Front wipers failed and won't work [1.9tdi][06]

Hi all,

Hope everybody is good!

Not so much my gf. The wipers in her A3 stopped working as I was driving it. They stopped at the top, moved about 2 inches and then stopped again. That was it. I lowered them by hand and as they are at the bottom position, now I can move them at all.

From what I learned so far is that this model doesn't have a fuse not even a relay. Apparently the front wipers are controlled via the ecu. Is this correct?

This is incredibly annoying. Such a small thing, yet so dangerous... We can't drive like this...

The rear wiper works fine and I can hear the clicking noise from the fuse 'box'.

Please don't tell me I'm gonna have to go to Audi garage...

Is it fixable?

Thanks in advance!

The wiper mechanism in Audi's are known to fail but check the motor before buying a replacement mechanism.
Not dobe an A3 but my A4 was a bugger to do...

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What happens to the mechanism? Taking the wiper off is a pain.
I'll check it tomorrow.

A few decades ago a chap would have taken dodgy wipers, lights, shattered toughened windscreens and other minor maladies in his stride without sounding a bit, well, hysterical. Anyway, the usual fault is either the bonnet switch, seized drivers side spindle or failed motor. If the bonnet switch was at fault the dashboard would say it was open and they still work at speed and if it was a seized spindle you would not be easily able to move them so it sounds like a failed motor. A new motor from Audi is around £235 and takes about an hour to install but the Audi system says just over half an hour which is a little optimistic! The motor is not available aftermarket as far as I can see. If it is the spindle that is seized, the you have to buy a complete new frame assembly that comes complete with the new style more reliable motor for.....errr.....the same price as the old style motor WITHOUT the frame, well that's just daft! The complete system is Audi part number 8P2 955 023 N.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crasher

A few decades ago a chap would have taken dodgy wipers, lights, shattered toughened windscreens and other minor maladies in his stride

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Showing your age now Steve.
I would bet on a siezed frame.



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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Crasher

A few decades ago a chap would have taken dodgy wipers, lights, shattered toughened windscreens and other minor maladies in his stride without sounding a bit, well, hysterical. Anyway, the usual fault is either the bonnet switch, seized drivers side spindle or failed motor. If the bonnet switch was at fault the dashboard would say it was open and they still work at speed and if it was a seized spindle you would not be easily able to move them so it sounds like a failed motor. A new motor from Audi is around £235 and takes about an hour to install but the Audi system says just over half an hour which is a little optimistic! The motor is not available aftermarket as far as I can see. If it is the spindle that is seized, the you have to buy a complete new frame assembly that comes complete with the new style more reliable motor for.....errr.....the same price as the old style motor WITHOUT the frame, well that's just daft! The complete system is Audi part number 8P2 955 023 N.

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Thanks Crasher. I checked the bonnet sensor as well and it seems to work fine.
I'm not planning to spend any more than £35 quid on this.

You can get a gallon of WD40 for 35 quid, it won't fix your gf's wipers tho

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zYx

Thanks Crasher. I checked the bonnet sensor as well and it seems to work fine.
I'm not planning to spend any more than £35 quid on this.

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My point being is that I just learned that the wiper motor was replaced a few years ago already. This is clearly a design flaw and Audi should be paying for it hence I said I will not spend more than £35.

As I was going though its service history my question now is: What's not going wrong with audis? The amount of servicing required with this car is just unbelievable. £235 for fixing their failure? I don't think so.

I will end up looking for it at scrap yards.

Edit: I just realized that the motor is still working, but the mechanism isn't moving at all. Is it fixable or replaceable?

Have you taken the wipers off ?
Can you see the spindles the the wipers bolt to turning ?

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I haven't done that yet as we've got another car.

I'll take it of in the week and if it is seized I'll try to fix it.

What actually seizes in the mechanism?


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