front wiper motor replacement

What does a front wiper motor do?

A front wiper motor is a small but powerful electric motor that powers your car’s front windscreen wiper arms. The motor is either switched on manually by the driver or more modern cars have rain sensors fitted that will switch the motor on automatically for the driver when water is detected.

The motor enables the wiper arms to swipe across the front windscreen clearing rain, ice, dirt or debris to ensure the driver has good visibility at all times. Electrical power is fed to the front wiper motor through a fuse and a relay. The driver can change the switch position to produce intermittent wipes, standard speed wipes or fast wipes depending on the driving conditions.

How often should a front wiper motor need replacing?

Good visibility is crucial to safe driving. Therefore, because the front windscreen wipers provide a clear view out of the windshield, it’s critical (and legal!) that they are fixed as soon as any issue arises.

There is no set lifespan of a front wiper motor, however as the motor is frequently used, wear and tear can eventually cause it to malfunction, the same as any other electric motor. The most important thing is that it is replaced as soon as possible because the front windscreen wipers are a critical safety feature.

What happens when we do a front wiper motor replacement on your car?

Our certified mechanics will:

• Inspect the front windscreen wiper system.

• Investigate to determine the exact fault in the electrical system.

• If necessary, they will replace the front windscreen wiper motor.

• They will advise if any other parts of the windscreen wipers need to be replaced.

• Finally they will test the windscreen's wipers to ensure everything is working correctly.

What causes a front wiper motor to break?

Undue stress on the motor can lead to it burning out. For example if your windscreen wipers are frozen to the glass or if they are stuck due to lack of use, it’s best to avoid switching the wiper system on. This can put too much stress on the motor causing it to burn out or fail.

General wear and tear may also result in older cars needing a replacement wiper motor fitted.

When should a front wiper motor be replaced?

Good visibility is crucial to safe driving. Therefore, because the front windscreen wipers provide a clear view out of the windshield, it’s critical (and legal!) that they are fixed as soon as any issue arises.

What are the signs of a bad front wiper motor?

Usually, there a few signs you can look for:

• If one or both of the windscreen wipers completely stops working

• If the wipers move slower than usual

• If the wipers jerk across the windscreen or aren’t swiping as smoothly as usual

What happens when we do a front wiper motor replacement on your car?

Our certified mechanics will:

• Inspect the front windscreen wiper system.

• Investigate to determine the exact fault in the electrical system.

• If necessary, they will replace the front windscreen wiper motor.

• They will advise if any other parts of the windscreen wipers need to be replaced.

• Finally they will test the windscreen's wipers to ensure everything is working correctly.

What is the average life of a front wiper motor?

There is no set lifespan of a front wiper motor, however as the motor is frequently used, wear and tear can eventually cause it to malfunction, the same as any other electric motor. The most important thing is that it is replaced as soon as possible because the front windscreen wipers are a critical safety feature.

Can you drive with a broken front wiper motor?

No, you should not drive if your front windscreen wipers are not working. It’s not only dangerous to drive without the use of windscreen wipers, it is also illegal in this country. According to UK law, every vehicle fitted with a windscreen must have one or more efficient automatic windscreen wipers.

It's also important to note that your windscreen wipers and wiper blades will be checked during an MOT test, so make sure your wipers are in full working order to avoid an MOT fail.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

It is illegal to drive with broken or malfunctioning front windscreen wipers. Therefore if your front wiper motor breaks it is important that you get the issue looked at as soon as possible.

It's also important to note that your windscreen wipers and wiper blades will be checked during an MOT test, so make sure your wipers are in full working order to avoid an MOT fail.