C280Sportster

The car is a 1998 C280, the wiper motor was replaced 2 years ago. So the current motor isn't very old.

So we get some snow and ice and now my single windshield wiper stops working. When I turn on the wiper I can hear the motor running but the wiper doesn't move. I can move the wiper by hand (there is no resistance), I think somehow the wiper has "unhooked" itself from the motor. Suggestions?

f4i 954

If you are lucky the wiper transmission does not have any damage.
Remove the cover from wiper (close to the midle), then remove the wiper (there is a 5mm alen holding it (dont brake the windshield).
With the wiper blade removed (complete) use a hook remove the bige black cover by pulling it up & lube everyting you see, operate the motor & stop it to lube other areas.
If this does not help you will need a new wiper transmission.

C280Sportster

So even if I can hear the wiper "transmission" humming it might still be broken. When my wiper went out 2 years ago I didn't hear any sounds - now I hear a hum when I turn on the wiper. That's why I have a little hope that I can fix it (or it's an easy fix). If the wiper transmission isn't toast, do you think it just needs lube? Could something have been disconnected?



Thank you

f4i 954

The hummin is the wiper trying to move.
They are very strong motors, if you keep tring to work it somting is going to give (the motor will fry or the trany will brake).
If you can get it to work by doing what i said in the post (with out any jerking) the trany is ok, if not you have to inspect it further.

C280Sportster

I'm working on this today, F4i_945 thanks a lot I'm going to go outside and follow your directions.

....


Ok, I got the plastic off, I can see the inside of the wiper. What can I do now? I don't think this is a lube problem, when I switch on the wipers I hear a hum but thats all.

The wiper doesn't move? What is my next step? Could something be disconnected under the wiper? Is the transmission bad?

f4i 954

With out the wiper blade, turn the wiper on & try to help it with your hand.
If it starts to move by it self lube it.
If you can not move it. Somting else is wrong.

There is very little chance that somting is disconnected.

C280Sportster

Ok, no luck, the wiper is removed and I turned it on and I helped it. It never moved on it's own. I can hear the motor hum when I switch the wiper on. Seems like their are 3 parts, the upper/outside wiper part, the tranny part, and the motor. Maybe the dealer only replaced the motor 2 years ago and now the tranny has failed.

I found this old link: http://members.lycos.nl/mbenz/windshield_wiper.htm

which shows what is under the air intake cover. They mention that a bolt could be loose, etc. It's been freezing all day today. Tomorrow it will go up to 40F and I will take the intake sections off and have a look at the motor, etc.

Following what is on that website, am I heading in the right direction?



Thank you again.

f4i 954

That is a realy good link.
Before you take anyting apart thake a good look how the ransmission is on the park position, if you have to go in there check if the nut beind the motor is tight (could have come loose).
If you remove the motor from transmission (to check with the aid of another person make shore you stop it with the switch, not the key).
If the motor works ok, try moving the transmission by it self with your hand.
If you find the problem, before assembling all the panels recheck it several times (to make shore its timed right).
One more thing you said it`s cold (that cowl could be very bridle when cold).

C280Sportster

Thanks again. I'm hoping I can fix this myself.

SMARTSSUCK

If you can move the wiper by hand, the motor is toast, thats assuming
nothing is disconnected.

fixbenz

if you can hear the motor running than its not the motor..obviously...
i had the exact same problem on a 202 chassis a few weeks ago i got to the transmission assembly and found the nut that retains the rotating assembly to the wiper to be loose..i re tightened it and it fixed the problem...

you will need to remove the plastic cowling below the front of the windshield in order to do this...








heh i get a kick out of reading all these posts on this forum site....
some of the posts are just off the wall. ........i'll leave it at that