General Problems with electrics

[Leo_S]

Hello, I've got an R reg 1.6 Bravo 16v and it's recently developed a problem with the electrics. Whenever I try to turn the rear wipers on, it turns on the light on the rear de-mister switch but neither the de-mister nor the rear wipers work.

Is this a common problem with the Bravo and is it relatively easy to fix myself or would it be best taking it to a garage?

Thanks

 

[jug]

its so common you can almost guarantee it will happen on any bravo at least once. its also so common that you cant have read any of the dozens of threads about it. tut tut :nono:

its usually due to the water pipe coming off and wetting the motor, causing electrical shorts and often destroying the wiper motor.

replace the rear wiper motor (or lubricate and test it first, it may still work once dried and lubricated). also glue the water pipe back in place to prevent it coming off again.

 

[abyss113]

ah but jug that isnt the problem this is the one i have had its the terminal on the boot that has overheated very easy fix open your boot and next to your boot lock where you have 4 gold terminals unscrew this and pull it out and have a look for the melted plastic it will be there and just clean the points and rewire or go to scrappy and get a new terminal

 

[jug]

very true. thats a common cause of the constantly popping fuse problem. when the wiper circuit shorts into the demister circuit due to damp it causes the tailgate contacts to heat up and melt. the fuse usually pops before it causes any real damage.