Wiper (Front) Sweep Speed Slows Down

[Maggiemoo]

Golf MK 6 2012 - Front Wiper sweep speed starts off normal but gradually slows down (as if the battery was flat, this occurs with engine running driving on the motorway).

Intermittent mode: if the sensitivity button is altered the sweep speed increases back to normal and then gradually slows down again.
Number 1: if you select the stalk to position 2 then back to position 1 the sweep speed increases back to normal and then gradually slows down again.

The wiper motor has been replaced and all pivot points have been checked, lubricated and are free to move.

Does anyone have any experience of this issue and know what resolved the problem?

[Crasher]

My initial thought was seized spindles but obviously not, the motor is LIN BUS operated from the body control module so has this been checked for fault codes?

[Maggiemoo]

Spindles are fine and not seized, I've also plugged VAGCOM in and no fault codes apparent either.

They begin to sweep across the screen as normal speed, its only after a few minutes that the sweep speed slows down (as if the battery is flat).

[Crasher]

That is odd and an interesting one. With the engine running, I would start by tripping the bonnet catch and run the wipers whilst observing the voltage at the plug with a DMM, you would need to set up a water feed to keep the screen wet as running without the blades in contact with the screen isn’t going to apply the correct load and to rig up some sort of water defector for the heater intake. If you have an oscilloscope you could watch the LIN signal to see if it changes as the wipers slow down, there are some useful tutorials for checking these simple signals on YouTube.

[Maggiemoo]

Thanks, took a deeper look at it tonight, im now convinced its the linkage mechanism, although greased it upon replacement last year i think it must be just as bad as the one i removed.

Ive ordered another linkage off ebay (second hand), ill strip it right down clean and re lube it all up before installation, hopefully that should then be problem resolved.


many thanks for your help.

[Crasher]

I hate used parts, the amount of time they have lost me over the years is incalculable, I hope you didn’t pay too much for it, they are only £120 new.