Not quite dead rear wiper motor

[ukandyb]

Hi All,

The rear wiper on my S6 Avant (2006 C6 – 5.2 V10) has succumbed to I believe the common fault of the washer pipe that passes through the body of the motor breaking and destroying the motor. It now starts of its own accord when I start the car, parks where it wants, will only do a single commanded swipe and no fluid at all will come out of the jet, it just goes into the tailgate and no doubt plays havoc with the electronics in there!

From when I partially prised the trim panels off to see if it was only a displaced pipe (no such luck!) the replacement of the actual part looks straight forward. It also seems not too costly (the local Audi dealer has quoted me £98.31 for the part - 4F9 955 711 B) but I will see if any factor part can be found cheaper. My luck so far is that anything for the S6 has proved expensive (serves me right for having a mid life crisis car that I drive every day).

My problem is the rear trim which I’m scared that I’ll destroy. I applied quite a lot of brute force and ignorance but could only get the trim partially off, no where near enough to get at the motor.

Can anyone help? Not seeing out of the rear screen is getting to be a real pain!

Thanks in advance,

AndyB

ukandyb at yahoo dot co dot uk

[NickPicks]

I've had this on my A6 (C5), and I found that dismantling the motor, scraping off any corrosion on the shaft, regreasing and refitting made it work again. There was no cost involved apart from a couple of hours cleaning it up.

So far, it's been working for 6 months since I did it.

I'm assuming it's the same motor (it's pretty much a universal part across the whole VAG range).

It's easy to get apart - just a few torx screws.

[ukandyb]

Hi,

I was told by the Dealer, they are different as the bracketry is different. That said I think I'll see if I can get to the motor and see if if it can be repaired. One of the guys posted me some pages from a VAG manual so at least I can see how the trim is connected together.

My luck usually is, it's Goose will be well and truly cooked!

Cheers,

AndyB

[ukandyb]

Hi All,

Well the motor decided to totally die, ie smoke was wafting up from the inside of the tailgate which put the willies well and truly up my ten year old, not to mention me.

So I had to remove the motor quickly! Following some instructions sent to me I got the rear panel off and isolated the very hot motor. Getting the wiper arm off was the worst part and I had to resort to a junior hacksaw, but as the motor was well and trully shot so nothing lost there.

Looking through the site sponsors I tried to contact a couple to get a factor type motor, but the C6 motor is not quite the same (I'm told) as the rest of the Audi range. So I called Stafford Audi and was presently surprised.:D

I spoke to Paul in the Parts department (i) he was happy to do mail order and (ii) at the mention of the VWAForum he knocked 10% off straight away!

He ordered in the motor, called me when it came in to arrange payment and get details and posted it the same day. They charged £4.80 P&P (the postage alone was £3.30 so £1.50 for the pain of wrapping & posting was very reasonable).

I also asked about a new wiper arm but was told they are £30 so I said I would try and drill out the wiper shaft. Luckily I have access to a workshop at work, so that is what I have done - if it fails I have lost nothing...

So I now have a working rear wash wipe, but I'm yet to tackle getting the trim panel back on, that wil be this weekends task if the weather stays dry!

Cheers, AndyB

[archie456]

Hi Andy

I've got the same problem, and have just today failed to get the trim off.

Would you be able to forward me the details of how to remove it please?

My email is alan dot bunker1 at btinternet dot com.

Cheers

Alan

[archie456]

Hi Andy

Thanks for the info, I'm making some progress now.

Cheers

Alan

[skids63]

Hi

would it be possible to send those instruction through to me as well please...?

my email is carl at acskidmore plus net
Many thanks in advance.

Will start new thread - think that's how I'm supposed to do this

Cheers

Carl

[ukandyb]

Hi Carl,

As you are the second person to ask thought it easier to post my files (thanks to Peter D) and lessons learnt.

Please find attached the files I was sent, you can open then using Microsoft Office Document Imaging presuming you have MS Office.

Sorry if this is teaching Grandma to suck eggs but, stuff to add to the instructions (Trim 2)

1. Try and remove the rear wiper arm first, before you remove any trim. Mine was totally stuck and I ended up having to cut the shaft with a junior hacksaw and then reaming out the shaft from the arm. It was worth doing as the rear wiper arm alone is £30. Don't drop the nut that holds the arm on, you don't get a new one with a replacement wiper motor!

2. If you have a powered tail gate remember to lever the button out and disconnect the switch.

3. After you have removed the 6 torx head screws also remove the red bulb holders from both sides.

4. After you have detached the spring clips it will (if it is like mine) be hanging but you will be unable to release it. I had to remove the screws shown as part #3 in Trim 1 and then wiggle it off. Not extreme force but more than a gentle pull.

5. If you have a powered tail gate remember to reconnect the switch now so you can operate the tailgate.

6. Removal of the motor is simple, first disconnect the electrical connector, then the screen wash pipe and finally the 3 bolts 13mm if I remember correctly, again don't lose the nuts.

I drove around for almost a week before the new motor came and all I did was place black insulating tape over the hole that the wiper shaft used. I just replaced the bulb holders and made sure the boot light leads were taped up so they would not be crushed and that I could still operate the tailgate button without it getting crushed.

Once the motor came, replacement is as they say in Haynes the reversal of removal, but not quite....with the bulb holders removed again, any taping of boot light leads removed and the power tailgate switch removed.....

1. Useful tip, once you have fitted the motor, don't fit the wiper arm but do connect the electrics and pipe. Operate the motor once, then refit the wiper arm this way you are sure the motor is in the parked position when you fit and there is little to no risk of the position being wrong.

2. Next I offered up the trim panel (part 10 Trim 1) to get it over the lip, then reinserted the bolts (part 3 Trim 1) while pulling the panel down to allow access. Method of balancing trim on my head while using a flexi-driver achieved this, but did get a few scraped knuckles!

3. Remember to now slide the lock cover on or you will end up having to partially take it apart again (as I did!).

4. You now have to line up the spring clips, I did this one by one with a long screwdriver. Once they were each in line a firm tap with my hand on the back on the trim panel engaged them. Depending on light levels you may need a torch to peer into the gap.

5. After all sping clips in place, replace the 6 torx heads, the rear lights bulb holders, the light cover trim panels, the boot lights and the tailgate switch.

Hope this helps.

AndyB

[SimonsAudi]

I've been doing a few jobs on my audi allroad (2006) recently like changing a couple of heater plugs 4 & 5 which I was quoted £160 to do (took me 5 minutes once I'd figured out how to do it, and £30 for the plugs). As I was unable to get hold of any workshop manual I tried these forums as I needed to get the xenon ballast out (Audi had diagnosed it as the reason why xenon headlight wasn't working - and it would have cost £300 for part plus £170 labour all plus VAT), which it turns out is a bumper out job. Found some info on Audizone with photos, and got a genuine ballast online for £100 + vat. Changed the ballasts over etc. to find out it wasn't the ballast at all, but was the bulb, which I've now ordered on line for £45.
My rear wiper failed about a year ago and with my new enthusiasm for saving vast amounts of money with a little effort I've started getting the trim out. However, I'm having problems with this and would be grateful if someone could convert the images about taking the trim off into jpg images, as I am unable to open them as they are.

Simon

[ukandyb]

Have converted the files to pdf.

AndyB

[bigtimz]

I took mine apart yesterday as in recent weeks i have had --

1.The washer hose split as it passes over the tailgate hinge, which filled the wheel arch area with fluid but thankfully missed the amp.

2. Rapid battery draining, meaning minutes in between 100% and draining down to 10%.

The hose i fixed ok but was going to book the car in re the battery discharge problem. I have however narrowed the discharging problem down to only happening when the tailgate has been opened.

Having read this thread i thought i would see if there was any thing obvious happening under the tailgate trim.
On removal the rear /inside of the trim was slightly damp but heavily stained with rust water marks , these all stemmed from the rear wiper motor area. I then removed the metal cover plate on the wiper its self to find mostly rust orange grease and plenty of water.

So my thinking is, the design is very poor and washer fluid passes through the motor mechanism and now due the wear it passes some fluid into the motor every time you use the washer. When i lift the tailgate the water runs towards the elecrical connections inside the motor and rapidly drains the battery.
Is my thinking stupid?

Has any one fitted a stand alone washer jet in the sline roof spoiler or elswhere on the tailgate?
Buying a new motor is ok at around £100.00 but it will only get rid of the problem for 3-4 years . Then you are back to the same problem . As you can tell i intend keeping mine for a few years.


p.s I have now removed the wiper motor fuse and will try a combination of things to test my own thinking, but in the mean time please feel free to tell me to stop wasting my time and just buy a new motor anyway.

[SimonsAudi]

Hi Andy
Thanks that's great (I recently got an apple mac, and my pc doesn't seem to have a full version of office). I got as far as removing one of the screws (no.3) in trim 1, as you suggested in your instruction 4, as theres no way the trim would shift, so I'll remove the other one tomorrow and try again (these screws are bit difficult to remove as I have to bend the trim out a long way to get a mini ratchet in -I could probably do with the flexi-driver you suggest). I'm wondering if the fact that mine has a rear window blind may provide any more complications, or whether this and the vinyl covered trim which sits on top of the plastic trim all comes out together with trim part 10.

Simon

[SimonsAudi]

Thanks Andy. Got as far as removing one screw no 3 in trim 1, will remove the other one and try again tomorrow with a bit of wiggling. I just did a reply but it disappeared somewhere else, as you can see I'm new to forums. I suppose I should read the instructions.

Simon

[jabber2012]

Thanks guys, will try this procedure soon.

[spitfirefox]

This thread may be old, but still very relevant. I was trying it today and despite finding these instructions couldn't get the trim off - which seems to be a common problem.

So, a few things that would have helped me:

#1 When poking, prising, pulling, yanking etc, it's important to know that the entire boot trim is just 2 main parts - the bit that surrounds the sides/top of the rear window, and 'the rest'. While it appears to be a large black plastic main section, with a lighter trim on top under the window and a lighter trim at the bottom, around the catch and holding the 2 interior lights, they are all bonded together into one, so don't try to prise them apart.
#2 'The impossible bit" is separating the two parts - at least it was for me. I had no problem popping the spring clips, and things got a little easier after sliding them out of their holders and removing them completely. What's not described in the forum or the documentation is what's clipping the two bits together - and after an hour of creaking and bending, when I finally spotted it and tickled it with a screwdriver - the whole thing leaped off and nearly killed me.

Having said all that, it's hard to describe! The part around the sides of the window that is secured by the two screws you can see (but not get at) has some 'shoulders' that you can't see - and the lower boot trim you are trying to remove has two small triangular clips that hold onto the shoulders. What you want to do is wedge your fingers between the glass and the trim and lift it, releasing the clips from the shoulders - but you can't get your fingers in there. However, once the lights are out and spring clips are removed, you can see them and reach them from the inside and push them (kind of like seeing the fingers of someone hanging onto the other side of a wall, and just pushing them up) - BUT, you don't want to do this until you have secured the dangling trim to something, or got a helper to hold it, the release is quite instantaneous.

...now I just need to go work out what's actually leaking!

[Guest 2]

I take it you didn't look in the how to section?

VW AUDI Forum - VWAF (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?137070-Audi-A6-Avant-(-4F-C6-)-Rear-wiper-motor-removal-refurb-install)


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[spitfirefox]

Unfortunately it didn't come up in my search - but even that article doesn't mention these little shoulder clips I struggled with - I can well imagine that for some people it simply comes unclipped without ever having to give it a second thought.

I don't really know my way around the site yet - but will make sure I look in there next time - that's a beautifully documented piece :-)

[boidy]

took my motor off today, bought some pullers, no joy. took the hacksaw to it and drilled out the remainder from the wiper blade hole.
bought a new one for £70. my pipe had split so now i have to try and warm it so that i can push the white connector back in. At least it stops when it should now, was slowly driving me crazy, 1 flick and it wouldn't stop till i turned off the ignition.

[spitfirefox]

I changed the wiper 3 months ago - bought a beautiful little wiper & battery terminal puller to do it, but no amount of force or penetrating oil would convince it to budge...I used a dremmel to cut off the wiper arm which worked very well...far less destructive if you don't plan on replacing the motor.

[poosnip]

I had exactly the same issue with my c6 2007...same wiper behaviour! The pipe comes apart in the assembly and floods the motor electrics and eventually the boot lock! I was lucky that it only folded that area and not the electrics and Mmi gobbins!!!!

So I went to Audi.... And they relieved me of 248 squid for new motor and boot lock 😫


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[spitfirefox]

After I heard the water sloshing about in the lid, I removed one of the two small rubber bungs/feet/grommets at the bottom - this allows it to drain out and cause less damage until you get around to fixing it. I actually lost it, it pinged onto the lawn...but two new ones and a replacement grommet for where the wiper goes through the screen (just in case it's that, once i work out where the leak is coming from) cost me less that £3 from Audi.

[boidy]

I changed the wiper 3 months ago - bought a beautiful little wiper & battery terminal puller to do it, but no amount of force or penetrating oil would convince it to budge...I used a dremmel to cut off the wiper arm which worked very well...far less destructive if you don't plan on replacing the motor.

my motor was shot, it did what it wanted, when it wanted sometimes even without touching the stalk.