Sounds like the mechanism has gone stiff for some reason. With the gearwheel out can you move the wiper arms by hand, that will check the wheel boxes and drive flex. The reason the motor runs with the gearwheel removed is that the gearwheel operates the park switch to turn it off at the correct place, no gearwheel = no park signal. Have you also checked you are using the correct rated fuse (10A IIRC)
well ive used it last week on friday i look forward to next year when i can use it againThe air gap is the automatic ventilation system. Stops you overheating in this hot weather
its a 94 tdi with two new, two part doors, was thinking door seals need replaced or doors needing adjusted but they look flush enoughA gap you can poke your fingers through is on the large side. Might be worth checking the top of the door frame for cracks.
that would be a push bike ill try new seals and see what happensI had the same problem with the two part doors on my series. New door seals and bending the top in a bit helped. I think the doors were designed for slower vehicles!