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DBug

Member
Hi Everyone,
I wondered if I can draw on the experience of the forum please. The N/S headlight wiper hasn’t worked on the RR since we got it. I don’t like stuff not working, so I set about trying to fix it. We started by testing the screenwash pump and found that to be failed so replaced it. The wiper still wouldn’t move, so took the motor out with a view to replacing it. Found that all the cogs inside the motor were pretty worn. Got a second hand motor. Now when the wiper motor is plugged in it is going constantly, even before the car is started.
Around the same time we noticed the battery was showing signs of drain. We would leave the car for 3 days or so and the battery would be drained or getting close. The indicator on the sealed battery shows it good, however I understand that is not completely reflective of the state of the battery.
I put a voltmeter on the battery and there is no evident drain shown. I don’t know how old the battery is, there is no evident battery code and the guarantee sticker hasn’t been completed, plus paperwork not provided by previous owner.
I’m wondering have I got two separate issues, or is one issue leading to the other. I wouldn’t imagine there should be a permanent live to the wiper motor. I’ve read about battery drain being a result of final resistor issues, could it be that, or is it likely they’re unrelated?
I do have an intermittent (quite sporadic) air suspension warning on the dash, but it usual clears after a drive. I don’t know if that’s part of it or not, or an indicator to the issue.
Picture of the headlight wiper motor connector attached. I’m getting a feed reading through the red/blue + brown/black connections.

Thanks in advance
Nicky
 

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ha ha , you again, I would say your new wiper if faulty or is not returning home correctly to tell it to stop, as you will know there is a lot going on inside them.
headlight wipers not parking correctly is a common source of battery drain so i would try removing the wiper arm and seeing if it stops.
The wipers should only activate when you use the wash wipe a number of times and the headlights are on.
If you have had a battery drain since fitting the wiper motor then i would disconnect it again and see if your battery drain goes away if removing the wiper arm doesnt let it reach its parked position and stops on its own.

If you dont have the Rave manual yet, then that can be downloaded here
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/forum/technical-archive.71/

headlamp wash wipe.jpg
 
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Also, measuring volts across a battery won't test for a drain - you'll need to measure the current draw in series with the battery for that.
 
Thank you for those bits that’s really useful, more digging now then.

I’ve had the wiper motor disconnected for a few days and the battery is still draining. I can’t see that anything is staying on so I’ll cross check the battery
 
One thing that can drain battery is the regulator pack on the back of the alternator, I believe there is a wire on the back that goes to the battery might be worth disconnecting it tape it up and see if you still have a drain if yes new reg pack.
 
On the M62 there is only one cable to the alternator, and its on the front....as the alternator sits in a water cooled jacket on the timing case, the only cable to it is a big red one!
 
So the current status is that the O/S headlight wiper wipes but doesn’t wash. The N/S wiper either doesn’t wipe at all, or wipes all the time, depending on the motor, and doesn’t wash. The wiring diagram is really helpful. I checked for a voltage to the washer pump connector and when its used it doesn’t return a reading. Additionally, trying it on the other pumps also renders them u/s. This tells me that there is an electrical issue before the pump. Got a few more bits to check now, the ground point for the wiper motor, the relays (awaiting spares) and whether the wire feeding the pump from the headlight motor is getting a reading when activated. Fun and games at the fair!
I won’t be beaten my Microsoft, Subaru or Mercedes, and I’m sure as hell not going to be beaten by Land Rover
 
DBug said:
So the current status is that the O/S headlight wiper wipes but doesn’t wash. The N/S wiper either doesn’t wipe at all, or wipes all the time, depending on the motor, and doesn’t wash. The wiring diagram is really helpful. I checked for a voltage to the washer pump connector and when its used it doesn’t return a reading. Additionally, trying it on the other pumps also renders them u/s. This tells me that there is an electrical issue before the pump. Got a few more bits to check now, the ground point for the wiper motor, the relays (awaiting spares) and whether the wire feeding the pump from the headlight motor is getting a reading when activated. Fun and games at the fair!
I won’t be beaten my Microsoft, Subaru or Mercedes, and I’m sure as hell not going to be beaten by Land Rover
Click to expand...

That's the way! Stay positive, You may not be beaten but she will grind you down :D I have recently had the headlamp wiper drain. Turned out to be the motor.The wiper arm was always in right position when stopped. So I although I knew it might be the cause,kept thinking it couldn't be that. It was in right place as motor wasn't working!
 
DBug said:
Thank you for those bits that’s really useful, more digging now then.

I’ve had the wiper motor disconnected for a few days and the battery is still draining. I can’t see that anything is staying on so I’ll cross check the battery
Click to expand...

The FSR or hedgehog is another common BMW problem that causes drain and you need to be aware of the battery disconnect procedure as this can kill your satnav if not done correctly, you need to let the car go to sleep for around 20 minutes ideally before disconnecting the battery. There are quite a few methods shown on youtube for checking for a parasitic drain and the link below is quite simple to follow.

https://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Parasitic-Battery-Drain

You have a large earth cable going from the battery to the suspension turret and although i have never tried it i think it would would work well to connect your ammeter between the negative battery terminal and earth and then once everything has gone to sleep remove the earth connection on the turret so all your current is then going via your ammeter and you wont wake it all up again by disconnecting and reconnecting - feel free for anyone to chime in if this doesnt sound like good advice. It is then just a case of removing fuses until you find the drain if i you have one.

Download Rave and have a read and we will be testing you on friday :)
 
I should say we now have two fully operations Headlight Wipers and Screenwashes. Lots of fiddling with the motor and removing ice from the screen wash tubes and we’re back in business. Hooray - I’m adding LR to my ‘won’t be beaten’ list - LOL.
 
So battery has checked out good, the blower is working fine, so could the FSR still be a likely candidate?
 
I believe it could be but you either have to remove the fuses for the HEVAC, one is a maxi fuse, or go through the parasitic drain procedure to see where it is coming from
Fuses 12, 34, 52 and MF64, that is a 50 Amp fuse, all point to the HEVAC.

fuse.jpg
 
If the blower motor works fine - it is probs not the FSR....

As above, time to start pulling fuses and replacing with a fuse 'ammeter' tester thingy....be mindful of which you pull as a couple of them can trigger the alarm and immobilise the car!
 
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