Front wipers slow

**pricey** · 04-05-2007,07:59 PM

Not sure why but wipers on my audi a4 2003 are running slow and even stopping for periods then re-starting even on fast speed.Could anyone help, could this be motor, relay or wiper mechanism? Cheers Pricey

**afourtuna** · 11-05-2007,12:48 PM

I had a similar problem recently with my 3 year old B6 - at first I noticed a slight squeaking noise when the wipers were on, which developed into an intermittant slowness, then all of a sudden (1 week AFTER my MOT!) they ground to a halt.

If I used the control in any way (like using the washer) then they would budge a little, but mostly they were stuck half way across the windscreen. The Audi garage said that it was the linkage that had seized up - kiss goodbye to £250. I think it is pretty poor that such a fault can happen on a relatively new car. My old Morris Marina lasted for 18 years, and was NOT a great car, but the wipers lasted 12 years or so.

If you are confident enough, you could try taking the wiper arms off, removing the top cover and applying a lubricant to the linkage pivots - it may help you resolve the original cause, and do so at your own risk. Best of luck to you.

**Boardboy** · 11-05-2007,03:16 PM

I would go for the linkage and where the splines come through the scuttle panel for the wiper arms to attach, like afourtuna says.
I had a problem with the rear wiper on my old Golf. The spline shaft run through a locating boss and had siezed. That start getting slower then finally stopped. Got it apart and gave it a good lube. Never had a problem after that.

Good luck with it, and hope you sort it.

Boardboy

**Sirius Black** · 05-08-2007,05:03 PM

The wiper linkage MUST be replaced because the bits where the arms attach seize and are near on impossible to get apart once seized. An audi dealer will tell you an expensive price for this part but the A6 linkage is exactly the same part, minus the conecting rods , part number 4B2 955 603B. It costs around £50 . (I used to work in an Audi dealer thats how I kknow)

**nomoretears** · 15-08-2007,05:27 PM

I had slow wipers on my 2002 A4 Avant until they finally packed in i.e. stopped mid-screen whilst on holiday in Glasgow.

Called the AA out and they said that the motor was goosed.

Called Glasgow Audi at Braehead first thing on Monday morning and they had the parts (motor and linkage) but couldn't fit the car in for a whole fortnight. Don't know what they expected me to do for two weeks.............only drive in the dry!!

Called Audi Stirling and got in that morning. Job took 2 hours and they relieved me of £300 from my wallet. (Labour at £60 per hour plus VAT).

Glasgow Audi advertise themselves as being the biggest dealership in Europe...that may be the case but they must have the smallest garage!!

**Jose** · 17-08-2007,02:17 PM

Originally Posted by nomoretears

I had slow wipers on my 2002 A4 Avant until they finally packed in i.e. stopped mid-screen whilst on holiday in Glasgow.

Called the AA out and they said that the motor was goosed.

Called Glasgow Audi at Braehead first thing on Monday morning and they had the parts (motor and linkage) but couldn't fit the car in for a whole fortnight. Don't know what they expected me to do for two weeks.............only drive in the dry!!

Called Audi Stirling and got in that morning. Job took 2 hours and they relieved me of £300 from my wallet. (Labour at £60 per hour plus VAT).

Glasgow Audi advertise themselves as being the biggest dealership in Europe...that may be the case but they must have the smallest garage!!

Bloody hell... that was expensive, I've done it recently and spend less than £70, got the stuff from the Audi dealer and fitted it myself.

Here its a DIY: http://www.audiworld.com/tech/misc44.shtml

Hope this help.

**tails** · 06-10-2007,05:32 PM

Nightmare!!!!! I spent 2 hrs removing the wiper linkage assembly on my B6 A4, removed the C clip and washer to strip the seazed spline and ended up cracking the housing trying to get the spline out....DOH! I suggest this is soaked in WD40 and left over night if it does not shift straight away.

Can anyone give me the part number off the linkage assembly as i managed remove the text off the part number label with all the WD40 usage.

Cheers.

**Gez** · 08-10-2007,07:37 PM

My 03 avant had slow front wipers, I gave them a good lube & are working fine since.

**aidanjaye** · 08-10-2007,09:51 PM

If you search back with rgds the problem then it has been covered before. Basically the wiper rods seize causing the motor to overload - wil restart after it cools down. Common problem on all B6 models. I attempted to fix it with a big hammer - not advisable as broke scuttle panel. Eventually got arms removed and lubed everything up, seem to work fine now.

**miniredcooper** · 19-11-2007,10:51 PM

Thanks for the advice folks - had exactly the same problem.

Got a local independent (Myre Motors, Kirkcaldy) to do the job for me at £40 for a strip down, re-grease and reassemble. At that price it wasn't worth me even lifting the bonnet.

The guy knew exactly what I was talking about when I phoned (as opposed to the dealer telling me the motor had gone)and said he had done several previously..

Goes to show that dealers not always right.....