I broke my passenger side headlight washer arm the other day and got a replacement arm.

Whilst changing it over the motor spindle came out too.

I've tried putting it back in (with a little help from a small hammer) but it just will not relocate.

Having had a look in RAVE there is no mention of the spindle being taken out or refitted.

So my questions are:

1) Does anyone know if you can take the spindle out and put it back
2) Has anyone done it?
3) If so, how?

Worst case is I'll have to get a replacement motor.

Cheers

Ok, so no one can help me.

So, here's some info.

I spoke to Emmetts who told me that the spindle shouldn't come out and I should replace the motor.

Before ordering one I noticed the motor casing is screwed together, so, with nothing to lose I took it apart.

On the end of the spindle, inside the casing, there is there should be a small cog wheel attached. Mine wasn't and was rattling around the inside (well as much as it could do with all the grease inside the motor!)

I reattached it and reassembled the motor. Only to find that the motor was actually knackered when I tested it.:doh:

So I ordered a new one from Emmetts. £15 delivered.

Well, what I have learnt is that without the part number it is very difficult to tell which side is which. Until now.

Drivers side motor - four wires make up the electrical lead and the lead is about 6 inches long.

Passenger side motor - only three wires make up the lead and the lead is about 12 inches long.

I hope that helps someone

Cheers

Just out of interest, did you have to remove the headlight to remove the motor?

I have an intermittently dodgy one on mine. I've bought a replacement, but haven't bothered fitting it yet.

As I understand it, the drivers side one controls the passenger side, hence the four wires on the drivers side motor. What I don't understand on mine then is why the passenger one still works even when the drivers side one isn't working.

Not the highest priority repair for me to do, but they are actually useful after offroading, for example.

Kooky,

Simple answer - YES. The motor sites behind the headlight frame, below the headlight. You have no access from behind and the headlight trim is attached with two screws to which you can only get to with the headlight away from the car.

The Grill needs to come off - six screws.
I took the indicator out separately - just because it was so easy to do - unclips.
Headlight comes out with the mounting frame - four bolts.

The Wiper motor mounts onto the headlight frame and is held on with one bolt.

The piece of trim below the headlight can stay on.

Because of all the arsing about with wrong motors being sent and testing I got taking the bits on and off down to a fine art!!!

One word of warning - disconnect the washer pipe before trying to get the wiper off. The wiper is held on to the shaft with a single bolt, but the spindle end and the wiper hole are knurled so they fit tight. This means you have to give it a slight pull or tap to release. Do it too hard and slip, and the washer pipe will snap the wiper connection nozzle off if still connected.

Cheers

Thanks for that. I'll try and get round to it soon.

As you say, you don't often hear much about the headlight wipers. Perhaps the P38 does have a reliable part after all. Just not on mine.