BMW E46 Touring - troubleshooting a malfunctioning rear wiper

[billschusteriv]

So driving to work today, I was thinking that I should clean my rear window and was thankful that I have the rear wiper on the touring.

So, I pushed the turn signal stalk towards the dash and activated the rear wiper and rear washer fluid pump. Then I heard a clunk from the rear, looked in my rear view mirror and watched the windshield washer fluid continually discharge and my wiper arm stop at approximately the 12 oclock position. After a good minute the windshield washer fluid pump finally stopped pumping fluid.

http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad185/bill_schuster/IMG00200-20110214-0833.jpg

After arriving at work, I stopped and turned the car off. I got out and checked the wiper arm for movement - it seems to be locked in position; I can't forcibly rotate the wiper arm back to the rest position.

I also opened and closed the window and the hatch, thinking if the upper window was not completely closed that the wiper arm may have stopped.

I opened the fuse box and checked fuses 14 and 45 (IIRC) which are both listed as being for the rear wiper (touring only). Both look good (aside from discoloration from age) and for good measure I swapped these with other fuses).

I'm thinking there could be a few troubleshooting paths from this point forward.


The wiper arm motor is toast - needs replaced.
The connector supplying power to the wiper arm is loose, damaged, or disconnected.
The rear wiper position on the turn signal stalk is no longer functioning.


Considering the "clunk" I heard came from the rear, I'm assuming its #1 or related somehow to the rear window.

Any other thoughts? :confused

I think I might leave it - what do you think? May improve my drag coefficient and give me some moar rwhp or mpgs :biggrin

[danewilson77]

I like 1.

[billschusteriv]

Thanks Dane - I'm leaning that way too.

I've checked a few UK sites and I'm also finding that its possible for the window to be causing some drag on the wiper arm shaft. I'm going to disassemble, clean, lubricate and give it another shot. The only hang up I have with this - is that I haven't toasted any fuses yet.

FYI - Here's what I'm working with:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/g/y/71.png

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/s/x/141.png

The round "disk" on the motor (p/n 1) connects magnetically when the window closes to the wiper shaft pivot (p/n 2) in the upper picture - which drives the rear window wiper arm (p/n 1) in the lower picture.

[Mtnman]

Only number one makes logistical sense if you couldn't move the arm manually. Something has seized is my interpretation of events....

[billschusteriv]

Only number one makes logistical sense if you couldnt move the arm manually. Something has siezed is my interpretation of events....

Agree with your synopsis.

I got home tonight, popped the rear window, and started checking for interfering trim pieces on the hatch. To do this, I turned off the car, removed a trim piece, turned the key to auxilary, and depressed the stalk to activate the rear wiper.

At the top of the window, there is a trim piece on the hatch that has broken clips I thought could be interfering. Removed, closed the window, and tested - no change; the rear wiper didn't move.

I opened the rear window and started looking at the wiper assembly. With the window open, I was able to move the wiper arm freely from left to right. So I thought I should check the motor.

I moved the trim piece covering the motor and was unable to move the driveshaft for the motor with my bare hand. So I was thinking a bearing seized and was next going to consult the Bentley.

But then I remembered to test the rear wiper - so for grins, I left the rear window open and turned the key to auxilary to test the rear wiper. And the motor returned to the home position! So I manually moved the wiper arm and closed the window.

After it returned to the "normal" position, I decided to finish troubleshooting tomorrow and spend the rest of the evening with my wife and daughter.

I will likely attempt to use the rear wiper tomorrow.

I forgot to mention that this is a sudden change in behavior for the rear wiper. Never had any issues and I tend to use it frequently.

[danewilson77]

Sounds like you're getting closer.

[billschusteriv]

Sounds like you're getting closer.

Yes and meh. I tested the wiper yesterday and it returned to misbehaving. At least my rear window was cleaned in the process.

The rear wiper was dragging and hanging up slightly around the 12oclock position. No loud noises this time.

Haven't had time to disassemble the wiper and troubleshoot further yet - my wife bartered away my computer repair services to one of our friends for a massage for her. The laptop in question is acting up right now - its not pretty.

[Nivo]

check the nut holding the arm on or the splines.

[billschusteriv]

Will do - I'll let you know how it works out this weekend. Hoping to do this and an oil change.

Wiper is back at 12 oclock position. Can move the wiper clockwise the full range, but cannot return the wiper counter clockwise to the home position - the arm stops around the 12 oclock position, meeting resistance from the motor.

[billschusteriv]

Final update:

FIXED. For now.

I believe the overload on the rear wiper motor kept the seized arm from doing to much damage to the motor. The wiper arm shaft and assembly on the window was thoroughly soaked with penetrating fluid and moves freely now. The overload on the motor reset and returned the motor to the home position. The rear wiper moves as it should now.

We'll see how this behaves over the coming months. I'll post when and if I need to replace the wiper motor.

[danewilson77]

Good to hear Bill. It must be hell driving a car without a rear wiper...lol.

[mikeyb74]

Final update:

FIXED. For now.

I believe the overload on the rear wiper motor kept the seized arm from doing to much damage to the motor. The wiper arm shaft and assembly on the window was thoroughly soaked with penetrating fluid and moves freely now. The overload on the motor reset and returned the motor to the home position. The rear wiper moves as it should now.

We'll see how this behaves over the coming months. I'll post when and if I need to replace the wiper motor.

I tried cleaning mine when it was having this issue but that did not solve the problem so I replaced the wiper motor. So are we the only two Touring members here?

[billschusteriv]

I tried cleaning mine when it was having this issue but that did not solve the problem so I replaced the wiper motor. So are we the only two Touring members here?

After letting it soak with penetrating fluid, the rear wiper arm moved freely. I'm lucky that I didn't toast the rear wiper motor when I was running it for troubleshooting.

I think the motor has an overload on it that took it a while to reset - because once my motor stopped working, it wouldn't work for a day or two.

Honestly, I would be surprised when this happens again if the motor doesn't fail.

I think we may be the only Touring members here - there may be another... or I might be thinking of members with Xi's....

[billschusteriv]

Good to hear Bill. It must be hell driving a car without a rear wiper...lol.

Hehe... I was surprised to find out how much road spray collects on that back window...sometimes makes me wish I had a trunk! :biggrin

[mikeyb74]

Hehe... I was surprised to find out how much road spray collects on that back window...sometimes makes me wish I had a trunk! :biggrin

I know right? So guess what my rear wiper did over the weekend? It got stuck so I messed around with it again and it works again.

[Darin Worthington]

I check mine now and again to make sure it move freely, but this would be the first time I hear of one getting stuck or is really hard to move.

[mikeyb74]

I had 2 X5s and 1 e46 touring in today with this issue.

[billschusteriv]

Hehe... I was surprised to find out how much road spray collects on that back window...sometimes makes me wish I had a trunk! :biggrin

I know right? So guess what my rear wiper did over the weekend? It got stuck so I messed around with it again and it works again.

Ack! Sorry to hear that - glad you got it working.

[billschusteriv]

I check mine now and again to make sure it move freely, but this would be the first time I hear of one getting stuck or is really hard to move.

Agreed - they should be easy to move.

On mine: With enough force, the wiper arm would move - but only after losing alignment with the shaft that connects to the motor.

I have a theory that there was enough contaminants (road salt, dirt, debris) that fouled the wiper arm/shaft and eventually caused it to become non operable.

[Darin Worthington]

True, my wife doesn't drive much when there is snow out when we lived in Ohio, and now we are here in Georgia....what snow? I am sure you can take the arm apart to clean and replace the seals so this won't happen again.

[mikeyb74]

Do you two have issues with the wiper blade not really clearing the glass? I've done everything I can think of. Changed wiper blade, cleaned glass who knows how many times, and treated the rubber with 303WT. And it still streaks to the point I can not see out the rear window.

[danewilson77]

Try aquapel? Cost per unit is $3.43 from this eBay seller (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574947307&toolid=10001&campid=5336776893&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2F10-AQUAPEL-Windshield-and-Glass-Applications-FAST-SHIP-%2F370479866919%3Fpt%3DLH_DefaultDomain_0%26hash%3 Ditem5642522427)

[mikeyb74]

Try aquapel? Cost per unit is $3.43 from this eBay seller (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574947307&toolid=10001&campid=5336776893&customid=&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2F10-AQUAPEL-Windshield-and-Glass-Applications-FAST-SHIP-%2F370479866919%3Fpt%3DLH_DefaultDomain_0%26hash%3 Ditem5642522427)

On it right now. It's like there is something on the glass. I'm so ready for spring.