Help!

I have a 55 reg Renault Grand Scenic and, like an idiot, I tried to move 4 inches of snow by using my wipers. They moved about 1 inch up the windscreen and then stopped. I can hear the motor trying to move them, but they won't move. If I move one of them by hand the other one moves, but they won't move when I use the switch inside the car.

Am I in for an expensive repair bill, or can one of you guys help me out?

Ian Myatt, December 2009

This happened to mine, the wiper linkage had broken at the connection to the motor. phoned renault dealer, they wanted £175 for a new one, so repaired it by drilling and tapping a hole in the drive spindle to the motor, locating the boss on the linkage over the spindle and fixing a washer to the end of the spindle using the tapped hole.

Hope this is of help.

Arty, January 2010

i did this this morning in my renault clio. My dad thinks I've burnt out a motor as there is a strong smell of burning plastic in my car and my windows are frozen shut so can't even get any fresh air in :(. Garages aren't going to be open til after newyear so i'm hoping it doesn't rain until then

Pam, December 2009

Thanks for that! I will get wrapped up and go and have a closer look.

ian Myatt, December 2009

If the motor makes a noise then it's not burnt out - it's struggling against a jammed up linkage - motor bolts may have come loose perhaps or the linkage bent - or a bush disintegrated maybe. It's an eyeball job to discover the cause I suspect.

Good luck...

Peccavi, December 2009