Alfa Pages

sudman · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2003 11:11 am Post subject: Wiper Issues

Hey guys,

The Sud is having windscreen wiper issues....

They work in intermittent, but sometimes travel about a quarter of the way up, stop, then on the next cycle they complete their entire up/down travel.

They often go very slowly, especially at idle, and I can hear a clicking sound from the left dashboard area, like the motor is straining or something.

Slow speed doesn't work most of the time. Fast goes, but not as quick as it should.

Also, when cranking the car over, sometimes it sounds like it isn't going to start, will crank very very slowly (like a dead battery) and all of a sudden crank quickly and start. Does this when it is both hot and cold!

Can anyone help, or provide me with some cheap easyish solutions to these problems... they aren't biggies but it kinda annoys me when the rest of the car is in such great shape!!!

Oh, and the alternator is not charging much at idle, and I get a max o about 13V at 3000rpm... alternator probs perhaps?

Cheers,
Richard

btw. there was a Peugeot 306 XSi on the Tau website (used Japanese cars) that could be had on the road for 4,800 NZD... very very tempted, but need to flick the Sud first! Oh well... maybe not today!

gritsop · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2003 6:10 pm Post subject:

Hi,

Dont know about the wiper problems but a friend of mine has problems with the voltage regulator on his 33 s3 car. (BOSCH electrical system)
All of a sudden running in the highway the tape player started to play faster !, the battery indicator was lit dimmly and after all that suddenly the motor stopped running.
Result? He was towed to the electrical mechanic and replaced the regulator.

Regards,
_________________
Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive

http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop

Eddie W · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 11:25 pm Post subject:

Richard
Sounds like you have earhing and alternator problems.
(1) The alt. should put out over 14 volts even at idle.
(2) Crank the engine with the ht disconected and have a friend touch all your major earthing points to see if any get hot, including the battery. Heat indicates resistance ie poor conection with consequent voltage drop.
(3) I had to add an extra earth to daughters wipers where they plug into the main loom.
(4) Don't know about suds but the 33 wiper intermittant is controlled by a large red relay on the LH side beside a similar black one .Had to change it recently on daughters car. Made a big difference.
Hope that helos
Regards Eddie

James Granger · Alfa 33 Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 302

I had wiper problems - they basically didn't work. I basically cleaned out the scuttle and cleaned the wiper motor points. It has worked well ever since, although I rarely drive the car in the wet.

The problem is, all sorts of crap gets clogged in the scuttle and dirtys the points. Just a simple question of cleaning it all out.