Wipers permanently on.

[redduster]

Operating the wipers this afternoon, worked fine, turned them off and they parked and then started again! Will only stop when the ignition is turned off!
Before immersing myself in the dashboard, any body either suffered from this or got any experience/ideas/suggestions?
Normally had troubles getting them started so a new one for me!
Cheers

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

Its more likely to be the wiper motor than anything under the dash. The circular lid on the wiper motor is on a live feed until it parks. Has any work been done in this area lately?

[redduster]

Work tooor around the wiper motor has not occured recently but I will check for loose connections.

I did check the three wires on the top of the motor and the live fed I presume is the green, middle wire, as I detached that and the wipers stopped. i have left that disconnected for the moment.

I will check all connections and feedback results.

Thanks.

[bmcecosse]

It could be the parking contacts - possibly the earthing wire (that connects to the lid of the motor) must be finding a path to earth - other than through the motor. Or perhaps as you suggest - a problem with the switch (which also provides an earth path) behind the dash......The wiper motor supply is permanently live when the ignition is on, and the motor is operated by earthing the return at the dash switch - or via the parking device which continues the motor running for one cycle of the blades until it runs over the 'dead' patch on the gear wheel.

[redduster]

Trying to diodge the rain, and failing, I have checked the following.
1. Disconnected the switch by removing the black green wire on the wiper motor. no affect.
2. Undid the long screww holding the black, earth wire, cleaned contacts. no affect.( This black earth wire disappears into the loom so not being able to trace where this connect too, could I bypass this and connect a seperate earth wire to the earth by the battery?)

I have 2 questions which an exoperienced person could help fill the gap in my Minor know how.
A. What does the brown wire do that is rivetted to the top of the wiper mechanism do?
B. Is the process for checking the parking contacts a straightforward task, never having delved into the depths of wipers?

I'll just go and dry off and continue the quest later.

Thanks

[MarkyB]

A. What does the brown wire do that is rivetted to the top of the wiper mechanism do?

It's part of the parking mechanism.

B. Is the process for checking the parking contacts a straightforward task,

Not bad, take the cover off the top of the wiper motor and see what's going on.
I've removed the round cap that does the parking on my car as the insulation between the brush and cap had broken down, now I have working, but not self parking wipers.

[bmcecosse]

As above - if the motor still runs with the green/black wire off at the motor - then the problem IS with the brown wire or self parking 'dead patch' . Somehow the motor is finding a path to earth.

[lambrettalad]

non self parking
same here,soon get used to timing the stroke

[bmcecosse]

The problem here is that they never stop...........

[redduster]

Thanks for all the help, it was the slfparking arrangement.
After unbolting the top cover, the area absolutely coated in grease so cleaned the copper contact and the circuit in the base.
After juggling about system now working correctly.
Is in necessary to have the entire motor chamber filled withgrease/lubricant?
Should Ileave it alone and just fix if/when it reoccurs or clean out and refill eith the approriate lubricant, whatever it is?
Thanks

[MarkyB]

Grease is fine but it doesn't need to be full, a bit spare won't hurt though.

[redduster]

Situation became critical when the motor burnt out.
Investigation showed that the electric motor, including windings, had become saturated by the excess grease.
Fix was a replacement motor, cheaper than rewinding the original.
Wipers now better than previously, reliable, park where theyn should and clear the screen. Result.
Thanks for all the advice but why excessive lubricant was used will never be known.

[alexmcguffie]

A little knowledge was obviously a dangerous thing for a previous owner!