Technical Wiper Linkage

[Hugh Snape]

About a mile away from home in the pouring rain last night, my wipers stopped working.

Morning light and a dismantling session revealed that the linkage had come apart (the motor is fine)

Although I could bodge up the linkage to get it working again, I really needs replacement. Now the crunch, a new replacement linkage from Fiat (part no. 9947464) comes in at £174.25 + VAT.

I'd like to pay a bit less than this if possible; I've tried DTR this morning (they have supplied good second hand parts to me before) but neither branch is answering the phone (could the recession have closed them...I hope not.

So I wondered if any one on the list might have ideas?

Best Wishes

Hugh

 

[Zem]

There is always Barchettaparts, as Matt has 'donated' his b for spares, the wiper linkage could still be available.

 

[Alan.D]

:yeahthat:
Don't forget to ask for discount

 

[LittleRedB]

Also, although the motor has not stopped working check that the spindles are OK - they are prone to water ingress and rust from the inside out!

 

[Hugh Snape]

Well I had to bite the bullet and buy a new linkage, or "plate" as the part is described by Fiat (Fiat part number G0009947464, but varies depending on VIN number) from Vospers, Plymouth (our local Fiat and Ford dealer) at around £200 all in.

Sadly despite much 'phoning around, including a call to DTR, that was the best price I could find.

When fitting it I smothered every bit of concealed bare metal with Keenol (marine waterproof grease) The worst corrosion was to the nut under the domed cover beneath the centre wiper blade. this nut had to be split when I was removing the old linkage and rust from it has stained the paintwork on the body panel that covers the wiper linkage and motor, as other owners will know rainwater settles in the little "wells" where the wiper spindles protrude.

For anyone else contemplating this job and finding they too need to replace the nut described above be aware that it does not come as part of the linkage and is a seperate part.

Not surprisingly Vospers did not have this nut in stock, but what they did have was a similar item for the Ford Fiesta (Ford part number F1090355 888216) which does the job just as well (it's a different sized nut but with the same thread) and is apparently widely held in stock because of a Fiesta recall some years ago.

If you do need to work on your wiper linkage or motor I would suggest replacing the non return windscreen washer valve at the same time. My old one disintegrated when I tried to disconnect the plastic pipes from it. The replacement (Fiat part number G0046418009) was only £2.35 and I now have a better washer flow than I have had for years.

Best Wishes


Hugh

 

[LittleRedB]

Good stuff Hugh, thanks for the write up

 

[CharlieBrown]

Not sure specifically which part you are referring to in this thread but...

My wipers have ceased to work too, but the cause is the arm which 'pops' on to the wiper motor rotary arm (and links about 20cm away to the wiper pantagraph) is continually popping off.

Is this what you are on about here? If not, are these arms available separately? Or indeed, just a new plastic 'cup' assy to fit onto the link!?!

I would drill through the whole damn lot and loosely fit a small bolt through it just to hold it together but.......... my centre wiper retaining bolt is siezed up so I can't get the panel off in it's entirety!!!

That (and the very handy tip for a replacement part!) can hopefully wait, but I need to fix the bloody wipers first!

 

[CharlieBrown]

Well... I had to grind/split the centre wiper spindle retaining nut, not too difficult, and discovered that the centre assembly was corroded to within an inch of it's life

I got the wiper mechanism off in about 10 minutes, but it then took about another hour to remove the centre (passenger side) spindle from the mechanism. With the circlip/washer and the stagnant remains of the sealing rubber 'O' ring seal removed, I had to put a 22mm double-depth socket on a 12" extension bar and use this leverage to rotate the ball-joint arm up and down while spraying approx a whole can of WD40 down it. Hammer also used! Cleaned the spindle up a treat with fine glass paper and one of the Mrs' nail buffers and was looking forward to non-juddery wipering for a few years!

All was fine until I ran a good nut down the tired looking thread to clean it up a bit and, when trying to remove said nut, the spindle assembly snapped off probably weakened by rust, the friction heat from removing the spindle, and the fact it's made from crap metal about a micron thick.

I cannot believe the price of these pantograph assemblies :bang: £180+VAT for the mechanism, or £225+VAT for the assy and the wiper motor (which would seem a sensible proposition given the grief it would have had trying to move that siezed spindle for God knows how long! and the fact that motors are +£100 on their own). That price was pretty standard throughout Fiat dealers/Solo Italia (Oxford)/DTR.

Oh well..... I will shortly have absolutely perfect wipers, and maybe a wiper assembly to sell on eBay for spares/repair!

The moral of this story is to listen to the advice across a couple of threads on here, and make cleaning/greasing this assembly a part of your annual self-service routine.