In the Alps with dodgy windscreen wipers

I've been using my windscreen wipers all day as weather has been awful. Now my wipers are dragging themselves slowly across the screen as if they are really tired. Making a loud squealing noise too. Does this mean the motor in knackered? If so should I invest in RainX and keep my fingers crossed for dry days on the journey back? Or save the wiper motor for occasional wipes when the visibility gets too bad? If I asked VW Heritage to send me a new motor would a local mechanic know how to fix it? Sorry for all this ignorance but I have never had any dealings with wiper motors.

 

I can't help, but here is a free bump until someone knowledgeable comes along

Have a great time

 

Have you tried something as simple as some 3 in 1 oil or wd40 down the wiper spindles? They could've seized or frozen?

 

Do you mean from the outside? Take them off and spray?

 

I had a very similar issue with my beetle, I kept going with it for a few days and was expecting the worst, I took the wiper arm off and a bit of WD40 like @Dazza said and Bobs you uncle.

 

Might be easier to whip the arms off and just switch the wipers on and just douse the spindles in wd

 

As dazza says , take your wiper arms off ,then try them , see how fast they are then ? Lube up and try again , if they’ve been on for long period may have over heated motor ?? Normally more rain helps them in my experience but not long periods ?? Hope you get sorted ,your gona need them if you get snow .

 

Put some RainX on anyway, brilliant stuff. haved used engine oil or washing up liquid when no wd40 available to free up sticking bits

 

Thanks again for all these replies. Will get some WD 40 in the morning and follow the advice. I wouldn't leave home if it wasn't for TLB.

 

If you can get some engine oil out from your dipstick or have some spare, use that on the spindles, if you take the arms off you can uncover the end of the spindle bearing. WD 40 is NOT a lubricant. In some tests e.g. rubber shoes on plastic yacht decks it increased grip. Its a water dispersant and flamethrower fuel.

 

Probably dried the grease out in the motor, get whatever lube you can as far in as poss for now

 

You need Subaru wipers

 

The Brazilian Bay motor fits the bay with a little modding. It makes a massive difference and worth doing as eventually your motor will give up in a smoky mess.

Had mine in for two years now and I can actually drive in English weather.

Annoying job though as the whole dash has to come out,

 

is there a lot of salt on the road ,it could be salt that's made its way into the spindles ,


Ps look for bits of van dropping off that's a sure sign of salt

 

Especially if you squirt washing up liquid into them.

 

Whatever you don't don't continue to drag the wipers or you might finish off the motor. Yes rainX will keep you moving. Getting some today.

 

brilliant idea.

I've got string and rope in my bus!

 

got any pics

 

I've found that it's rarely the motor, it's usually the spindles. They do seize over time- you can quite easily take them out, strip, and grease the spindles for another 40 years of hard labour