The indicators are still working fine and you can change from dipped to full beam as normal.

Any ideas? Could it be fuse, or indicator stalk fault, or something with more £££s attached...?

Cheers,

 

[Thmsshaun]

Can't comment for the wiper but when my headlight stopped flashing on my W202 it was the fault of the stalk and was approx £85 fitted at my local indi.

 

[MangoMan]

Yeah, I had a stalk go on me! apparently not unusual, except mine was a bit different, my wipers used to come on intermitantly when I had my headlights on, and it was on a w116 350se. So it must be an inherent problem.

 

[GregE240]

Sounds like the stalk has gone south.

On my SL, initially the flash wouldn't work, then one Saturday the lot failed.

£120 for a new one, but it had a 129 part number.....£80 is about the going rate.

 

[kth286]

alloam

First step is to check the appropriate fuse, if it's not blown turn it in it's holder and try the stalk again.

If it works after that replace the fuse for a new one.

Regards

 

[Howard]

If the motor is toast (hope not) then better smash the piggy bank.......

 

[Shude]

If the motor is toast (hope not) then better smash the piggy bank.......

The motor is peanuts compared to the mechanism!

 

[Howard]

The motor is peanuts compared to the mechanism!

Thats what i meant .... DOH!

 

[Thmsshaun]

This sounds too much like the stalk although the motor could have caused the stalk to go.

Coming back from Trowbridge in heavy rain in my C180 the wiper mechanism started going very very slowly, taking probably 10secs to get from one side of the window and back. I couldnt stop and needed to get back so turned it onto full speed. This helped a bit, it would free up after a short time and then I turned it back down until the same would happen again. Anyway turning it onto full when it was struggling the stalk was getting very very warm So if it was struggling, it could I imagine have taken the stalk out as well. Hope not but it is possible.

If your mechanism does starts going slow a spary of WD40 and a bit of grease does the trick.

 

[MangoMan]

Alloam, could give this a try if it's the stalk. Worth a shot.....not too sure if it's the same as yours though, could be???

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MERCEDES-300T...605002585QQcategoryZ10398QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[PJH]

Don't forget, Ian B Walker has parts available.

 

[alloam]

Thanks for all the advice - it is much appreciated. It is still raining, so hopefully tomorrow I can get out and check the fuse.

I am pretty sure it isn't the motor as there hadn't been any grumbling or groaning and it was sweeping at full speed.

I suspect as do most of you that it is the stalk. Occasionally in the past when indicating by pressing gently on the indicator (i.e. not past the 'hold' point) for overtaking sometimes smoke would appear from the steering column!! I always just put the indicators full on, but I guess there is a weakness there anyway.

I suspect a trip to the dealer next week...

 

[BTB 500]

sometimes smoke would appear from the steering column!!

Er .. yes .. sounds like the stalk then

 

[SlimJim]

Have you checked the relay ?