Wiper rack/cable replacement

[Guerpillon]

Hi,

I have to replace my wiper cable so checked how to do it in the Haynes manual ( page 133 ).

1) remove the wiper arms as described in Section 20: ok, i understand.
2) remove the windscreen wiper motor, refer to Section 22.: ok, i also understand
3) withdraw the windscreen wiper rack by pulling the cross-head: i do not understand what is this cross-head, where is it located ?

I have also read all the threads regarding wiper/arm/rack... without finding the answer !

Thanks for your help.

[jakesmig]

You shouldn't need to remove the wiper motor from the car.

Undo and remove the top cover from the wiper gearbox, you will see the gearwheel, the connection rod which links the wheel to the cable head, and the cable itself. The connection rod is held onto the gear by a spring clip fitted into a groove on the gearwheel cam.

Carefully remove the spring clip, taking care it doesn't 'ping' off into the distance. Lift off the rod from the gear / cable. The cable end has a steel projection which mates with a plastic slider at the side. this is the parking switch assembly. Note the location of each part, and how they fit into each other. The steel projection and the plastic slider can be removed and stored for later reassembly.

Using a pair of long nose pliers or similar, grip the end of the cable and pull it out of the wiper rack tube. The spindles on the wiper blade wheel box will spin while the old cable will pass by it.

Reassembly is the reverse. I covered the cable in a light wheel bearing type grease when reinstalling it.

John

[Guerpillon]

Thank you for these explanations. So i understand that nothing prevents the cable to be pulled out, that was my concern that something was present at the other side of the cable, that was my question about that cross-head referred in the workshop manuals.

In fact, i understand that the cable has got some additional length at the other side, the wipers side, so that i will just have to push the new cable through the spindles. This is also why it is locked in position at the motor side, right ?

have a nice evening

Eric Guerpillon, happy Stag owner near Lyon, France

[SGN]

Hi Eric

I did mine last year.
Make sure you cut the length of the new one to match the old one before you thread it in the tube, otherwise you do it twice,(Ask me how I know )
Also you may need to turn the wiper spindles by hand just to get the worm to engage.

Remember to "park" the motor before you refit wipers, it would be a shame if they scraped across your bonnet

Cheers
Steve

[Guerpillon]

Yes, i really understand what you mean, so many times i had to do it twice or more, not talking only about Stag ! Many thanks to you. Cheers also.IMG_0540.jpg

[dasadrew]

You shouldn't need to remove the wiper motor from the car.

Undo and remove the top cover from the wiper gearbox, ...

John

If it's LHD, the "Top Cover" is the "Bottom Cover" as the wiper motor is rotated 180° and is near on impossible to remove when in car.

IMG_2673 (Custom).JPG

[Guerpillon]

363315.jpgYes, it is an LHD, the cover is as shown on your picture and not so hard to remove, really.

[malc4d]

I had to remove the motor from the strap so that l could turn it to access the cover. LHD

[stag8manod]

Hi GP. As a suggestion. Before inserting the new rack, rotate the wiper spindles half a turn so they engage into an unworn section of the worm wheel.
Cheers Ian A

[dasadrew]

I had to remove the motor from the strap so that l could turn it to access the cover. LHD

Exactly. And to be able to properly fit the cable end back and engaged in the teeth and slider switch. And to not lose any of those minute screws. Still, Guerpillon says it's not difficult so I guess he's done it sometime before.

Drew

[Guerpillon]

Yes, here is the proof i did it !IMG_0604.jpg

[dasadrew]

Yes, here is the proof i did it ![ATTACH=CONFIG]39365[/ATTACH]

Doesn't look like it's in the car though!

Drew

[Guerpillon]

No, i removed it as you can see the rack separated from the cable, i will try to weld it, otherwise will change it.

[Guerpillon]

In the end, i understood that nothing prevents at the opposite side of the motor to pull the cable so i am confident i will succeed easily this cable replacement. I will have tonight a good sleep, without any bad dream of stuck cable or out of control wiper arms. Thank for that !

[Guerpillon]

Was not able to weld it, i have always been poor at welding. In the end, i ordered at James Paddock a new rack, RTC1142, a bit expensive for a cable with wire around it but what else ?

Will keep you informed when i receive it, was very easy to pull out, not so easy to pull in ?