Hello everyone I am looking for some advice last night my wipe on the drivers side just stopped working (the other side is fine) Ive had a look this morning and it seems that a bolt is missing from underneath the wiper. Benn to a garage this morning and they are saying i need a new motor that will cost about £140! Is that right? He also said to go to a scrap yard and i might get it cheaper. We have bee quoted £40 for a second hand motor and linkage? Is that good? I dont know what the linkage is? And I was wondering how much it would cost for someone to fit it? As you can probs tell I am useless with cars..ive read on the net that some people just use cables to tie it together? Any help would be appreciated :-)

Jayde, January 2011

Hi, am i right in thinking you are talking about the fixing at the base of the wiper arm on the outside of the car near the windscreen?? if it is, then all i think you need is a nut, its the nut you find under the plastic cover that holds the wiper arm to the tapered spindle, usually tightened with a 13mm socket. Go to any motor factor or garage and tell them what you've said here & they should have the right part, might even fit it for you! the wiper arm will have to be set in its correct 'at rest' position on its tapered drive spindle before the nut is fully tightened.

crabbiepattie, January 2011

Linkage is the mechanical pieces of moving levers that connect the rotating part of the motor to the backwards and forwards shafts of the wiper blades. Think of the exposed connecting rods on a steam locomotive.

Peccavi, January 2011

I know nothing of cars but... Wipers are usually driven by one motor - one side of your wipers works - so the motor is working. One side of your wipers does not work so the linkage is likely jamming up. A bolt is missing - much easier to fit a new bolt than to waste money on a motor that you know is working.

On my Golf the wipers jammed - the motor's three mounting bolts had all worked loose - the motor was wobbling making the linkage jamb up - tightening the mounting bolts fixed the problem.

Seek advice from a another person who can examine the linkage - somebody who is not out to sell you something.

Peccavi, January 2011