Limp wipers, now dead battery...

[gravyface]

...I think.  Haven't had any chance to dig but wouldn't crank at all, power locks ain't so "powerful" right now -- heading out for the night so can't look at it until tomorrow afternoon, but basically the right wiper was a good second or so behind the left wiper, which itself was a bit weak and couldn't keep up, so while the ignition was off, I tried to see if there was any play in either wiper by moving it through it's normal arc and yeah, it easily moved back and forth, not sure if it should.

Now this morning I had to steal the wife's car because it wouldn't turn over at all; battery's likely dead.  Could the wiper motor still be running?  bad relay? fuse?  Other than that, car's been starting great and haven't had any issues at all except for limp wipers over the last couple of weeks.

[DesktopDave]

Pull the battery out and have it load tested.  I'd think your wiper arm might have be wearing out the arm bearing inside the cowling if one wiper moves by itself.  Mine has some slop but they both move at the same time.

[gravyface]

Bought a new battery: it was from '01 and went from 12.5 down to 6.85 in half and hour while sitting with everything off.

Started pouring so gave up on wipers for today, but yeah, they definitely move independently and when re-aligned work ok for a few strokes, but then the right one drops down below the windshield and gets stuck.  Left one also went past the pillar and got stuck too.

[DesktopDave]

You'll have to whip out the ammeter for this one...I usually start by pulling the fuses one by one & jumping the contacts with the DMM to see current draw.

If none of the fused circuits are bad, I take a look at the rear trunk harness if it's an e36 or the front left harness if it's an e30.  Wiring can chafe anywhere, you might have to do a continuity tests looking for the short.


The e30 wiper assembly is annoying to replace.  It can come out through  the fan cover on the firewall.  It doesn't look like it, but it's  possible.  First time I took a look at the wiper I thought they'd  installed it then welded the plenum cover over it afterward.  IIRC I  also had the blower fan and cover out of the car.

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Windscreen_Wiper_faults (excellent!)
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1349395
http://mrobvious.wordpress.com/bmw-e30-diy-repair-forum-1984-1985-1986-1987/

It's unlikely, but I wonder if the wipers can short internally without moving?