Wipers are on the wrong side

[kyber]

Why does my RHD W140 have LHD screen wipers? I am only 6'2" but there is a large section at the top right of the screen that does not get wiped that makes it difficult to see things to the right.

I suppose this is one of those small design :fail such as not including a cup holder. At least the cup holder problem is easy to fix, do not think there is much I can do about the wipers.

 

[scgfull]

Cut & Shut????????

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Can you post a picture of it - doesn't sound right (excuse the pun). From memory when we had a W140, the drivers side wiper is really long almost like the mono wiper on the W202 covering the whole screen. I seem to remember that the near side passenger wiper is really short.

 

[kyber]

Note the wiper on the passenger side wipes to a vertical position to left hand side providing the passenger with a brilliant view.

@scgfull: no, the car is not a cut & shut, it is original

This is a RHD 1993 LWB W140 S500

 

[renault12ts]

They didn't do a conversion for RHD...thus you are stuck with the LHD pattern. But...yours may be broken...they are supposed to push into the corners:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r71c8pf0W5w

 

[nullogik]

I have a W140 and don't have the same problem and the wiper arms are arranged like yours.

From your picture the drivers side wiper looks too short and possibly the passenger side as well. IIRC, it should be 28" and the passenger side 24".

The longest one, on my car, has very good coverage.

Lack of cup holders was unsurprisingly a big issue with the Americans such that a special armrest was designed for their market!

This is what you need:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/sal...592504-mercedes-benz-s-class-w140-center.html

I don't believe this armrest was available in the UK. Before you buy it note that the cup holder is positioned such that the cups are next to the driver's elbow in the UK and therefore prone to being knocked over.

 

[Dec]

Try lubricating the internals, if that doesn’t work then its likely a broken gear that’s at fault.

See, post #13… Articulating windshield wipers - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

Dec
Picture source… W140 95 S420 extending wiper revisited - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

 

[A-AvantGarde]

That certainly looks odd.

Can you measure both wiper blades, the drivers one is definitely supposed to quite a bit longer. The mechanism on the drivers side allows the wiper to jump and clear more of the screen as opposed to a normal sweep (as per the YouTube video). Check if your drivers side wiper jumps as per the video. If not, you may need to look at the lubrication tip suggested above.

The wipers will leave a small section in the corner uncleaned (a bit like the E60 5 Series) but shouldn't be as bad as the picture you posted.

 

[kyber]

Well, that's interesting.

Whilst the driver's side wiper appears to reach the top of the screen at the high point of its arc, the rubber is 25" as best I can tell, but the passenger blade is 28"

To be honest, I could not really see the jumping effect on the video or on my car in operation.

So, does it look like these have been put on the wrong way around? I am not mechanically minded (despite being in my 50s computers are my thing), so I am going to have to get someone to take a closer look for me once I am sure of what to point them at.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Well, that's interesting.

Whilst the driver's side wiper appears to reach the top of the screen at the high point of its arc, the rubber is 25" as best I can tell, but the passenger blade is 28"

To be honest, I could not really see the jumping effect on the video or on my car in operation.

So, does it look like these have been put on the wrong way around? I am not mechanically minded (despite being in my 50s computers are my thing), so I am going to have to get someone to take a closer look for me once I am sure of what to point them at.

Yes they could be the wrong way around.

Okay 'jump' may have been the wrong description. Have a look closely at the video again. Towards the ends of the video where they show the wiper action from the outside. Pay attention to the base of the drivers wiper arm in the video, you'll see that as it sweeps to the top the wiper gets pulled in.

Hope this helps.

 

[renault12ts]

Well, that's interesting.

Whilst the driver's side wiper appears to reach the top of the screen at the high point of its arc, the rubber is 25" as best I can tell, but the passenger blade is 28"

To be honest, I could not really see the jumping effect on the video or on my car in operation.

So, does it look like these have been put on the wrong way around? I am not mechanically minded (despite being in my 50s computers are my thing), so I am going to have to get someone to take a closer look for me once I am sure of what to point them at.

Did you actually read my post with the very helpful youtube video..at 15 seconds you can see the arm going in and out...yours obviously doesn't, hence Dec's post is relevant.

 

[Dec]

Remove the cover in the picture and spray any lubrication on the round shiny metal shaft, WD40 or 3 in one oil, just to test.
See… Windshield Wiper crash & "repair" - Page 2 - Mercedes-Benz Forum

Dec

 

[nullogik]

Whilst the driver's side wiper appears to reach the top of the screen at the high point of its arc, the rubber is 25" as best I can tell, but the passenger blade is 28"

I don't have my car with me at the moment to measure the blades unfortunately.

I have just checked a few websites. One quoted 24" and 19" for a car your age but 28" and 25" for a later car like mine. It may be worth contacting an MB parts dept to determine exactly what is the correct length for each side as there may be a difference between pre (yours) and post (mine) facelift vehicles. You don't to fit the wrong length and it damage the windscreen surround and/or mechanism!

 

[renault12ts]

I don't have my car with me at the moment to measure the blades.

I would double check with the dealer to see which side takes the longest blade before swapping them around.

Give me patience...it's the mechanism not the length of the blades!!!!!!!!! You can see his blade goes to the top of the screen...in a nice arc, but it should not be an arc.

 

[DSM10000]

Give me patience...it's the mechanism not the length of the blades!!!!!!!!! You can see his blade goes to the top of the screen...in a nice arc, but it should not be an arc.

Whilst you may explain things to someone you cannot understand it for them!

 

[kyber]

Did you actually read my post with the very helpful youtube video..at 15 seconds you can see the arm going in and out...yours obviously doesn't, hence Dec's post is relevant.

Yes, renault12ts, I read your post and watched the video. As I said, the jump was not obvious to me in the video and I did not see it on my car but I understand the principle of the gearing to make this eccentric.

It would appear that the photo I provided does suggest though the obviously wiped area that mine is almost certainly not operating eccentrically. Even allowing for that, it may well be that the blade is (or arm, or both are) not correct for the car, exacerbating the situation.

Many thanks to all for the help on this. Much appreciated.

 

[renault12ts]

The arm is correct because it is not interchangeable.
The blade is correct...because you can see in your photo it almost touches the top of the screen.

 

[kyber]

I shall try the recommended lubricant to see if the gearing is restored, and explore further if that fails. Thank you all.

 

[Dec]

Example below of one that is in working order.

Dec

[YOUTUBE HD]ZsmWumuAPt8[/YOUTUBE HD]