8 replies to this topic

[Liam Shannon]

Hi Guys,

 

Just a quick one, my windscreen wipers have stopped working. My first guess was that it would be the fuse (Haven't had time to check as just got to work) as my heater blower has stopped working as well (Instruments are fine, however). Also thought it could be the parking switch, but not sure. Is the parking switch visible without dismantling the motor? As right now I honestly can't remember where it is! 

 

Any ideas?

 

Cheers, guys.

 

Liam

[ado15]

Should you need to change it....

The park switch is the white (ish!) plastic block on the wiper motor where the wiring plugs in. You will need to remove the wiper motor from the car, but you don't need to dismantle it to replace the park switch. Prise the end up a little and it then slides along to remove it.

[Liam Shannon]

Cheers, Ado.

 

I was sure it was on/near the motor, but couldn't for the life of me remember.

 

Think the heater has stopped as well though so going to check fuses first.

 

Thanks again.

 

Liam

[cal844]

it will be number 2 fuse on a 4 fuse box, or a loose connection... check your horn aswell

[Liam Shannon]

Thanks, Cal. It was number 3 on my fuse box (4 fuse box). However, the guy who wired it up was really, really bad at it; so nothing is where it should be really. 

 

Either way, it was very visibly broken. Swapped the fuse now and all is running perfectly fine; well, they turned on anyway

 

Thanks guys.

 

Liam

[tiger99]

Just to let you know what to try if the fuse blows again. It may, or may not, but if it does, it may be because the wiper motor is overloaded because the rack and wheelboxes need lubrication. First symptom is that the wipers will be running a bit slower than normal.

 

Or, if the heater is on the same fuse on your model, check that the motor is spinning freely, and not jammed by dirt.

 

Your fuse should be between the light green-white, or maybe plain white, (from ignition switch) and light green-orange (feed to wipers and heater) circuits and should not involve the horn, which ought to be on the purple circuit, fed by its own fuse from the main battery feed (brown). Purple also feeds the interior light and headlight flasher, and some people use it to feed the radio too. Provided, of course, that previous owners have not messed about with it, which happens, then anything is possible.

 

The Mini wiring colours are to a BS standard, and can tell you everything about the circuit to which they belong. They are consistent across all models, where particular things are fitted of course.

[ado15]

I can't remember that last time I saw a Mini with 'standard' wiring! Far too many are covered in ScotchLoks 

[Liam Shannon]

Haha, very true, Ado 

 

Good advice, Tiger. I'll make time this weekend anyway and take the motor out. I very much doubt it's ever had a clean before I bought it so it can't hurt either way. 

 

Thanks, Tiger 

[tiger99]

Bicycle grease containing Teflon (PTFE) may improve the action of the wiper drive rack, as it lowers friction, but don't get it near hot surfaces such as the exhaust. Last time I bought some, it was from Halfords, which some people here seem to hate.