Just done exactly what you did in the video. Cider vinegar working a treat. Hardest thing was getting the wiper arm off but got a bit creative with a puller I borrowed from a mechanic mate and a dash of plus gas and it sprung off fine. Didn’t even need to buy a new wiper arm. 👍😄 Just got to clean everything up and reinstall. Removing the interior trim, I just tapped a screwdriver in between the plastic and eased it out till I could get a finger behind it and pulled. The clips came away easily so nothing of concern there either. Really is a simple diy repair. Thanks. Saved me a few Bob.
Same thing happened on my 2002 VW Polo. I was inspired by your video to try cider vinegar and it worked. The drive shaft on mine came out of the outer tube revealing a hardened, thin O-ring, where water may have entered. Replaced this with a larger one and a little silicone grease.
Just want to say a big thank you. Opened mine up, exactly the same issue, fixed and working. Put new O-rings on the shaft to keep water where it's meant to be (poor design, destined to fail).
Just did the same with mine from an A4 B6 Avant. I fitting O rings the the part that goes into the washer stud in the lid. They leak washerfluid into the sprockets. That’s why they get stuck
Just wanted to add something for all my fellow VAG sufferers. The reciprocating seal where the black plastic water inlet housing meets the end of the hollow shaft wears out and fails [terrible design that was always going to fail]. The water under pressure then fills up the unit , emulsifies the grease and starts rusting any steel. The electrical contacts short hence the first sign of problems often being that the wiper develops a life of it's own. Ironically, that gasket keeps the water in! [Bye the way, if the water does leak out, it could drip down on the lock electrics and kill that too. If you've started noticing the odd drip when you open the hatch, it's time to investigate.] A cheap replacement unit may well quickly fail again for the same reason, as will a VAG unit although it'll probably take a lot longer being better quality [but still a terrible design]. It sounds like madness I know but the only long term fix is to carefully fit a separate washer jet through the boot lid and modify/attach the water pipe to that. You'll be completely bypassing the motor so no more water in it, whether you've refurbed the original or bought a new one. Just be careful about painting and sealing the hole in the body you've drilled before fitting the new jet or it'll rust really quickly. Only to be tackled by the competent, it'll cost you around a tenner but it's not for the faint hearted!
Very useful video but shame I didn’t find it until after I had mine replaced by a garage. Don’t know why your video didn’t show when I was searching RUclips. I didn’t get an Audi part as it was too expensive but the cheaper one makes an annoying whining noise when you use it.
My motor is similarly seized up, but the spindle and gear assembly doesn't want to "just pop out". Is there perhaps a seal on the shaft that's reluctant to let go? I've tried tapping it with a mallet but it is *stuck*. Any ideas?
Ian Brown jeez it must be bad. Soak it in some penetrating oil like WD40 to try and free it up. Depending how long it's been like that the plastic and metal may have bonded together somehow. Can you get anything around the inside edge to free it and remove some of the crud etc?
Got the same problem, I took an axe and beat the shit out of it. It didn't solve the problem but it wad satisfying! 😁Now I'm on my way to but a new one...
Good video, valeo France make these, if you Google them, its a huge company, one would think these should be better designed, easily gressed without having to disassemble, preventative maintenance.evolution!!!! I wonder if Darwin was back.....
@@elderoo8483 thanks for the response. I've got the spindle out and put it in vinegar as you suggested. It's the white round plastic bit that has the contacts on I can't get out. It won't budge and I don't want to damage it. On your video it came straight out attached to the spindle when you pushed it through by tapping it on the hard surface. Any thoughts please?
best bet is to put just the white wheel in, connect the wiper and let it cycle once so the contacts can reset themselves. or you can allign the section of the wheel with no metal on it, with the contacts on the housing. dont assemble it without zeroing the white wheel, as you could then shred your gears, and basically fuck up your rear wiper
Mine is actually disgusting!! The spindle is well and truly stuck solid, no such popping out like at approx 2:35. I've tried warming it, I've tried wiggling it, I've tried sitting it in wd40 and wiggling it.... It won't budge. Any ideas? Or just admit defeat that it's beyond help and order a new part at £25. I'm feeling kinda invested now it's in bits on my kitchen worktop :D
Yes you do. Think it’s a 13mm bolt if I remember correctly. Get some WD40 on it and give it a wiggle. Don’t be too rough as you might crack the window. If it’s not coming off you’ll need a special puller tool
My motor leakes too... i have cheaned it like u did but the leak is still happening. I wonder if someone can find a 90 degrees elbow small diameter hose that can allow the movement or the wiper. The basic thing i guess is to have an other more safe way water to feed water to the internal metal hose.... Do you have any idea ? Thank you a lot !
@@elderoo8483 Hi. Great video, which has encouraged me to de-gunge my dodgy A3 wiper motor. Could you clarify where ptfe/silicon/o-ring would need to go to help seal the lousy design, as I can't see any evidence of there ever having been an o-ring fitted as standard. Cheers.
Richard Elder hiya mate thanks for getting back to me. I put the new motor in an checked the fuse all is fine there ... but soon as I start the car it doesn't turn off itll stop for a few seconds then start again on its own
David Domegan hmmm sounds strange. Maybe it's getting a constant feed from the switch somehow. Clean up all contact points on the motor and the switch and see if that helps
Just done exactly what you did in the video. Cider vinegar working a treat. Hardest thing was getting the wiper arm off but got a bit creative with a puller I borrowed from a mechanic mate and a dash of plus gas and it sprung off fine. Didn’t even need to buy a new wiper arm. 👍😄
Just got to clean everything up and reinstall.
Removing the interior trim, I just tapped a screwdriver in between the plastic and eased it out till I could get a finger behind it and pulled. The clips came away easily so nothing of concern there either. Really is a simple diy repair.
Thanks. Saved me a few Bob.
Same thing happened on my 2002 VW Polo. I was inspired by your video to try cider vinegar and it worked. The drive shaft on mine came out of the outer tube revealing a hardened, thin O-ring, where water may have entered. Replaced this with a larger one and a little silicone grease.
Just want to say a big thank you. Opened mine up, exactly the same issue, fixed and working. Put new O-rings on the shaft to keep water where it's meant to be (poor design, destined to fail).
Thank you. Glad it worked for you
Just did the same with mine from an A4 B6 Avant. I fitting O rings the the part that goes into the washer stud in the lid.
They leak washerfluid into the sprockets. That’s why they get stuck
Just wanted to add something for all my fellow VAG sufferers. The reciprocating seal where the black plastic water inlet housing meets the end of the hollow shaft wears out and fails [terrible design that was always going to fail]. The water under pressure then fills up the unit , emulsifies the grease and starts rusting any steel. The electrical contacts short hence the first sign of problems often being that the wiper develops a life of it's own. Ironically, that gasket keeps the water in!
[Bye the way, if the water does leak out, it could drip down on the lock electrics and kill that too. If you've started noticing the odd drip when you open the hatch, it's time to investigate.]
A cheap replacement unit may well quickly fail again for the same reason, as will a VAG unit although it'll probably take a lot longer being better quality [but still a terrible design].
It sounds like madness I know but the only long term fix is to carefully fit a separate washer jet through the boot lid and modify/attach the water pipe to that. You'll be completely bypassing the motor so no more water in it, whether you've refurbed the original or bought a new one.
Just be careful about painting and sealing the hole in the body you've drilled before fitting the new jet or it'll rust really quickly.
Only to be tackled by the competent, it'll cost you around a tenner but it's not for the faint hearted!
Thanks for the tutorial. Going to try the vinegar trick tonight
Robert van Gool let us know how you get on
Thanks for sharing!
great video..thank you..i have some evaporust ill try.
Many thanks for your fix appreciated.
Very useful video but shame I didn’t find it until after I had mine replaced by a garage. Don’t know why your video didn’t show when I was searching RUclips. I didn’t get an Audi part as it was too expensive but the cheaper one makes an annoying whining noise when you use it.
Nice one mate!
Thank you!
My motor is similarly seized up, but the spindle and gear assembly doesn't want to "just pop out". Is there perhaps a seal on the shaft that's reluctant to let go? I've tried tapping it with a mallet but it is *stuck*. Any ideas?
Ian Brown jeez it must be bad. Soak it in some penetrating oil like WD40 to try and free it up. Depending how long it's been like that the plastic and metal may have bonded together somehow. Can you get anything around the inside edge to free it and remove some of the crud etc?
I'll leave it with penetrating fluid soaking overnight and let you know! Thanks.
still waiting Ian Brown
Got the same problem, I took an axe and beat the shit out of it. It didn't solve the problem but it wad satisfying! 😁Now I'm on my way to but a new one...
Good video, valeo France make these, if you Google them, its a huge company, one would think these should be better designed, easily gressed without having to disassemble, preventative maintenance.evolution!!!! I wonder if Darwin was back.....
Hi. I cant get the round plastic bit out. Stuck solid. Tried pulling it iut with pliers, no joy. Any ideas? please. Great video by the way.
Push the spindle from the other side. I pressed it down on a hard surface to pop it out
@@elderoo8483 thanks for the response. I've got the spindle out and put it in vinegar as you suggested. It's the white round plastic bit that has the contacts on I can't get out. It won't budge and I don't want to damage it. On your video it came straight out attached to the spindle when you pushed it through by tapping it on the hard surface. Any thoughts please?
Does it matter what position the white wheel is in when you replace it?
best bet is to put just the white wheel in, connect the wiper and let it cycle once so the contacts can reset themselves. or you can allign the section of the wheel with no metal on it, with the contacts on the housing. dont assemble it without zeroing the white wheel, as you could then shred your gears, and basically fuck up your rear wiper
yes it worked a treat
Make sure you clean the electric contact points before refitting
Mine is actually disgusting!! The spindle is well and truly stuck solid, no such popping out like at approx 2:35. I've tried warming it, I've tried wiggling it, I've tried sitting it in wd40 and wiggling it.... It won't budge. Any ideas? Or just admit defeat that it's beyond help and order a new part at £25. I'm feeling kinda invested now it's in bits on my kitchen worktop :D
Hi, thanks for the video. Do I need to remove the arm for the motor to come off?
Yes you do. Think it’s a 13mm bolt if I remember correctly. Get some WD40 on it and give it a wiggle. Don’t be too rough as you might crack the window. If it’s not coming off you’ll need a special puller tool
What have you done to prevent the internal water leak , the cause of this mess? Have you made any form of o-ring ????
little bit of silicone sealant
you can also use ptfe tape when putting it back together
My motor leakes too... i have cheaned it like u did but the leak is still happening. I wonder if someone can find a 90 degrees elbow small diameter hose that can allow the movement or the wiper. The basic thing i guess is to have an other more safe way water to feed water to the internal metal hose.... Do you have any idea ?
Thank you a lot !
Try plumbers ptfe tape as it is flexible. If that doesn't work and the sealant isn't working you might need a new/second hand unit
@@elderoo8483 Hi. Great video, which has encouraged me to de-gunge my dodgy A3 wiper motor. Could you clarify where ptfe/silicon/o-ring would need to go to help seal the lousy design, as I can't see any evidence of there ever having been an o-ring fitted as standard. Cheers.
I got a brand new motor but the wiper still moves on its own any ideas. cheers
David Domegan how do you mean it moves on its own?
Richard Elder hiya mate thanks for getting back to me. I put the new motor in an checked the fuse all is fine there ... but soon as I start the car it doesn't turn off itll stop for a few seconds then start again on its own
David Domegan hmmm sounds strange. Maybe it's getting a constant feed from the switch somehow. Clean up all contact points on the motor and the switch and see if that helps
Richard Elder thanks mate will give it a bash
Mine does that too any ideas ?
There is a bad design going on here from Audi/vw this is always happening with their cars
I’m 7 I don’t wanna know
DEXTER P1AYS RO8LOX you’re funny 😂