Windscreen wiper failure

[Planner]

Driving along my wipers just stopped, in the up position.

Managed to push then down almost to the down position, but I can see them kinda try to move a little now and again.

It's not the fuses, I checked (Incidentally, that's the worst placement of fuses of any car I've ever had).

Is this a relay issue?

 

 

[scudney]

Could be a motor issue 

[Planner]

How do I tell the difference?

[rich1068]

I'd guess that if it's a relay they'll either work or they won't. If it's the motor or linkage you may still see a little movement. Unfortunately forcing them down to the rest position may not have been a good thing.

[scudney]

Or could possibly be a seized linkage which would probably explain the slight movement you seem to be getting 

[Planner]

I was away from home so needed to get them down.

If I push them all the way down, they return to the upright position. So I pushed them *almost* all the way down.

The only thing which makes me think relay is that a few days ago, for a few seconds they seemed to go faster. I thought I'd maybe imagined it, but now I'm not so sure 

[rich1068]

Not sure how you get to the motor and linkage on an RX but I'd take the wiper arms off so they're not hitting you in the face or catching on the open bonnet and have a little poke round armed with some WD40.

[scudney]

Sound advice,  had a similar problem with my daughter's corsa and had to change the linkage and motor 

[Bob99]

A few of us with the is300h have had the same problem. Found the relay and changed it for one I bought off eBay and be ok ever since. 

 

[Passerby]

I had a wiper failure on an RX450h and feared lots of hassle. Turned out to be the nut which secures the arm assembly to the drive motor, it had worked loose. Readily accessible with the bonnet up on a 450, can't comment on a 400 but worth a check.

[Planner]

Just a quick update to everyone here as a thanks to those who replied.

Yesterday, between the rain, I found a nearby scrap yard that was breaking a 400h and went there. I tried a relay, and it wasn't the relay.

So when I took off the panel to try a new motor instead, it turns out that a cable (I think the one that goes to the rain sensor) had broken off and got completely tangled in the mechanism. 

As soon as I untangled the wires the motor started working properly again.

I'm not sure what damage being jammed all of that time did so I replaced it anyway (£30). 

Now I need to look at how to fix the rain sensor. I sense a new post coming up...

[scudney]

At least the main thing for now is you have got your wipers working again,well done 👍

[Planner]

Thanks. It wasn't a complete loss because I picked up a couple of door cards I needed while i was there...