W124 headlamp wiper

[John Turner]

The wipers on my 1995 W124 Diesel estate do not wipe when the washer is activated even though lights are on, and washer sprays. Fuse OK and no obvious loose wires. I would be grateful if anybody can suggest a solution.
Thanks
John

 

[pascal]

Sounds like it could be the combination relay. I think it is in the box beside the main fusebox. It controls wipers, indicators, and headlight wipers. It doesn't alway effect them all at once. Sometimes the intermitant main wipers only.

Some members that are handy with soldering irons have repaired them. Take it out and have a look at the solders. You will know which one, when the indicators or/and main wiper intermitant stops working, but I think its in the middle.

 

[John Turner]

Thanks Pascal. I had a look in the relays box behind the fuse box, but could make no sense of it. My book (Bentley) suggests relay in position D might be relevant, but layout did not look like their pictures and I did not want to upset anything! Maybe an American layout was shown? Anybody know which relay might be at fault and how to test, barring getting a new one!
Thanks
John

 

[pascal]

You could remove one at a time, and check indicators after each removal.

Don't have a wiring diagram but; From my memory. N10 or something like that. There has been suggestions that there is a picture of a car towing a trailer/caravan. Do these 2 sets of nos. or the last 7 of them (210 821 00 47 or 201 821 02 47) mean anything. The relay can be taken apart whe removed, to see what the solder is like.

Pascal

 

[pascal]

Replacement part from www.eurocarparts.com states that it is the same relay for all W124s in RHD, so it is possible the US model is different. They charge £70 + vat for a replacement part(non oe), which seems very expensive. Should be able to pick up a used one from a scrappy for a tenner, or repair the one you have.

The US one may look like this:

 

[tom7035]

Thanks also from me Pascal, you've killed two birds with one stone here. My intermittent wipe ceased to function just the other day. Will check this relay tomorrow.

 

[pascal]

Hi Tom
A photo of the whole relay box would be nice for future ref. I dont have access to a W124 anymore.
Pascal

 

[tom7035]

Pics. en route via e-mail Pascal. (Hope you get them OK!)
Incidentally, once again you were spot-on, simply cleaned relay contacts and bingo, intermittent wipe OK! Great stuff this Electrical Contact Cleaner. Hope John was likewise with his headlamp washers.
I think it is grossly unfair that one man should know so much and another, like me, so little! (crawl)
Cheers, Tom.

 

[pascal]

The reason you could not upload the photo Tom, was because it was way too large in file size. (1.2mb). Thanks for all the photos

Pascal

If you need help with reducing the file size of your photos, PM me.

 

[John Turner]

Many thanks for these replies and the thumbnail picture, which when expanded did look like the contents of my relay box. I will remove the relay tomorrow and check it over. £70 for a new one is staggering! I will let you know if cleaning the contacts or soldering solves the problem.
Thanks
John

 

[pascal]

The one for the SL is only 40 odd quid, I see, and it says W124 also. Will check to see if it is the same part no.

 

[pascal]

£43.98 + vat from eurcarparts Part 452220010

prety sure it was £70 + vat yesterday.

Were the euroCP reading here last night and saw ye were all going to repair the old ones:-D

Anyway John. It maybe only the same as tom, bad contacts.


BTW Tom. regarding knowing so much. no. but not bad at finding what i dont know, with the help of my friend, Google. Also when we changed the forum, I had to read part of most of the threads on the whole site.

 

[tom7035]

Just as an aside, since removing all the relays, sprayng with cleaner etc, would you believe the tilt option on my sun-roof is now also operational! Never had the tilt working since the previous owner showed me!