Technical Really noisy wiper engine!

[Ghostlove]

Hi everyone, I'm new. I passed my driving test on the 12th of this month and yesterday bought my first proper car, a 1998 Fiat Punto 1.2 (SX 85 16V, if that means anything to anyone else!).

Everything about it is wonderful so far, except for one thing. The windscreen wipers are noisy. I mean, really, really noisy. My fiancé thinks it's the wiper engine that is making the noise, and it's really distracting when driving.

I was wondering if there was anything I could do to fix this? Could a new wiper engine be the answer? If so, how much is this likely to cost? Bearing in mind I know next to nothing about cars right now so would probably have to have someone else do it for me!

Thanks in advance for any help. This looks like a really useful forum, I think it's going to be really helpful for me and I look forward to getting to know you all.

 

[rallycinq]

Welcome.

Wiper motor could be the problem, so break out the spanners.

Disconnect the linkage from the motor. Operate the wipers.

If the noise goes away, you know its the spindles, if the noise is the same you know its the motor.

Cheers

D

 

[Ghostlove]

Okay, let's assume I'm a total newbie. How exactly would I do that? (Sorry, I know I'm crap!)

 

[SouLz]

Okay, let's assume I'm a total newbie. How exactly would I do that? (Sorry, I know I'm crap!)

Basically if you pop the bonnet theres like a black grill where the 2 wiper arms go into and which is also where water drains through the bottom of the car..

There should be 3 (or 4 cant remember) screws holding the black grill on. Undo them to remove.

I dont think you can remove it without taking the wiper arms off but thats not a problem..

Push it up a bit so you have access underneath and you should see a black box (which is a cover to the wiper motor) and also metal arms that connect to the bottom of the wiper arms..

Dissconnect these arms and then try your wipers. If its still noisy like he said, its the motor making the noise. If its not then its to do with the linkage and the arms.

 

[Ghostlove]

Thanks so much SouLz, that's really helpful. My fiance has taken the car to work today but tomorrow I'll have a go at it.

Once I know whether it's the motor or the linkage/arms, what do I do? Are either of those things fixable at home, or will I have to take it to the garage?

 

[MadMan0]

hi there,
I had the same issue with my mk1 punto. The cause was that the drainage holes in the tray under the windscreen became blocked by leaves and dirt, so when it rained heavy this would flood the tray drowning the wiper motor.

After cleaning the motor best i could the wipers would jerk, stop or not work on intermit and slow settings, on Fastest it would work but be very noisy.

This could only be fixed by replacing the motor - £30 from eurocarparts.com (New), to get to motor, undo the screws on the tray under windscreen, disconect the washer tube conecting to the bonnet (bonnet up) then pull the plastic tray off, you can bend it quite far as required.

Once off you will be able to see the motor and linkage, you could try putting oil on the linkages and trying it to see if it helps. but u might need a new wiper motor

Hope this helps

 

[fingers99]

If it's the mechanism -- Mk2 mechanisms are notorious -- do a search here -- there is a firm supplying imroved mechanisms remarkably cheaply.