Hello from a returnee and a question...

I've been a member of this worthy Landyzone forum for a few years, having joined when I purchased a Freelander four years ago. I took the abuse, when I joined, having been advised that it was in actual fact known as a 'Gaylander' etc etc. I kept it for about three years until it simply had to go. So, I am not entirely a newbie, in fact a returnee, albeit that I have now purchased what I really have wanted for years, a Range Rover.
Picked it up last week - A 2003 (04 Plate) Vogue TD6 Auto - Met.Grey. One owner from new and 63k on the clock. Having spent today going over it fixing this and that and trying to find any faults - as one does - I have come across an issue which has me puzzled - well, two actually but the one is in a separate post.
I tried the headlamp washers but not working - no water , no wipe. Checked the fuse, disconnected the washer motor but still no wipe. I fished around and found that both motors had been disconnected and their respective 'plug's and corresponding 'sockets' had been wrapped thoroughly insulating tape. I duly unwrapped all the connectors and re-connected both sides. The pump sprang into action immediately but when I turned the key, switched on the lights and puled the stalk to start the screen washers there was still no movement from the headlight blades. There is a small but patched hole in one of the headlamp glass' (I will replace) so I assumed that maybe the previous owner was worried that rather than chance washer fluid penetrating the hole he would disconnect the washers/wipers. But no it seems that there maybe something for fundamental going on.
I don't know how to test the motors apart from removing them and getting them on the bench but I don't want to go through all of that if there is something else that I could check. Given the circumstances that I have described could anyone please suggest what might be going on here. Thank you.

the motors may be dicky which will cause a battery drain iirc from reading on here, others would know more than me

Both of mine were the same when I bought my 04 4.4.
I removed them and both internal gears had broken probably after somebody tried to wash the windows with the headlights still frozen.
When the wipers can't park they can drain the battery so they get disconnected as Brian said.
I bought two new motors for over £300 as the car was with a mechanic and booked for an MOT and the wipers not Woking is a fail. You can pick up used ones for £20 off eBay usually.
The normal test to see if they will park is to remove the wiper arm.
If you connect power directly to the motor before you remove them and nothing happens then they are shot.
You can check to see if you are getting power to the big plug , black and white I think, that connects to the motors. I think passenger side is visible from the engine bay and the drivers is visible from underneath

Did you try the wipers with the headlight's on? Mine (on the P38) only operate with the lights on.

Thanks guys... Yes, the lights were on (headlights). I have re-disconnected the motors just in case and will have a closer look during the week.

You don't need to remove the wipers to test them you can unplug them and stick 12v on them, the passenger side wiper plug also feeds the headlight washer pump so if there's a problem with the pump it can cause problems with the wipers, I had bother with mine for ages and even changed a wiper motor when the problem was the pump, also if there's a low level in the washer bottle thecar disables the headlight wipers.

standard operation of headlight washers is every 5th time you wash the screen, just incase you didn't know

Gents

Thanks. I have put 12v across each of the motors, they are dead. Fortunately, the dealer from whom I bought the car is playing fair and has undertaken to replace both motors. Well, given that 'his' workshop gave the car an MoT last week, with the motors clearly not working (i.e disconnected) I suppose he couldn't really argue.

Funny how the dealer who sold mine to the person i bought it from also carried out the MOT and amazingly it passed with knackered suspension bushes and no headlight wipers among other things like cv boot,, of course that could all have happened in the 6 months they owned it but somehow i doubt it.

....and I thought that the days of dodgy MoTs had long since gone. How silly is that?!!

Whilst a garage who sells/repairs cars has the ability to MOT them it will always be dodgy... I vote for France's system where MOT test centers are just that and they do nothing else.......

ER1C said:

Whilst a garage who sells/repairs cars has the ability to MOT them it will always be dodgy... I vote for France's system where MOT test centers are just that and they do nothing else.......

Click to expand...

There are corrupt ones taking back handers from garages