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Wiper motor and blowing fuses?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 4:12 pm
by Mike Attew
Today I was out and it started raining, wipers didn't work and I found the fuse blown again. Replaced the fuse and wipers worked for about 10 minutes and blew another fuse. At home checked it out and replaced the fuse, lubricated linkages and replaced the fuse and it ran for a 1/4 hour ok. Had a cuppa and went out and thought I would try them again and they didn't work. The fuse had blown again.

Anybody had something similar?

Re: Wiper motor and blowing fuses?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 6:23 pm
by droopsnoot
Possibly the motor itself if the linkages are free, or check the loom in case there's a problem where it comes through the bulkhead. Unlikely to be that if it's being left running when the car isn't moving, and fails after a while. Is the motor hot when the fuse blows?

Re: Wiper motor and blowing fuses?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 6:26 pm
by rizzo
Sounds like your motor is probably working under load, ie seizing up, hence blowing a fuse, as long as your wiper spindle and linkage are free, ie very little resistance, (check by disconnecting from the motor and lift blades off the screen) i would be looking for another motor.

Re: Wiper motor and blowing fuses?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 7:56 pm
by 1972nail
I would agree about the motor being suspect, but check earths and the bulkhead connections as well. Any resistance will draw extra current and put strain on the fuse.

I've just checked and there should be nothing else on Fuse 3 apart from the washer motor. If that wasn't activated then it is probably OK.

The wiper switch itself may be at fault by causing a short across the 2 speeds at once. A clean around the connections and if you can strip the switch down to clean internally then that would be advised.

I do have a good supply of 35A fuses but you would be best to check as much as you can before risking another.

Re: Wiper motor and blowing fuses?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 8:40 pm
by Mike Attew
I have removed the motor tonight to check tomorrow, I will then check the switch. The connections to the motor weren't too cracky either. I also only have the old push washer system. I will let you know how I get on. Just annoying as I can't go out if it's raining.

Re: Wiper motor and blowing fuses?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 8:50 pm
by 1972nail
So your wipers are on a rocker switch? I would definitely take that apart to clean.

Re: Wiper motor and blowing fuses?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 8:58 pm
by rizzo
Mike Attew wrote:I have removed the motor tonight to check tomorrow, I will then check the switch. The connections to the motor weren't too cracky either. I also only have the old push washer system. I will let you know how I get on. Just annoying as I can't go out if it's raining.

:shock: you take your HB out in the rain? :o

Re: Wiper motor and blowing fuses?

PostPosted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:24 am
by HC Fairley
I broke my stalk a while ago and wired my wipers up through a rocker switch on the dash. Had a switch melt on me one night about a year ago...

I'm assuming it was because of how dirty it was because the new one got cleaned before installation and I've had no problems this last year and I drove it daily then so it was in the rain A LOT :imsmiling:

Re: Wiper motor and blowing fuses?

PostPosted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 8:04 am
by Mike Attew
rizzo wrote:
Mike Attew wrote:I have removed the motor tonight to check tomorrow, I will then check the switch. The connections to the motor weren't too cracky either. I also only have the old push washer system. I will let you know how I get on. Just annoying as I can't go out if it's raining.

:shock: you take your HB out in the rain? :o


It was sunny when I left, 3 miles down the road it was raining. :(

Re: Wiper motor and blowing fuses?

PostPosted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 12:55 pm
by Mike Attew
Stripped and rebuilt motor and switch, somebody had been a bit generous with grease in the past and one brush had stuck, switch was clean, however after checking the motor my wipers have never returned home when the switch was turned off, it was all ok in the motor but I found the switch was wired wrong. All seems ok now, no fuse blown today [ touch wood ]