Not those pesky C5 X7 Wipers again?

[Argos69]

Hi everyone,

Due to pressures of work, it's been a while since I visited, so maybe that's why the C5 X7 Exclusive Tourer decided to give me a reason.
Driving along the other day and the wipers wouldn't come on.....Then they did!
Yesterday, no wipers at all, but the headlights came on, which suggested the wiper switch was sending something to the ECU.
This morning, I dug out Lexia and can only get one code FF1B, which is "Mechanical Jamming Fault". Naively, I removed the arms and trim and liberally oiled the shafts of the motors. To no avail....

I'm living in the French countryside at present, so buying things and more importantly, getting them delivered quickly, is much more of a lottery. I'd have thought being in France would have kept the car happy, but it still comes up with niggles (don't mention the tailgate, which I previously asked Marc for help with but then never had time to revisit).

So....."Mechanically Jammed" eh? Where ought I begin? Remove and open the motor? Dealership (no indies round here)? Torch the car?
I've searched the forum and only found that code in combination with others, which I don't have.

All and any help will be most welcome, so thanks in advance.

[GiveMeABreak]

Fault Code:	FF1B
Description of Fault:	Locking of the windscreen wiper arm. Locking of the windscreen wipers (for more than one second). Transmission from motor to arm locked for more than one second.
Conditions for Fault to clear:	Disappearance of locking of the windscreen wipers
Downgrade Modes whilst Fault is active:	Stopping of the two windscreen wipers after they have tried to move
Symptoms:	Stopping of windscreen wipe
Suspect Areas:	Windscreen wipers ECU Windscreen Windscreen wiper blades

[Argos69]

Hi Marc & thank you.

I've made "some" progress....

I stripped out both motors and took them apart as far as I could on the dining table (permission was granted for this, as it's our only car) . They were both stiff but did not appear seized. The left one did seem to be in mechanical contact with the internal end stop, so I moved it a millimetre or so. Everything back on the car, blood mopped up and let's test it.

Without the wiper arms, it's all working! Added the driver's side arm. Still working. Added the passenger's, nothing! Took this off again, still nothing.

Ok, we've tried Lexia, about a dozen tools and several hours later, there's only one thing left. The hammer!!!

A few light taps on the threaded shaft of the driver's side spindle (watch those threads, put the nut back on first). Nothing. Passenger's side. Away we go. Working.
So, I'm left with driver's side working when the passenger side is missing, otherwise I need a hammer after each time the blades are parked.

I photographed the label on the passenger's side and it shows "Valeo 53571012 SW 3.0 HW 1.2". I'm guessing this is the motor I need?

Anyone, a: know a sensible supplier (one here wants 345 Euros + 12 Euros delivery)? or b: has one to sell? I don't mind whether its UK or anywhere else.

Thank you once again.

[GiveMeABreak]

Be aware these are different units for Right and Left Hand Drive vehicles!

For the price difference, (if that is a used one you have quoted), I would get a new one to be honest.

Right Hand Drive:

(1) Wiper Motor, Right, part: 6405LA, £453.55
(2) Wiper Motor, Left, part: 6405LE, ££453.55

[Argos69]

Thanks Marc,
It's a right hand drive UK car that I've exported to France. I'm after "part number 2" on the diagramme.
Those motors are absolutely extortionately priced! At the end of the day, it's a "wiper motor" when all is said and done. Citroen says over £900 for a pair and all the aftermarket outlets say "out of stock.
I am now old enough to remember my Ford Escort wiper replacement. A motor (one!) with 3 wires, which cost £11 from a Ford dealership and took 5 minutes to fit with a 1/2" AF spanner. Halcyon days...

[GiveMeABreak]

I've now put the numbers on my previous post (I left off which was which) and this is a RHD as per your VIN, which is why we use the VIN. I only thought it worth mentioning about the LHD / RHD issue because you are in France and of course the local LHD variants are NOT compatible in case you try to source one locally! The wiper arcs and movements are programmed differently.

A motor yes, but more than that they have ECUs in each one, so some fancy electronics to make them work with each other and up to about 19 different speeds, so a bit different to a basic mechanical 2 speed on off motor from the dark ages But still very expensive.....

[Argos69]

I always enjoy the chat, mixed with the genuinely genius level of knowledge and help that I find here.

Marc's gentle implication that I have personal experience of "the dark ages" made me smile.

It's because it's true! I actually remember my 70's cars with a level of nostalgia that far outweighs the normal sense that I miss my youth.
I truly and utterly enjoyed working with and on cars, to a level that was obsessive. I swapped engines, gearboxes, wings, doors and once rewired a Mk1 Escort. Back then (pre internet), a quick read of an issue of "Popular Motoring", Cars and Car Conversions" and "Custom Car", gave me all the info to head off to the garage with my Haynes manual and spend a weekend laying on a concrete floor. I was happy!!!

The next Monday I'd go to the insurance broker with a hand written list of new carburettors etc and he'd say "Oh that's all ok, no change to your premium".

Now, Im faced with a bill for a wiper motor, which is more than the price of my first car (which had a wiper motor that never failed!).

If anyone else from the gaslit times of starting handles and steam, would like to help me with my new Time Machine project, let me know.

If you've read this far, well done you!

Thanks to Marc and everyone else for the help.

[GiveMeABreak]

You probably won't be a Star Trek fan, but when they decided to build a new type of shuttle craft in 'Voyager', one of the crew was a bit of a 'Captain Proton' nerd and decided he wanted some good old fashioned retro levers, switches and control knobs (bottom) instead of the usual LCARS interface (top):

[Argos69]

Just so that you know where I'm up to. After much searching and being quoted up to £500, I've found a left side motor with the correct part number in Lithuania. I've spent 300 Euros and am expecting it in the next 10 days. If it doesn't fit or work, you'll hear about the mysterious spontaneous combustion incident in the news. I will let you know the outcome.

Off topic PS for Marc. I'm even older than you think - I'm an "Original Series Trekkie".

[Argos69]

Just to conclude my mini saga (and a little late, so apologies for that!).
The motor arrived from Lithuania, looking a little worse than the one I took off! But.....
It worked perfectly and the car is sorted.... until the next little challenge.