1.3 Clubman - rear wiper doesn't function...

[JoelC]

Hello again,

This is my free day for sorting out car problems, heading to the breakers' etc. so I hope you don't mind if I run this one past you...

The rear wiper on my Clubman has never worked, and didn't according to the previous 2 owners either... using trusty Haynes manual (and a socket spanner, obviously) I managed at last to undo the nut securing the wiper spindle to the tailgate. Before I run and buy a new rear wiper assembly down the breakers', I wanted to check the electrical connection to the wiper, and make sure that power is getting to the relevant places.

The tailgate earth is good and tight, I've checked the rear wiper switch for continuity using the multimeter, and verified that when I actuate the switch, I can hear the click of the relay and also feel the click if I rest my fingers on it while pressing the switch. I'm no car expert and have never even seen a relay before a couple of months ago, so am I safe to assume the relay is OK?

So, moving to the rear of the car... I imagine that the motor is seized and useless because it was rusted tight, but I'm not sure what the leads are... looked in the Haynes Manual (entitled "Austin Rover/MG Maestro 1.3 & 1.6 1983 to 1995 (up to M registration) Petrol") at all the wiring diagrams because I don't know where to put the multimeter probes to check for power.

The wiring diagrams do not mention the Clubman, and the colours marked on any remotely relevant diagrams (I checked 1.3HL/SL/Mayfair from 1986, 1.3L and City X from 1986, 1.3 City from 1986) do not match the colours I have in the car... so either someone's messed the wiring up or I've got the wrong diagrams!

Mine is as follows (1st listed = colour of flex leaving the rear wiper motor, second colour is for flex after the line connector (so towards front of car):

1. Light Green --> (dark) Green
2. Brown --> Brown with Green tracer
3. 2x Red --> Red with Brown tracer
4. Black to earth

So, can anyone point me in the direction of the correct wiring diag, let me know if it was all connected wrong, and where I should plug put the multimeter probes on the loom side of the line connectors to make sure the correct power is reaching the tailgate??

Sorry for the mini essay, and thanks in advance!

[JoelC]

Just checked with the multimeter (hope I got this right, black probe to earth, red probe to lead under test) - the green (loom side of line connector) cable gives me 12ish V with the wipers turned on, the other two wires (Brown/Green and Red/Brown) have no power.

[RobertP]

This may sound silly, so sorry if I am wrong, but have you checked that the wires are not broken near the tailgate hinge? Most of mine were, so I had no heated rear window or rear wash, and the wiper worked only sometimes. The way the hinge is designed, it is possible to trap the cables if the little rubber clip fails to keep them out of its way.

[JoelC]

Sounds like a good idea, I'll check them now...

EDIT: Done that, ended up having to cut away the rubber tubing to get proper access. Found that FOUR (yes!) of the wires within the gaiter had broken. Mended now (not very poshly) with insulating tape, and the whole thing re-wrapped. Don't know how long the repairs will last, but checked with the multimeter and now have 12v on the green lead (as before), and 16ish volts on (I think) the red and green wire; just going to take the wiper mechanism back out to the car to try!

[E_T_V]

If there is 12v at the motor then chances are the fuse and relay are fine.
I'd go with a dead motor. Try moving it gently by hand when the wiper is switched on. If it moves limply then the motor is burnt out and you'll need a new one. I've had one die on me before in this way. They usually die when the driver doesn't de-ice the rear windscreen then attempts to clear the screen with the wiper. It then stalls and overheats and cooks itself even if the driver switches the wiper off when he doesn't see the wiper moving.

[JoelC]

It moves quite firmly by hand... do you know if there's supposed to be constant supply to the motor? I would imagine not, but I get power to the red/brown and green wires all the time, whether the switch is on or off (huh?) Oh, and no power at all on the brown/green... do you know what's supposed to happen? I'm guessing there's supposed to be some kind of change when I turn the switch on, otherwise there wouldn't be much point having one!! The switch is definitely fine, I've just pulled the multiplug and retested with a bent paperclip breaching the multiplug connectors - exactly the same. The relay activates and I get same readings.

Any ideas??

[E_T_V]

I'm not totally sure but I think the permenant 12v is normal. It might just be a duff relay as I think it switches to earth or something like that. All I know is it isn't as obvious as most of the other electrics on the car!

[Simon]

Nothing on that circuit should be permanently live! It should come to life on ign. switch position I. The light green is the +12V feed from fuse A7 and the red/light green and brown/light green wires come from the switch and programmed unit to provide the single wipe speed, wipe with wash and self parking action. I think? I've just binned my old (but fully functional) rear wiper mechanism. Sorry:(

[JoelC]

Thanks guys. @Simon, sorry I should have said: did all those tests at ignition 1 or 2, will see tomorrow what I get with ignition off...

The duff relay also sounds possible, I'll see if I can find another.

I will be sooo pleased to get this up and running!

[JoelC]

Not yet had a chance to test the voltages with the ignition turned off... however was at the breakers' yesterday and had a look at a Maestro there with the later rear wiper, checked the wiring and mine does indeed appear to be connected correctly! While I was there, I took the opportunity to grab the rear wash/wiper delay relay, will swap that into mine and see if it helps...