A4AdMan

I've known for about 6 months that something was not right with my wiper motor or linkage. It started, like many things with our A4's do, an intermittment period of slow wiping. Some days normal others not. A couple of weeks ago during a shower I noticed the blades were wiping in almost slow motion. I am thinking OK it is time to get this looked at. Now last Friday we had a very large rain storm in MA, thunder, lighting and torents of rain. It rains so hard that the force of the rain on the windshield and the wiper arms prevents the wiper arms from moving at at. Rain lets up and the arms decide to move allowing me to clear the windshield and see where I am going.

Now Monday during our heavy, wet snow fall about 5 minutes into my morning work commute I hit the wiper button to clear the windshield and it goes up and down at a snails pace. A minute later I hit it again and it only makes it half way up and stops. Hit it again and it makes it the rest of the way. By this time I can tell that the heavy slushy snow is gathering on the blades and the failing motor or linkage is telling me I should have dealt with this weeks if not months ago.

Needless to say I surived the next 15 miles and made it to work OK. I need to replace the motor or get it replaced ASAP because it is going to snow a few more times this winter and I don't want to be screwed. I think ECS sells a wiper motor and linkage but what are your thoughts on getting that one vs. the OEM part?

initialA4

except you leave the ecu intact. Thats about as much as I remember...

quattrothatcould

Or like an aftermarket one? Can Clair Parts give you a good number for a new one?

nvr_follow

What about Carson at Riverside?

quattrothatcould

I think Clair is closer to A4AdMan and would thus eliminate the need to ship

aprice01

I had very similar symptoms (the wipers progessively got slower over time, and ultimately stopped mid swipe sometimes, also seemed to be influenced by temperature). My problem turned out to be a corroded bushing/pin on the drivers side of the linkage assy. I scotchbrite cleaned both pieces as good as possible and put back together, and it has been working fine since.

I figure I am on borrowed time until I need to replace the linkage assy (I think ECS has them for like $160ish).

It is a pain getting the linkage assy out, and then back in!!

Casablanca Avant

my B5 and performed the fix called out in the tech section and my wipers work like new again. I bet the motor istelf is fine and you've got rust in the pivot arm housing like I did.

If you do perform the fix make sure to regrease with a marine grade sythetic as it is more resistante to the type of environment over the crappy OEM. I think you are in MA, I am in NH if you need some help performing the fix.

nanotech

Had mine replaced a couple times already, same symptoms. Now I just relube it periodically.

Thanks for the reminder, I should do it tonight!

As for how-to on the linkage, I think this is pretty close to accurate, though written for a B5 IIRC

<a href="https://www.audiworld.com/tech/ext54.shtml">slow wipers tech article</a>

jim'02a4

Bring a sqeegy and hold your arm out the window

A4AdMan

I may take you up on that. I am going to order the linkage parts from Carson @ Riverside.