VW Sharan (2004) Wipers Acting Strange

[DavidVWSharanOwner]

Hi All, Hoping someone can help with this small problem that has appeared on my 2004 VW sharan (Mk2?)

Driving Yesterday is a bit of drizzle with the wipers on intermittent my wipers stopped about a quarter of the way up.  There was a bit of noise as the motor seemed to try and keep going (I May be wrong about that).  I moved the stalk to a couple of positions and eventually they returned to the bottom and then when prompted with a short wash and stalk up they started again (now possibly not completing a full cycle on the right wiper (I'm sure it travelled further previous to this incident).

I returned home and looked on the net for some ideas, various other wiper problems seemed to have occured so I tried a couple of options but the wipers are for the most part working ok but the strange thing is when I start up the engine there is an initial small movement from the wipers (audible from within the cab).

I've carried out further research and I dont think this is a movement from a wiper parked position as I dont think this is a feaure on my model.  My research has also raised a couple of questions:- does the motor go round fully and the linkage make the -/+ movement or does the motor move backward and forward to make the forward and backward motion of the wipers.

Has anyone else had similar problems

I havent started to remove any covers on the linkage etc as that is probably above my pay grade at the moment but the car is in very good conditoin and looking through the gaps it seems that the linkages are in good condition the car has recently come from the fire brigade and would have regularly been serviced but it does have a very low mileage and may have had long periods of not being used.

thanks to anyone that can help

[insanitybeard]

 

Problems with the front wipers are quite commonly caused by partly seized or seizing wiper linkage spindles- take a read here in the first instance.

[DavidVWSharanOwner]

thanks for that info and I have read through lots of the other problems experienced.  they haven't really helped me as my problem is somewhat different.  Still hoping for some light.  the wipers are behaving at the moment but it hasn't really rained.  Dave

[johnnyroper]

The motor does not do a full turn it goes back and forth unlike most other cars.
I would certainly try what has been suggested first though as seizing linkage spindles is very common,it's also fairly easy to remove and does not cost anything apart from a bit of grease so well worth doing before anything else.

[marinabrid]

1st thing to know is if the spindles have started to seize,  happend to me last week.
easy way,  simply prise the snap on ball and socket drive link bar where it connects to the bootm of the drive spindle.  you dont nned to remove the whole linkage for this.  just use a big flat screwdriver or pry bar,  you will then be abloe to turn the spindle by hand. mine was so seized i couldnt move it by hand but the motor still did it a bit. from then on  if seized follow the thread to refurb.
however   as i found out,  it can be done in situ but a bit more of a struggle.

[DavidVWSharanOwner]

hi guys and thanks for the input.  Anyone got any ideas as to why my wiper motor makes a small movement upon starting the engine or simply turning the key to the first position, obviously the wiper stalk is in the off position.

[insanitybeard]

The slight movement from park position is standard I believe, more explanation on that in this thread.

[Chrispb]

I think you need to confirm that the linkage hasn't partly seized.
Once the wipers have stopped and then put the stalk in the off position you should see the wipers move downwards to the park position.
When ignition is switched off or turned back on and start engine there should be no movement of the wipers until the stalk is moved to an on position.

[insanitybeard]

On my Galaxy, when I initially turn the ignition on the front wipers make an upward movement of approx. 5mm or so away from the park position without me disturbing the wiper stalk at all.

[bigdave982]

My 2001 dont do anything till i move tge switch

[casquerman]

IÃ,´ve got same issue in a Seat Alhambra 2003.   Yesterday when turning on the engine front wipers went to full up position and start to move 5 cm up & down. 
Also when I tried to "recover" them to the off position the rear wiper started to move.   
Scared of wiper to motor to be burnt I just pulled the fuses & now I am trying to do a research for this trouble... :/

Keep you inform if I get something

[johnnyroper]

I would take linkage out and disconnect from motor to make sure linkage not seizing up. Also when linkage disconnected you can plug motor in and make sure it rotates back and forth ok.
I would suspect it is seizing and had not parked fully so when you started engine it tried to complete a cycle to park??

As for rear wiper is it possible you could have flicked rear switch by mistake?
As with many electrical faults in these it's also worth a look at body to door/tailgate looms for signs of damage,it can cause all manner of weird faults if they are broken and shorting out