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MG MGF Technical - Intermitant wipers

Has any one else suffered intermitant wipers.
The wipers do work so assume the motors is alright but I have to jiggle the stalk to get them to work.

My feeling it is the stalk control, has anyone had to have it replaced if so how much as my warranty has run out as the car is 4 year old this week.

I have the workshop manual so have looked how easy it is to replace, my only worry is playing around with the airbag as the stearing wheel needs removing.

Tom
Tom Randell

Sounds like a dodgy connection Tom. Check the cable connections before ordering a new stalk unit (which could be sourced second hand?).

Cost could be considerable when labour charges are figured in, but I have no real idea I am affraid.

Rob
Rob Bell

Cheers for that Rob, I will have to look at wiring and at least remove the stearing column covers to see if there is any sign of a electrical problem.

Tom
Tom Randell

I don't imagine it would cost too much if it is just the stalk control. The wheel removal just needs a wait of around 15 minutes after disconnecting the battery for the air bags to be safe. I'm sure once the wheel is off it's quite a quick job to replace the unit. I suppose MG Rover dealers are the only people who can give you a price for the job.

When I got my wooden steering wheel fitted, they said just turn up and we will fit it. I turned up and they said, "we don't have time". I said "it's only a 5 minute job, they said yes but we have to make the SMS system safe it takes 15 minutes. This meant because they had to disconnect the battery for 15 minutes they classed this as work. In fact what they did was disconnect the battery, spent the 15 minutes wait time working on another car and then swapped the steering wheel in 5 minutes.

Can't be much more help, last time I changed stalk unit it was on an HB Viva, parts sourced from a scrap yard.

I think the real reasons to make the dealer take off the steering wheel is that they are insured for injury and if the airbag unit gets damaged by incorrect storage or someone dropping it they are responsible and cannot claim you ignored instructions by doing it yourself.

When I got my wooden steering wheel fitted, the dealer said just turn up and we will fit it. I turned up and they said, "we don't have time". I said "it's only a 5 minute job", they said "no, it's a 20 minute job because we have to make the SRS system safe first". This takes 15 minutes, so 20 minutes in total.

This meant because they had to disconnect the battery for 15 minutes they classed this as work. In fact what they did was disconnect the battery and spent the 15 minutes wait time working on another car. They then swapped the steering wheel in less than 5 minutes, total actual working time 6 minutes including disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. I was not charged for this so not really a problem.

So watch out for dealers disconnecting your battery at 09:00 in the morning, replacing the steering wheel at 16:55 and charging you a whole days labour for making the SRS safe :-)
Tony Smith

I have not got a clue what it is as when I select the intermitant wipe I can hear the relay clicking but no wiper movement, I then put it on full speed and it works admittedly I have trouble getting the wipers to stop in the down position. Although I can get the imtermitant wiper setting to work occasionally.

I will look at it at the weekend to see if there are any obvious problems, before going to a garage.

Tom
Tom Randell

This thread was discussed between 14/03/2001 and 15/03/2001

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGF Technical BBS is active now.