Windscreen Wiper

[The Jays]

Hi
My mercedes C180 windscreen wiper is not minimising properly as it sweeps past the central point so is going over the windscreen edges. I followed the instructions in a previous post for a sticky windscreen wiper and it has helped a bit but I am still getting the problem of 'over-sweeping'. Has anyone got any ideas or am I in for an expensive part?
Thankyou

 

[television]

Hello, is it doing this on both sides

 

[BlackC55]

The mechanism needs proper lubrication or replacement

 

[Aussie Nick]

Hi i have an earlier post concerning this. It sound to me that this wiper mechanism has been off at some time and disassembled. When it was reassembled it was not done correctly. There are two or three timing marks on the alloy frame arm where the wiper gears and wiper arm is attached and some more marks on the wiper arm gear itself. These consit of a series of raised dots.Before the wiper arm will operate in the W motion one has to ensure that the timing marks are aligned properly.If they are not you will get the wiper arm sweeping past the edges of the windscreen. Check that you have the prescribed MB wiper rubber as in my experience using a non compliant model, even if they say it is for your model, may run the blade slightly past the edges of the windscreen as well. If you take the mechanism apart ensure to use a waterproof grease usually coloured blue on all moving parts as necessary. Its a bit messy but you will not regret it.

 

[C220GJS]

Have a look here;http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=29809&highlight=wiper+sychronisation .

 

[Dec]

Hi
My mercedes C180 windscreen wiper is not minimising properly as it sweeps past the central point so is going over the windscreen edges. I followed the instructions in a previous post for a sticky windscreen wiper and it has helped a bit but I am still getting the problem of 'over-sweeping'. Has anyone got any ideas or am I in for an expensive part?
Thankyou

The over sweeping is caused by the failure of a coged gear wheel in picture here… http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=33384 this wheel is slipping on its shaft, it is responsible for sliding the blade out and in and because of its failure the blade hits the side trim. Lubricating sometimes improves the situation but the problem is likely to return.

A temporary fix is possible if a lolly pop stick (or similar) is taped to one of the sliding guides so as to stop the sliding action of the mechanism. I had the same problem as you, this method worked fine and allow me to drive in rain until I got a replacement some months later.

Dec

 

[The Jays]

Hello, is it doing this on both sides

Yes hitting both n/s & o/s pillars although every now and then it will sweep correctly!:roll: Any ideas?

 

[Dec]

Hi Jays

I was wondering if you looked at the link in my previous post? The picture in that post explains how to stop the wiper hitting the side trim.

Dec

 

[television]

Dec's post will work as a temporary fix but the part should be replaced as it is worn

 

[Dec]

Thanks Malcolm for your endorsement, the whole mechanism will indeed need to be replaced if you want the in -out feature fixed but you can in theory drive forever with this fix, but the sweep of the blade will be an arc instead of the “w” sweep.

Dec

 

[Aussie Nick]

Hi Dec. I thought your suggestion a good one and innovative.Here in Australia Ive seen machines held together with chewing gum or resin and continue working for quite some time. However I dont think Malcolm was having a shot at you, and as you have indicated it, the correct approach is to replace the gear drive if that is in fact the problem. Having taken one of these contraptions apart, it was interesting to see that the main support assembly is very thin alloy which I was informed was, of very poor quality. Indeed one engineering establishment I visited refused to attempt a tig weld of the assembly on the grounds that it was such a poor quality alloy.This was not a good endorsement of MB. I suppose most people who drive MBs wont ever find out and therefore the manufacturer will produce a cheap part. I didnt think this applied to MB but here it is.
Further the clips that hold the plastic cover just behind the firewall are almost impossible to undo. There is little if any space behind the central firewall to get any sort of tool to unclip the cover without damaging the clips.There is then the problem of getting the same clips (some of which are now broken) back on> The Manufacturer must know all this as it is so obvious. So how can it be put that is good engineering.

 

[Dec]

Hi Nick
I didn’t think for one minute Malcolm was having a shot at me, I thought he was agreeing with my fix. What part of the assembly were you referring to in relation to tig welding? I agree with you about the clips breaking, I broke 2 when I removed the assembly, I think the plastic just dyes out over time and becomes brittle.

Dec

 

[MB3004U]

Lubrication is the answer.

 

[The Jays]

Hi Jays

I was wondering if you looked at the link in my previous post? The picture in that post explains how to stop the wiper hitting the side trim.

Dec

Hi, Yes, thanks for the detail. I'm stripping it all down I think at the weekend - will hopefully fix it. Many thanks for your advice.

 

[The Jays]

Hi
Thanks. I've greased all the bits and it has helped a little. Hoping to try the re-synchronisation next!! Just could do with some lighter nights.

 

[FIBAMAN]

I had exactly the same probs with mine and it was only cured by fitting a new unit (second hand actually, fitted by friendly MB tech in his spare time for much less than new one). I put the original failure down to lack of lube by MB (car was serviced by Merc upto 100,000 miles, wipers went at 98,000, car serviced by me since 100,000 and second hand wipers still goin at 210, 000 miles).)

 

[The Jays]

I had exactly the same probs with mine and it was only cured by fitting a new unit (second hand actually, fitted by friendly MB tech in his spare time for much less than new one). I put the original failure down to lack of lube by MB (car was serviced by Merc upto 100,000 miles, wipers went at 98,000, car serviced by me since 100,000 and second hand wipers still goin at 210, 000 miles).)

Thanks for your info. What part exactly did you replace? Been through Haynes manual and the pics aren't very clear as to which parts are which and what they are called. Am hoping to try the re-synch today but may have to resort to replacement as you advise. Thanks

 

[Aussie Nick]

Hi dec .Sorry for misunderstanding. The alloy frame on which the wiper assembly is attached . Mine cracked through and separated. it caused the wiper arm to go all over the place .

 

[Aussie Nick]

Hi Dec Again . I forgot to mention that you can plastic weld the clips back on using a soldering iron and some resin for insurance

 

[Dec]

I see Nick, the are a right pain, you would never weld that alloy stuff. My clips are sitting o.k. so I won’t worry about them.

Dec