What you will need:
• Patience
• A 10mm socket wrench
• 9v battery and wire to test
• A relay (£3.98 from a good motorfactor)
• 20amp fuse
• A large adjustable spanner to remove top wiper arm nut
• Hammerite Smooth Black Spray Paint
Now this was a chore. Unlike the heater resistor and a new dial, this one took me the best part of two days and had me scratching my head… a lot. So the rear wiper was faulty on the car and I wanted to know why. Twisting the dial on the stalk made sounds for the screenwash (though none was coming out) but I knew power was going to it. I checked the fuse and that seemed ok. So it had to be the motor right? Wrong! I spent nearly an hour gingerly removing the plastic trim on the inside of the boot lid, trying my best not to snap any of the brackets. I removed most of it keeping the left hand section still attached as the plastic screws on each side had stuck fast – I didn’t want to ruin the other one. I undid the wiper arm and loosened the top thread nut.
Upon removing I undid the 3, 10mm bolts to the wiper motor and disconnected the electrical clip. It comes out quite straightforward, once undone, just be careful not to lose the little plastic bungs when removing the screws from the wiper motor. In fact be methodical on the whole process, and would recommend taking a photo of the motor mechanism before pulling apart. Once removed I tested on my k1tchen table using a 9v battery and some old wiring I had to hand. Sure enough the motor worked! Hooray! So what next?
Checking on my favourite forum for the Rover 200 and 400, I found that there is also a little relay that sits behind the drivers side rear light. A few moments later I pulled out a small green relay. I plugged my motor back in just for testing and cleaned up the contacts on the relay as they looked weathered. Despite my efforts it still refused to budge. Having a brainwave moment, I removed a relay from my Saab 9-3 and sure enough the pins were the same. Upon plugging it in to the rover the rear wiper immediately sprung into life! Hoorway! Eureeka!
Pic of the old Relay
I got carried away and began putting it all back together again and even clipping up the rear plastic on the tailgate, only to realise I neglected to put the rubber housing back on the motor before pushing it up through! Doh! Rushing more this time and in the dark I quickly pulled it all apart again, only to now break one of the rear clips on the plastic tailgate! Gah.
Soon enough I had it back together again though. I went to put the taillights back in their sockets only to have two of the bulbs fall into the light clusters! I then had to remove 4 small nuts 8mm using a standard spanner (the socket wouldn’t fit over the length of the bolt). A good twenty minutes later, (one had rusted on), I had the light cluster removed. I shook out the bulbs and put back together again. Ready to call it a night I went to put the cable that connects the rear bulbs back in only to find it wouldn’t click back into place. On inspection one of the pins had bent and now refused to go back in! Taking more time I managed to get it to click in despite this and all lights appear to be working as they should! Hurrah!
The following day I picked up my relay and fitted it, I secured it using an 8mm nut onto the housing of the rear light cluster. Nevertheless, upon testing found it now wasn’t working! This time no power seemed to go to the rear wiper whatsoever. I started at the fuse box and after checking through the middle row of fuses I found the culprit – a 20 amp fuse, no.16 had blown through! I managed to source another that I had spare and sure enough the wiper motor hummed cheerfully again!
I still don’t know why it blew the fuse, perhaps i should have disconnected the battery? I will monitor it for now - so far no further issues. Lesson learnt though - next time I will make sure to start with the easier checks, such as the relay before pulling off the motor.
Finally I keyed the wiper arm and did 3 light coats of hammerite black gloss spray paint as this is what i had to hand - hoping the finish lasts. Tested again today and all working as it should. I think... it seems to stop then go. Then stop then go a little further. It only does the full swipe when it is on the rear wash mode. Is this normal?
Any thoughts on why no screen wash seems to be coming out for the rear?
Next Job - cleaning and greasing the sunroof!
