Morris Minor Owners Club

I have a problem in that the wiper motor has stopped working. I have checked the terminals to the motor and have a live feed 12V to the green wire terminal so that seems OK. We have just got car back from being resprayed so wonder if when they sprayed the dash the wiring to the switch was disturbed. Question if I remove the passenger glove box internal can I access the wiper switch to check connections. If not how do I access the switch ?

Thanks

Mike

There should be a permanent live (for self-parking) and a switched live at the motor. When you switch on, do you get power at the switched live connection? Is there any sound at all coming from the motor, or does it get warm?

To look at the switch wiring, I believe you'll need to withdraw the speedometer.

The wiper motor circuit is slightly unusual in that the motor is switched to earth, rather than the more 'normal' route of switching the supply to the motor, with the other side of the motor being earthed. Both the normal 'run' and 'park' only work when the ignition switch is turned 'ON'.

There are 3 wires connected to the wiper motor:

Green - ignition switched and connected to the back of the fuel gauge (this is supplied from the 'A4' fuse)
Green/Black - connects directly to the wiper switch. It is NOT connected to the ignition supply.
Black - earth

The wiper switch has 2 connections:

Green/Black - feed from wiper motor
Black - connects to earth via the control box when the wiper switch is switched 'ON'

You have 12v at the green wire, but the motor does not run? Leave the ignition turned on and connect a wire from the wiper motor terminal with the green/black wire directly to the body/earth. Does the motor run now?

If it does, the fault is either the wiper switch or the connections to/from it

If not, it could be one of 2 faults - either a motor fault (brushes?) or the park circuit.

As above, to get at the wiper switch you need to bring the speedometer forward. Be very careful with potential short circuits if you turn the ignition on with the speedo hanging on its wires!

....and THAT, Ladies and Gentlemen, is how you answer a question!

Richard, where you say "The ignition switch has 2 connections:" do you not mean Wiper Switch.
Good description apart from that.

Thank you for the advice as I was scratching my head to why they had stopped working. Following your directions have success as the motor runs when shorting the green/black terminal to earth yippee ! Next step is to check the connections to the wiper switch so speedo out it is.
I understand it comes out by loosening two screws each side of the clock accessed via the glove boxes ? Will be careful to not short anything out now I know the motor works.

Mike

Tip 'o the hat to Richard - several years ago I moved over to a two-speed wiper motor, which uses a radically different wiring setup. The old wiring is a foggy memory.

The speedometer does indeed come out via those two screws. A bit hard to locate visually - I usually feel around with the Philips screwdriver until I find them. You may need to press the speedometer evenly from behind to get it to come out. As it comes out, undo the speedometer cable.

Thank you all, we have wipers again. Managed to access the switch via LH glove box removal and disconnecting the washer unit. Found wire not connected to switch. Reconnected and "voila" working again.
Now just to sort out a minor oil leak underneath

Thanks again guys

Mike

"The ignition switch has 2 connections:" do you not mean Wiper Switch

Thanks, yes I definitely do mean 'wiper' switch!

Have edited the original posting.

I love this forum, cracking answers guys.

I have the same problem but when I switch on the wiper switch I get 12 volts on the black/green wire (actually as I've moved to Negative earth, I get 12 volts between the black/green and the positive terminal). This tells me the motor is knackered and I have started to remove it. Replacements seem to cost in the 140 quid area so I want to make sure it is definitely a faulty motor. The brushes seem okay but they are very hot to touch. I've seen on ebay a 2 speed mini wiper motor that looks as if it will fit, but again it's 60 quid that I don't want to throw away. Anyone got any ideas about a good effective way forward?

Thanks

Tim

Just had one of those 3am eureka moments, rather than take the motor apart, I should have tried 12 v positive on the black/green terminal. Ho hum, now to put it all back together again.