C-Class Sticky Wiper

[three pointed star]

Hello All. My trusty 95 C-Class has developed a sticky windscreen wiper, it jumps up as normal, but seems to stick and just about pull itself across the screen in a couple of places. Any ideas as to cause and fix? Thanks for looking.

 

[Aletank]

http://business.baylor.edu/Richard_Easley/autofaqs/wiper.htm

 

[EuroCLK320]

http://business.baylor.edu/Richard_Easley/autofaqs/wiper.htm

Thats an excellent write up.

 

[three pointed star]

Wiper Worries

Great work ALETANK, looks like I'll be getting my hands dirty this weekend. Hope it stays dry!!!! Thanks again.

 

[jonnyb1]

wd 40 on the wiper arm where it goes into the cylinder

 

[996jimbo]

Sticky wiper

I'm now starting to suffer from a sticky wiper. Unfortunately the link posted previously is no longer available.

Before I attack the front of my car with a philips screwdriver, does anyone have a cutaway diagram, or any diagram, or a procedure for dismantling the stuff I need to dismantle in order to get to the wiper mechanism?

Many thanks,
Jim

 

[pascal]

Thats a pity. Because that was very interesting article. I think it was more like a short story by a canadian Guy? But Jimbo my memory is not that good, so I could not do him any justice. But I would start by removing cover and freeing and greasing the cylinder.

 

[woodturner-fran]

turn on ignition, turn on wiper and then turn off ignition when wiper is half way across screen. Take the keys out of the ignition - you do not want the wiper mechanism to start moving when your fingers are near it!!!!

2 covers at the bottom of the wiper - pull up the upper one and place out of the way. Under this you will see an allen bolt - unscrew this and pull off the wiper arm - this can require a bit of shifting.

Next open the bonnet and put it up fully. Put your fingers under the bottom of the bottom cover of the wiper and prise it upwards - the bottom cover will lift up and then slide it forward and off. Make sure that the mechanism you can now see is well greased and that the piston that shoves the wiper in and out is well lubricated and moves freely. If this is in any way sticky etc etc it will affect the wiper movement and the gearing inside in the wiper motor (which is nylon, and if its stripped, no you can't just buy the nylon gear!). Its a good idea to do this at each service.

Reassemble and see if it makes a difference. If not, post back here and I can post instructions for going a little deeper.
Fran

 

[996jimbo]

Thanks all, will have a go this weekend. Presumably all the little plastic tabs are guaranteed to snap as I prise off the various plastic covers?

 

[joe bloggs]

You dont need to take the arm off the shaft, its got a habit anyway of springing down onto the glass and cracking it. 5 Min job, just pull the plastic cover off with the arm pointing at the top windscreen corner smear some grease on the shaft, work the arm back and forward, refit cover job done (wd 40 ok but it tends to wear off quickly)

 

[996jimbo]

Pulled off cover exposing shaft - no probs. Spent 10 mins with an Allen key trying to ease off cover at base of wiper arm. Gave up and just pulled it off - no probs. Nothing broken - result! I left the wiper attached which meant that I had to leave the lower cover loose but there was plenty of free play to move it out of the way.

Greased everything in site and will wait and see if the problem is cured.

Thanks again to all to helped

 

[c13tay]

Jimbo

my wiper is now a bit sticky - did this work ???

Chris

 

[996jimbo]

Yes!

It is a piece of cake and despite my misgivings was a 5 minute job. What you are greasing are the parts of the mechanism that allows the wiper arm to slide in and out. It is very straight forward. To get the plastic covers off pull them out slightly then off. I hate doing this as I expect to break off any tabs in the process however these covers are slightly more substantial than your average cover and didn't break when I got them off.

When you stop the wiper in the upright position (turn off ignition mid stroke and remove key) you will find that you can then move the wiper quite freely to improve access.

I didn't launch in to the rotating part of the mechanism which I assume entails removal of all sorts of plastic trim around the scuttle vents and which fortunately has proved unnecessary.

Good luck!

 

[c13tay]

Thanks Jimbo

Will give it a whirl at the weekend

 

[c13tay]

WOW - amazing how five minutes and a drop of 3-in-1 can make so much difference - not only is it not sticky now, its a hell of a lot quicker too

thanks

Chris