Hiya chaps

i have done a search a few times but cant find an exact answer - hence the new thread :D

right then - lets cut to the chase

on saturday the better half was out in the rover ( its a 1998 420 SDI Hatch ) and she phoned me to tell me that the wipers had stopped working and couldnt drive it

she eventually made it home so on sunday i started to have a look to see what was wrong ... and heres how it went

1 - checked wiper fuse - it was blown
2 - wipers stuck upright on the windscreen
3 - stick another 20a fuse in and turn on ignition
4 - fuse blows - wipers stay in same place
5 - stick another 20a fuse in ( this time with the ignition already on )
6 - lots of sparks from the fuse and it blew
7 - OK play clever here - put a 30a fuse in
8 - wipers parked and fuse melted ( very impressive ! )
9 - remove the scuttle panel to gain access to the motor
10 - unplugged the motor
11 - put a 20a fuse in
12 - fuse blows
13 - also non of the elec windows work but all the fuses are OK
14 - radio still working OK ( not sure if that helps !! )

had a look on here and cant find a solution and checked the haynes manual and that doesnt say much :(

at this rate i need a fix as i cant drive the car due to no wipers - or failing that the car will be towed to a scrap yard and another car purchased ( dont like that idea - but i need a car )

so any ideas are GREATLY welcomed :D

Stu

Must be a break in the wire somewhere, and it's touching earth. I've just had a look at the circuit diagram for the wipers and washers, and nothing jumps out as obvious... I can email it to you if you like?

please do matey - im at a real loss with this

i dont understand how i have lost all power to the elec windows aswell ??

having spoke to a few people about this they seem to think that it could be the fuse box is shot at - and at that its looking like new car time

its just very annoying i like my rover - its done 45mpg for the last 20k miles and is a nice drive

i dont really want another car - but i have no way to get to work at this moment intime :(

i looked in the haynes manual and thats pointless

i didnt know if a relay had gone down hence loosing power to the wipers and windows - but there is no mention of one anywhere

if you can let me have a copy of the wiring that would be superb :D

Stu

You got mail mate!

I would suspect a problem with the fusebox or MFU.

But the thing is it only takes a stray wire to cause a problem like this and it could be any number of wire or wires as afew things share earths and have relay etc. The wire could also be behind the dash or under the bonnet.

Have you checked all the fuses in the car and under the bonnet and what else works and does not work.

had a quick look this morning

Not Working :

Front Wipers
Back Wipers
All Electic Windows

Working :

Elec Mirrors
Lights
Indicators
Hazzards

so i have no idea whats going on - i have read up about the MFU - but this doesnt control the windows - so not sure why they have stopped - ALTHOUGH - looking at the wiring - both the wipers and windows share fuse 14 - so this would be a good sign why they have stopped

so the plan now is to find a MFU just to test ( if i can find one as i have no idea what im looking for ?? LOL )

Stu

Here's a thought - change the fuse, unplug the MFU and switch it on... I the fuse doesn't blow then it's perhaps not a wiring fault, or at least one inside or after the MFU?

Chris...

now thats a good idea - just need to get my head under the steering wheel and see what i can see

does the fuse box need to come out to remove the MFU ?

running out of fuses at this rate

Stu

right then

1 - remove plug to MFU ( i assume its the big grey one at the back into the red box )
2 - unplugged front wipers
3 - prey to the car gods
4 - put fuse in
5 - put keys in
6 - turn ign on and blue flash at the fuse and its blown

so now im at a loss - i really dont want to get shut of the car - but i need a working car and this isnt it :(

any more ideas greatly welcomed !! :D :D

Stu

Do you have a multimeter?

If so, with the fuse unplugged and ingition off, put one probe onto one side of the fuse, and the other onto ground - any part of the chassis with no paint will do. Then do the same for the other side of the fuse. If you have open circuit, then good. If you have a closed circuit, then not so good...

yeah i have a meter - but managed to snap the black probe off it - and cant solder it back on as its a sealed unit :(

BUT

i did manage to check the fuse side of stuff

im sure i was getting 12v at one side of the fuse and nothing at the other - so not sure if thats good or bad ???

i have even pulled off the rubber covered wires in the hatch to see if they are at fault ( like the 200's ) - there is some wire showing , but thats the rear heated screen and is working fine

so is the rear high level brake light

i was trying to get all the boot lining off so that i could unplug the rear wiper to take that out of the equation - but i cant manage to get the plastic screws out as they just round off as soon as you put pressure on them

i was speaking the better half about exactly what happened and i cant work it out why somethings happened

1 - she gets into car
2 - heavy rain so light , wipers on etc..
3 - gets 3 miles
4 - hears a click and wipers stop working

now - if you are driving a derv in heavy rain would the click be the fuse you heard - im not sure - so what could have made a click that loud that you would hear it ??

any ideas welcomed - i really dont want to get shut of my car - but getting a lift to work is becoming a real pain in the rear

Stu

OK - problem solved

it was the back wiper thats gone - god knows how - it wasnt in use when the fronts were ???

just need to find a rear wiper now and its all good

thanks for your help though :D :D

hopefully this thread will help other people if they blow the fuse :D

Stu

Was the gear lever in reverse? The rear operates if you switch the fronts on when the car is in reverse. Good job fixing it though, another Rover kept on the streets! ;)

she was driving forward at the time - so it wasnt in reverse

and when i was testing it - it was in neturel (sp) - so i have NO idea

to be honest - i dont need a rear wiper , as it wasnt the best of things anyways ( kept stopping in the middle of the rear screen - so could have been on its way out anyways ! )

and yes - another rover saved - its not the in best of condition - lots of dents etc... - but its a great driver :D :D

Stu