Question-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I just recently bought this car. The wipers have been working just fine. Today I turned them on and it went approximately 10 degrees and stoped. When you turn the car off it will not return and when you start it again you can see the blade move or try to. When it is off you can push it back down the rest position,
then when you start the motor again it will only go the the 10 degree position again.
The closest Land Rover repair facility is in Seattle 140 miles, or Spokane, 180 miles. I am not fond of removing the dash to repair anything.
Any advice?
Thank you in advance.
Answer -
Hi Chic,
I had this same problem 5 or so years ago on my '95 Disco. Strongly advise you to get the Haynes repair manual #3016 (see e-stores below).
I have good news and bad news.
Good news: You don't have to open up the dash to do this repair.
Bad news: you have to replace the wiper linkage that controls both wipers.
Its not difficult to do. You'll have to purchase a new linkage and an adapter connection at either the Land Rover dealership OR thru one of the many on-line Rover parts e-stores that exist. See NB below.
Once you have the new linkage, its just a matter of removing the blade bolts, lifting off the plastic windshield cover, remove the old linkage, unplug the old connector, reattach the new adapter and new linkage. That's it.
May take up to 1 hour of your time and simple tools are needed. Ratchet and flathead screwdriver, if I remember correctly.
This is bound to happen, especially on older Disco's. Corrosion is very common and once you've replaced it...you see an immediate change.
For me, mine failed during a heavy downpour while driving at 60mph on a local highway. I bought the linkage and changed it the next day. Like you, I live in the mountains too and you don't want to out on those roads with faulty wipers.
Its not a hard job to do but an important one that must be done.
Best of luck,
JohnMc
NB:
Chic, here are two sites that specialize in LandRover parts.
www.roverparts.com
I've used Atlantic British and they are a very good source. Located on the east coast (NY). Nice catalog (sign up...its worth it). ok prices that usually match dealer. Haynes manual available.
http://landroverparts.us/index.html
These guys are located in Valencia, California. Shipping may be less costly to you. Nice catalog but no prices shown. Haynes manual available here.
http://www.motorcarsltd.com/land-rover-parts.htm
They have a large inventory and are located in Houston TX. They sell both new, rebuilt and salvaged parts. pricey.
John, thanks for the response. I checked the web site for Atlantic British and found a wiper harness link. It is the electrical connection or appears to be, for the wiper motor. Is that the linkage you mentioned? I thought you were referring to the mechanical arms that go from the motor to the wipers. Here is the link to the only item I found. http://www.roverparts.com/ProductList.cfm?ListType=DETAIL&PartNumber=YMQ104550G. I did not see anything that was labeled as an adaptor. Am I on the right track?
Answer -
################# duplicate follow up? ##############
Hi Chic,
I think this is a duplicate follow up question.
check out this URL for what you need:
http://www.roverparts.com/ProductList.cfm?Category=%7EALL%7E&Vehicle=D1&PerPage=
call the dealer to see if the prices make sense. I paid about $155 + tx five years (or so) ago.
Best of luck,
JohnMc
John,
I don't know if you are familiar with the now defunct cartoon strip calle Pogo. It was centered around animals who lived in a swamp. The strip had very subtle and humorous political undertones and wonderful sayings. One of he most famous was, "We have met the enemy and he is us." Well I can say the same thing here, only it is me. I am renowned for advertising my stupidity and errors at times, often in fact. Also I seem to find ways to create more problems than solutions.
Now to the point of this final episode. I read your answer today and went out to look at the car and found that I can reach under the "tray" like portion below the windshield and feel the linkage. I can also see the two jack bars that I cleverly placed in a flexible plastic slip case and pressed into the drivers side of the tray. The light went on .... dimly I might add. I removed the two offending metal bars and the wipers work perfectly.
So I saved myself $230 or so. Now I need to decide what to buy with all the money I didn't have to spend. Maybe the repair book and someone to slap me silly. Might just be too late for the silly part.
Thanks again for the insight in where to look.
Answer######### Follow up ####################
Chic,
Can you explain this "two jack bars that I cleverly placed in a flexible plastic slip case and pressed into the drivers side of the tray." What happened here? What jack bars? How did they interfer with the wiper linkage? I'm curious.
Regards,
JohnMc
#########################################################
