wiper question

[vintageveloce]

My wipers don't always work... they typically will do a couple wipes and then stop, usually stuck right in my line of sight.
When they stop up there, and I turn the switch OFF, does the "parking" circuit keep drawing power? I found my battery dead the other day and was wondering if this could be the reason. When they get stuck, I typically leave the wiper switch on, and prod the wipers a bit till they start moving and then quick switch them off when they appear to be "down". I could imagine that maybe they were not all the way down, and the the automatic thing that makes them "park" was still drawing current.
Is this actually possible?
Carl

[blu58spider]

It may have changed with later models, but I know from troubleshooting the wiper motor in my 101 series car that it could do exactly what you suggest. The wiper circuit is "hot" if the motor is not in the parked postition regardless of the wiper switch postion.

[iachella]

My wipers got stuck against each other in the middle when my son crawled accross the console on his way out my door. I didn't notice and it stayed on all night. Dead battery, and worse, the wipers now move a couple of inches and then stop. I can push them along untill they park, but I was wondering if the motors are rebuildable? If not, any replacement cross references from other vehicles? I'd rather not replace with another 35 year old motor.

Or, has anyone taken one appart and seen any particular item that can be replaced, cleaned, etc?

[han]

good day

inside the wipermotor itself there is grease too lube the moving parts, what happens it gets in places it is not wanted and it hardens.

I clean them and put a little grease on the moving parts and it works again.

the grease is in there for more then 30 years so it is aboute time too replace it .

hope it helps Han

[alfajay1]

vintageveloce:

I agree with all the other respondents. Yes, the wiper motor gets unswitched +12v, and if it becomes stuck in mid wipe, it will just run down the battery (and probably also cook the motor). Yes, the grease in the motor's gearbox turns to concrete over time, and that can slow down its operation.

But, there are other things that can wear out: the motor's brushes will wear over time, and could be your problem. Also, the little brass contacts that operate the self park feature can wear out.

I don't know of any service that rebuilds these motors, though some may exist. You might check the "services" section of Hemmings Motor News.

I also don't know of any wiper motors that will interchange with the type used in early 105's. I can tell you that the motors from later Alfas look similar, but are slightly different (ask me how I know). So, finding a good early 105 ww motor (Duettos and Sprints use the same motor) either on ebay or from APE would be another solution.

[Gary Williams]

alfajay1,

I've been saving a wiper motor from a 1971 Spider for the day when the '67 GTV motor conks out. Do you put '71 on the list of "later Alfas?"

Also, regarding sticking wipers. Mine used to hit in the middle of their sweep and stick periodically. I put up with it for ages, then finally realized I could cure the problem by taking the wiper arms off the drive shafts and moving them to slightly different positions.

I could have the wiper arms in the most esthetically pleasing poistion, sitting at the base of the windshield when not in use, or I could have them sit slightly higher on the windshield. In the former position, they'd stick. In the latter, they work as Alfa H. Romeo intended.

[alfajay1]

Gary Williams had asked: "I've been saving a wiper motor from a 1971 Spider for the day when the '67 GTV motor conks out. Do you put '71 on the list of "later Alfas?"

Yes. I don't think it will work, though I could be wrong.

I believe that Alfa changed the angle between the axis of the motor and the steel bracket that holds the whole wiper assembly between the eras of arms that flap like a bird (the early cars) and those that move in parallel (the later cars). I believe that a '71 spider has wiper arms that move in parallel.

Now, the MOTOR itself might interchange - but, since the angle between the motor's armature and the output shaft differs between old and new, the shape of the pinion gear could be incompatible with your earlier gearbox.

As with all this stuff, you'll have to try it to be 100% certain, and perhaps you could modifying something to make it work. But I doubt it will be a bolt-in.

[Gary Williams]

Thanks. At least I know what to look for. The problem is where to put this information so I'll actually be able to find it if the wiper motor ever goes out.

[Alfajay]

Gary:

I dug a couple of windshield wiper motors out of my mountain of parts, and shot the two pictures below that illustrate the difference between older and newer 105 ww mechanisms.

The motor in the first picture came from a '76 spider. I don't guarantee that your '71 motor will be identical, but both cars use the same "parallel" style of wiper arm actuation. Notice that this one has the motor's axis at 90 degrees to the gearbox mounting surface.

The motor in the second picture came from a '66 Sprint GT. It is identical to the motor in my Duetto - these early cars use the "birds flapping wings" style of wiper arm actuation. Notice that this one has the motor's axis at a non-90 degree angle to the gearbox mounting surface.

Also, the later motor is larger in diameter than the earlier one.

[Gary Williams]

Thanks Jay. Really appreciate your taking time to dig out this info. Now I'll have to sort through my pile of "valuable" Alfa discards and see if what I've got compares to photo A or B.