W124 wiper stopped

[MB-tex]

Hi all and a happy festive season.

I am a longtime user of this forum and would like to say thanks for all help I have got over the years. My first post is to ask for more help.

The front wiper on my 96 w124 E280 has died. No action at all. The washer works and all other electrics work as well. Checked and cleaned appropriate fuse. I can hear the relay click on the intermediate setting.

I had a 6hr journey north on Friday during which the wiper was on constantly and worked fine. When I came to use it today the wiper had stopped completely with no symptoms. Sometimes it has been a bit sluggish on the delay wiper setting. Was getting around to that lubrication job. It had a new multi function stalk/switch assembly about 3/4 yrs ago.

Any advice? Hoping it is something simple and not a dead motor. Have searched around this and other forums but nothing seemed to quite fit the problem.

Thanks

Tom

 

[Dec]

Turn the ignition on and turn the wiper on to normal speed then try wiggling the wiper fuse to see if it comes to life just in case there is a poor contact with that fuse… sounds like an electrical fault.

If you haven’t lubricated yet do it immediately with whatever is to hand…WD40/drops of oil from engine dipstick.

Dec

 

[MB-tex]

Thanks Dec

Will have to wait till morning now. Hopefully this incessant rain will have stopped...and if it has, I won't need the wiper!

Tom

 

[Dec]

Check the plug on the back of the motor too.
See pictures… Mercedes W124 Original Wiper Assembly (1248203842) | Other Parts & Accessories | Gumtree Australia Cockburn Area - Bibra Lake

Dec

 

[MB-tex]

Wiper problem solved.

Thought I'd finish off this thread with a new year success story. Wiper on my 96 W124 estate had stopped so I opened the cover over the mechanism to find it as dry as a bone (if you are prevaricating on this job then don't - its easy, quick and will possibly save your wiper). Lots of oil in the mechanism did nothing and I had to strip out all of the cladding and rain channels that cover the wiper motor. Not a bad job but keep track of all the bits you take off and how they will go back in. A bang with a hammer got the motor going but it was very weak and could be stopped by holding the wiper arm stub. A merc breakers yard 15 miles away had a wiper assembly in stock so I got a lift to pick it up. £40. It was an Aladdin's cave of W124 stuff there. Worth noting that earlier models of this car have separate, detachable rubber screen strips and later models have the full width rubber strip attached to the wiper mechanism.

Putting it all back is more difficult. The rubber strip that runs the length of the base of the screen needs very careful re-seating. It appeared to me that if wrongly re-seated water would run straight into the void under the screen and behind the bulkhead. Also, see images of rust appearing in each bottom corner of the screen where trims overlap and where the screen is delaminating. Also of the two pieces I had left over when all done!
When done I packed the replacement wiper mechanism with grease and it runs surprisingly faster than the old one. Very satisfying.

Happy new year.

Tom