Citroen C5 X7 Windscreen Wipers

[Titiune]

So I took my car to a guy who used a scanning tool and it said it's jammed or something in that spirit (basically needs cleaning and no electrical issue). Nothing electrical. He said I could leave it with him for the weekend, but in order to save money and time I decided to do it myself. Took off the plastic cover, cleaned everything used some copper grease, put it back together. (Did this to both wipers)

Put it back in the car, sadly same issue. Drivers side motor twitches and the other one doesn't even move. Thought maybe I should dissassemble the back side (figured shouldn't mess with the seal, incase the plastic cap was enough). But before that, I decided to try and put in old wipers that previous owner left me incase there was something to salvage from them. And it was the same exact issue (tried all sorts of combinations).

Could this be, that old motors had the same jam, or that computer doesn't let my cleaned motors move? Or what else could be happening here?

(Sorry if my english isn't too clear, I'm not a native speaker)

[Estately]

Hi,
You did not say if water had entered the motor case and if the circuit boards had been damaged. There is a drain hole.

You also need to check the magnet on each of the motor drive shafts, it is well documented on this thread with pictures and correction can save you money.

Make sure that the area above the motor is clear of dead leaves and the area below the motors. Dampness and moisture around the motors needs to be prevented.

Good luck
Hope that helps.

[Estately]

To narrow the search, if you look in this thread on Sun March 26 2023, there is a picture of the magnet on the drive shaft with the case opened and an explanation of corrective action (by Ask_dj). I think you will find it on message number 7.

Andy.

[Titiune]

I did not open the other side where the magnet is visable. I was hesitant to try and break the seal, but later on when I tried to open it, couln't get through it. Do you have any tips to open the other side?

[Estately]

The small screws holding the case together will be very tight, probably oxidised. So you will need your favourite easing fluid.

The edge of the case is grooved and contains a sealant which will probably need warming to assist opening. Try two small screwdrivers to gently leaver it open.

Remember to clean it up before resealing with some fresh sealant, you will want it to prevent water entering. Take the opportunity to grease the moving parts in the case to reduce friction.

I would suggest connecting the motors electrically without bolting them into place and the case assembled but not sealed, then switch the wipers on and check the movement of the wiper spindles to test whether they are working, this will avoid unnecessary installation etc.

Hope that helps
Andy.

[Titiune]

Thank you for answering, Andy. Really appreciate the help. Those wipers are really giving me a hard time. Need the car up and running soon. Really wanted to do it myself, but I think I'll just probably be leaving them with a guy who'll do it on the weekend.

Really loved the car, when I bought it, but the wipers are really bringing a bitter taste. Hopefully not for a long time though, want to take a really good care of this car.

Thank you for your help, andy and wish you the best of luck
Titas.

[Agour]

Magnet fix still works in 2026!

Both wipers stopped working last night.. turns out the magnet had slipped on the drivers side.

It's covered in a few places, but it's worth remembering that the drivers side is the master unit. If that stops working, neither motor will work.

[nocturnal]

Damn it, just spent near £500 getting my 2012 C5 X7 2.0 163bHp through MOT and wipers jammed together then rested. Now drivers side juts up 25-75cm only and passenger side nothing.

I have read the entire thread but don’t understand the magnet position stuff unless I take both out and it becomes more understandable? I’m good mechanically and electronically but prefer knowing what to do before dismantling and wasting time.

I’m really not spending £350 on each wiper motor as my insurance lists the entire car at £1100 value


BTW I love those Pakistani videos where the guys in sandals repair anything. Our society has lost the plot with throwaway and expense of everything, who really are the rich ones eh? It has went too far, even here we used to get stuff done cheap. It’s all engineered to rob us.

[Peter.N.]

When mine went I replaced them with the ones from the scrap car in the field, working fine. f their are still any C5s in scrap yards that would be the place to go.

Peter

[Estately]

Hi Nocturnal,
You need to find the post from Ask_dj from 2021, May I think.
A good description and picture of the magnet and how to move it into position.
From what you say it could be your driver's side magnet that moved.
Motor assembly out and you will probably find the access screws for the cover very stiff so do what you normally do to remove them without breaking them.
Leave the motor on the assembly but clean and lubricate the rest, it comes apart easily and it will prevent water ingress, check the area beneath the winscreen under the motors for leaf mold etc., because it will be constantly damp.
Lightly reassemble the motors and just connect the electrical plugs and see if the spindles turn before the full reseal and fit to the blades, will save some messing if you need another inspection.
Hope that helps
Andy.

[nocturnal]

Hi, and a WARNING about using threadlocker instead of superglue to affix the magnet to the shaft.

A previous poster advised threadlocker but the magnet sliding up and down a smooth shaft is not a thread. The liquid does not ingress between magnet and shaft. Threadlocker works by anaerobic chemical reaction therefore the bead I have applied will not cure and could get into the other areas where it will cure.

Stupidly before I knew this I have bought and used threadlocker and the magnet still rotates upon lateral force.

I’m leaving it overnight to see if it helps but it can’t cure and I don’t have a vacuum or zero oxygen container to cure it.

I should have used a simple superglue applied via syringe then maybe some bicarbonate to cure it.

DO NOT USE a threadlocker as the interface between shaft and magnet is so tight and the bead between will not cure whereas superglue will cure.

I didn’t want to use superglue at first because of the small curing period of where the magnet needs to get into the exact position.

And yes it was the drivers RHD magnet that slipped so I assume you know that from the diagnosis. The passengers side is a solid bond as I have rotated the shaft via the magnet. Also tested both motors with 12V and they are good, the motors are not the problem.

Weather permitting I will loose fit the motors tomorrow and if it works I will be hopeful. I’m not sure it if the car needs a BSI reset beforehand, probably not?

BTW there was no water ingress, only slight oxidation on the corners, circuit boards look good as new. If it works then I’ll seal up the motors tomorrow units again with the Granville instant gasket I bought today. I’ll test them first without fixing without the wiper blades unless that missing torgue demand requires such.

I will update and let our community know if it worked.

It annoys me immensely that many of these C5 cars have went to scrap because a Hall sensor slid down 4-5 mm and therefore useless.

This is totally wrong, all the net zero crap which fundamentally I support but is a total scam.

No athiests in foxholes or C5 owners, I’m praying this works

[nocturnal]

It worked and today the first day here it hasn’t rained sk couldn’t work on the car, saved me scrapping car for now. But like I said DO NOT USE threadlocker.

Sealed motors back up with Granville clear instant gasket.

Drivers side wiper doesn’t seem to reach as far before into the top corner but maybe it’s my imagination.

I also tested them first without installing into cat and without wipers.

[nocturnal]

Just a few pics of clean undamaged circuit boards and the magnet on drivers side (4th photo) slid out of position compared to passengers side (3rd photo) where it should be between the contact terminals.

[breaksea]

Thank you everyone for the comments on this thread. Yesterday my wipers worked fine ….today nothing. Fuses checked and ok. Removed both units and was trying to work out from all the photos which was the correct position for the magnet. Thank you nocturnal for actually including pictures of both good and bad situations . I can see that the magnet on my drivers side(master) has seemingly shifted a little so tomorrow I will attempt to return it to the correct position. I’ve had this c5 for 11 years now and done many window winders,2 steering racks and had hoped I’d dodged this one but no. Will update if it works. If not do you think it could be the relay r5. I have no access to lexia or similar

[nocturnal]

Hi Breaksea,

Hopefully you fixed the wiper motor sensor and everything is OK.

The way it is going there will be no fuel anyway due to idiots in this world.